In his 2013 TED talk, Sugata Mitra claimed that the future of learning is Self Organized Learning Environments (SOLE). Mitra says that our outdated schooling method still comes from the "British Empire Bureaucratic Administrative Machine." This educational model seeks to turn the world into a global computer, which was really useful 500 years ago but times have changed. We no longer need to all write the same, or do mathematical problems in our heads. Mitra started putting computers in the walls of the slums in New Delhi and noticed the children taught themselves how to use the computer. Through experiments, Mitra believes SOLEs are the future of education. These would be student led with someone watching over them, something Mitra called "the Grandma method." His wish is to have schools in the Clouds. A place where kids have access to computers and are driven by the big questions. A place where kids could navigate their education on their own. Mitra's idea of a SOLE is definitely an interesting one. I think part of the reason I was so swayed by Mitra was because he was funny and well spoken. While I think SOLE is ideal, it makes me worried about students without access to computers. I also think there is something to be said about being able to write down your ideas. I see the appeal of being paperless, but I think people lose a valuable skill. I still write down my blog posts before I type them up for publishing! I think that Mitra's idea was more about the method of schooling. We should allow students to make meaning for themselves. This idea is something I am whole heartily in favor. Mitra, S. TEDTalks. (2013, February 27). Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3jYVe1RGaU
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11/1/2015 10:25:43 am
I love the concept of student organized learning. Especially if this allows students to follow their own questions to construct learning. I am not sure that this should the teacher or paper and pencil. The global community opens as a student is guided by the teacher to explore, question, discover, problem solve and create. Sometimes this may even involve pen and paper.
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12/2/2015 03:08:18 pm
Hi Sarah,
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