Do we need to reimagine education?
The short answer is yes. The traditional education system has been around for many years, but much has changed in the world since then, and the education system hasn’t evolved accordingly. With nearly 7% of Canadians currently unemployed, and numbers on an upward trend, it may suggest that our established education system may not be as effective as it once was.
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What obstacles do educators face when they try to change pedagogy?
When it comes to changing pedagogy, educators have many obstacles they run into. Students and staff are probably going to be resistant to change. If the system created has worked out for the most part why would we change it? Teachers might also face frustration as they shift the techniques and teaching methods they’ve relied on. Additionally, parents would be very hesitant regarding changes, as they would be unfamiliar with these new approaches and may view them as ineffective. Overall, the challenges educators face is continuous, however, proving the benefits of improved education and being supportive is what will show people why it is important.
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What concerns me about this process?
What is concerning to me, is that our current education system was established long before we had access to the knowledge we have now. While having more information can be beneficial, it can also make things more complicated in some ways. In my view, any changes to the education system should be made gradually to reduce confusion for students. The process of determining which information is crucial for each subject and integrating new content will be extremely overwhelming and difficult. Will changing education backfire and detriment a whole generation of children? Or is this the best thing to happen for them? Lastly, implementing a new system will be very costly and not every distract will be able to make these changes, potentionally leaving some children at a disadvantage.
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