Randoms

[tacomeow]

A friend of mine invited me to this pedagogy conference, and as an opening to the conference they showed a documentary about a "free school" in Albany that basically breaks the "structured" boundaries of most schools in todays society. There are no grades, no rules, no curriculum, and the kids are allowed to just "play" and direct their own

Comments

[devoidofthought]

I agree that we learn best when NOT forced to.
I didn't take chemistry because I wanted to make money. I chose it because it was one of very few courses in high school that actually challenged me. I had to TRY.

The university system seems to produced hoards of children that don't know what they want. The ones that excel are the ones who memorize best. That's not smart. How many of those people could EXPLAIN what it is they're talking about?

I think the educational system has strayed very far from it's original purpose--to educate.

[tacomeow]

i know....i agree - i think its become very much a business - anyone who pays can take courses, regardless of how much they actually learn, thats very much irrelevant...

I think nowadays people come out of the school system more ocnfused than when they went in

[nefariuspurpus]

Depends on the “we.” I, for one, have on many occasions noted that I often learn best and accomplish the most when I am pushed.

On the other hand, understanding and investigative thinking are not exactly among the most widely supported principles of education within most fields.

It is worthwhile, however, to take a really good look at what correlation exists between what universities intend to produce in their graduates after four, or seven, or ten years of work and study, and what actually pops out. What do they really want, and are they getting it? Well, possibly.

[atomicduck]

the university system sucks.
*is in a pouty mood where everything sucks except for chocolate and sleeping... oh, and friends* lol.

I wish I had that physics course too. 1st year physics sucked ASS.

[tacomeow]

actually this prof is now being sued by the university for disorderly conduct or something like this....good thing he's got a lot of activists backing him on this, and it doesnt look like the charges will stick...but still its the principle...

[_ephemera_]

you're completely right about us not fully comprehending this idea. The first thought that came to my mind was "How do you know that they've learned??" In many ways I crave structure, I need boundaries so that I know what I'm doing. I really wish we had some sort non-grading course. Even if it's just one!!

[tacomeow]

yeah really, i think it would really push us to WANT to learn....what a novel concept!