Stepping outside the BOX of CONVENTIONALITY

First of all and before reflecting on why I choose this title for my new entry, I would like to thank you Dr Joyanne  for being considerate about my prayers time. You looked at your watch more than I did. It is amazing when we find people who respect other peopl edespite their cultural and religious differences. This sets a model of how we should be as human beings. Our differences are basically meant at bringing us closer to each other through cooperation and understanding. But, surprizingly, the human race  used these differences as an execuse for violence, incoherence and disunity.

This brings me back to our activity yesterday "Different roads to the same end". This activity was such an eye opener. Although each group created its own country with its all different characteristics, population, geographical locations, weather, currency or systems. Yet, all of us had a unified goal and it is how to make education a better place for all generations, not only the younger one. Thinking about the different countries, it amazed me how Othman and Mike chose a poor, underpriviliged country. Any person, if she/he, had the choice, would choose the best bet for themselves. I like how they  appreciated the indigenous  culture of their people, how they relied on the natural resources they have to generate funds for the betterment of their society. In the educational system they designed, they were keen to tailor it to the need of their people, to prepare and educate a generation suitable for the labor market. They adopted entrepreneurship model. This remineds me of Philippines. There, the unemployment rates among adolescents are high despite the advanced post-high school degrees. The reason is that what they learn and study doesn't go hand in hand with the labor market needs. Mike and Othman came up with this cocktail of  learner-entrepreneur mix that produces learners/professionals.

Of course, it is important to learn what makes us fit in the future plans of the labor market. But, what is more important is the educational process itself. The process that we endure for over 18 years of our lives. This process involves many facets including students assessment practices. Most, if not, all the countries apply standardized tests. These kind of tests, that come under many names like PISA, TIMSS, Ib and Thanawya Amma, impose a huge pressure on the students and the parents as well. In short, these tests determine and define the student's future ambition, though ambition should be a matter of choice. This takes me to Philips and Merriam country. Although, from my viewpoint, it lacks diversity, they succeeded in laying down a system where students have the opportunity to select the learning and career path they want for themselves. They figured out a system where students from different age groups can learn the same subject at the same time and in the same room. Although, I still think that this is hard to achieve in real life. But, Dr Joyanne seemed that she found it possible and reasonable.So, I will look up some research and journal articles on this area and try to find if this is really doable.

Caroline and I almost covered everything an educational system can have or need, but still we were caught up and stuck in the old traditional and conventional way of testing. Despite the fact that we introduced skill-based college admission evaluations and we allowed students, who lack the necessary skills to join a one year program to come back and  re-apply for the college they want. But, Dr Joyanne said that it is still competitive. And that as long as these evaluations have numbers on them, the issue of the score remains. So, we need to come up with an evaluation that alleviates the high-stake exam pressure. I liked that we considered all social classes in our country, but the stratification dilemma persisted. I hated it when I realized that we determined  persons' jobs based on the social class they belong to and the money they have. I hated it because I don't believe in the concept that suggests that money defines a big part of who we are and what we do in life, although this is partially true.

Difference is the idea the human beings were created upon. We belong to different ethnic, religious, cultural, social, demographic, geographic backgrounds. BUT, this is only to have the chance to develop our personalities, to help others, and to realize our societies' needs. The educational systems around the world need to realize these disparities. Policy makers need to start putting plans that contain us. We need systems that help us embrace our roles as human beings towards each other and the communities we belong to.

Going back to why I choose this particular title, it is because yesterday, the way we learned was outside-the-box- method. We had hands-on experience that made me realize that as an educator and a reformer, there is no easy way to do that. We need to equip ourselves with the expertise needed. I realized that it is not only education that I should learn about, but also statistics, sciences, technology and many other subjects. Education is an interrelated, multidisciplinary institution. It is not only about the curriculum or the best practices, but also about how LITERATE we are of othere disciplines. I learned a lot from my colleagues and more about myself. Only through involvement and practice that we realize what we need to enhance in ourselves, what we need to diminish and what we need to change.

My last words will be that Educational systems all over the world should stop nurturing the concept of "Survival of the fittest", instead, it should start teaching students the concept of "Fitting to survive".