Transforming the 20th Century Mind
In his article “Transforming the 20th Century Mind,” Rick Smyre, founder of the organization Communities of the Future, argues for the development of a different set of thinking skills to meet the demands of the 21st century. His focus is on the role of education, particularly that of higher education. He sees the need for the creation of future institutes and the integration of future oriented courses in education, with the community college as a particularly appropriate environment for this initiative.
Here are some highlights from the article:
We teach achievement, content, outcomes, and results. The way we are taught to learn imbues us with the assumption that outcomes and actions are the most important factors. As a result, when we evaluate learning, we test content and knowledge. Why? So that we can get on with it, so that we can do something, so that we can achieve.
Our educational system doesn’t emphasize conceptual thinking, knowing “why” things work, and knowing how to ask appropriate questions. Within the recent past we haven’t put a premium on ideas. We haven’t seen “talking about concepts” as a good use of time. So we hold underlying assumptions constant and seek improvement in what we do. We just decide to speed things us and make them more efficient.
Such “thinking” has led us to set standards, to get to the bottom line quickly. The premium has been on doing, not thinking…
the most important question – how do we introduce into educational curricula the need to think about the impact of future trends as well as transforming underlying assumptions? How can schools, community colleges, and universities begin to create a learning environment so that issues are considered within an evolving “futures context?”
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Present curricula are usually based on standard answers. Our society is increasingly fast-paced, interdependent and complex. As a result, a problem exists in how to adjust to prepare a different kind of learning experience which will prepare learners to think differently and build skills of innovation for a constantly changing society. Therefore, a concept of focusing on the future within a context of a transformation would allow new ideas to “appear” as generative dialogue occurs.
What is needed is a separate and parallel structure which can be attached to existing educational structures to think about future trends, but remain autonomous. Such a “futures institute” could be established to provide community research and development and allow new trends and knowledge to “appear” in the thinking and operations of educational institutions and local communities.
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Although any educational institution can establish a “futures institute,” there is no better place to position one than at a local community college. Not only is there potential to prepare existing students to utilize a futures focus and to think differently, but there exists the opportunity to introduce 21st century ideas into the thinking and operations of organizations in the local community.
Local community colleges can establish new structures and outreach efforts more easily than public schools and universities as a result of their mission.
There are several approaches that any community college can take when creating a curricula for a “futures institute:”
- Establish a day of “futures orientation” where all students
are introduced to future trends of all types.- Develop a set of “futures modules” for all areas of
knowledge. Utilize these modules in many different ways,
both within the structure of the curricula, as well as for
community seminars.- Create a series of courses that can be utilized any quarter or semester
The world of 2020 and beyond
“No-one can predict the future, but perhaps the most authoritative and authentic description of the future comes from interviews with the world’s leading scientists. I have interviewed the 150 top scientists who are inventing the future, in three areas: life, the mind, and matter, which are the three pillars of science.”
—Michael Kaku
Michio Kaku, professor of Theoretical Physics, City University of New York offers these thoughts on the future from his 2005 conference presentation posted on The Futures Foundation web site.
Virtual Worlds & Psychology
Drawing students in
“Psychology educators are teaching with Second Life and other cyber-games, but whether these technologies boost learning remains up for debate.“
http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/05/students.html
An article from the online APA Monitor describing some of the current issues around using virtual worlds like Second Life and other games in psychology classes.
Internet-Age Writing Syllabus
Educators fall on different sides of the debate regarding the impact of today’s technology on learning. This humorous, proposed course syllabus takes a jab at today’s students reading and writing habits.
Beyond Social Networking: Building Toward Learning Communities
A valuable article detailing strategies for using social networking tools in the learning process.
Future of Education
Interesting article on the future of education
http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_future_of_education
Future of Education
