Really great to have started this course with such inspiring and thought provoking lectures. James Wisdom’s lecture was insightful, but at times depressing regarding the future of education. He did challenge my thoughts and make me rethink the education system as a whole.
I found the lecture with James Wisdom, ‘The Context of Higher Education’ really interesting as he talked about what university graduates earn compared to those that don’t go into higher eduction. ‘A UK citizen with a degree will earn 37% more over a lifetime than someone who left school with upper secondary qualifications’. I found this statistic both enlightening and shocking!
It clearly shows that Uni helps earn, but at what cost? The system has be turned into a business with the students and the teachers losing out. Have we lost the core reason as to why people go to university, is it to think of new and fresh ideas and to change the world or to be like robots and join the system.Is it not our job to inspire? He also discusses the bigger question, why are we using an antiquated system that is outdated in the 21st Century? A lot of food for thought. James Wisdom’s best line, ‘now don’t believe a word of what I’ve said’. i.e. think for yourselves….don’t be a robot!
Victoria Odeniyi’s session on reimagining conversations with multilingual students raised many interesting questions, especially regarding pauses and silence and colloquial speech. I can’t wait for the next session…..roll on Monday!
Since this session I have taken on board a lot of what was discussed by Victoria Odeniyi. For most of my cohort English is a second language so how I teach and the language I use is hugely important. I have created space through silent pauses for the students to be able to process what is being said and give them time to formulate their thoughts so that they can ask questions or share their ideas. This concept was re-enforced in a workshop with Lindsay, when she built in silence within an exercise to allow us time to think. This enforced pause allowed me to formulate my thoughts before engaging with the group. Sometimes as tutors, we ask students to look at something eg a photo to brainstorm and think of a narrative. However when we speak, maybe highlighting or further explaining, the student stops thinking and listens to us or our voice distracts from their thinking. By creating silence we turn the learning from passive to active learning.
Well done for getting started on the blog, Juliet – I’d be interested to read more about your thoughts on the education system – depressing as its future may be 😉
I found the lecture with James Wisdom, ‘The Context of Higher Education’ really interesting as he talked about what % of university graduate earn compared to those that don’t go into higher eduction. ‘A UK citizen with a degree will earn 37% more over a lifetime that someone who left school with upper secondary qualifications’!
It clearly shows that Uni helps earn, but at what cost? The system has be turned into a business with the students and the teachers losing out. Have we lost the core reason as to why people go to university, is it to think of new and fresh ideas and to change the world or to be like robots and join the system.Is it not our job to inspire? He also discusses the bigger question, why are we using an antiquated system that is outdated in the 21st Century?
A lot of food for thought.
James Wisdoms best line, ‘now don’t believe a word of what I’ve said’. i.e. think for yourselves….don’t be a robot!