Talking about education

                It`s common knowledge that nowadays more people have an access to education, technology is more developed, and the process of learning is easier because of countless sources of information. But new possibilities and rapid development made us to face new problems of education that can`t keep up with modern rhythms any more. Opinions are divided in finding solutions, but all of them made a foregone conclusion that first of all we have to get rid of principles and habits from the old school and meet the requirements of new era of everyday changes.

                “The schools would produce the people who would then become parts of the burocratic administrative machine”, said Sugata Mitra. Today we have a certain number of straight A students, who are eager to get a degree, but not to get an education. They get full marks, but they are not thirst for knowledge. That`s why they are ideal for old system, but can`t get used to new one, that demands to show initiative, be flexible, have a mental agility etc.

                Sugata Mitra conducted experiments with children from Indian villages and it turned out that not only gifted children are quick learners. Children learned English language, pronunciation, and even how to work with computer and showed marked improvement nearly without help of teachers, but just learning through practice. Scientist explains that every child has a natural talent for learning. The rough idea of his theory is “Learning as product of educational self-organization. Not making learning happen – letting it happen”. He says that we have to grasp the importance of encouragement and we have no reason to disagree, because actions speak louder than words.

                Another expert Ken Robinson expresses a similar conception. “Nowadays teachers have to labor and pupils have to endure”, he says and I honestly think that he is right. For many children it is a great torture to sit in a 40-minute lesson, their attention wanders and the best way to avoid this is just to skip the lesson. In addition for teachers the aim of the lesson is usually in giving marks instead of giving feedbacks and encouragements. So Mr. Robinson insists on us to bear in mind that “Education is not a mechanic system, it is a human system” and “Curiosity is a kind of engine of achievement”. The main task of a teacher is to interest, to give an encouragement to student and to let him to experience the joy of discovery.

                To sum up, it doesn`t matter, how mechanized and technologically advanced our world will be in 10, 50, 100 years, the human factor always plays role and attitude makes wonders.