In our Educational Technology class at University, our teacher asked us to watch a movie called “Most Likely to Succeed Film” and it got me thinking about how our education system indeed needs to be reimagined. By suggesting that our conventional way of education needs to be changed, I understand that is a big statement to claim. Since I can remember the education system ‘rubbed me the wrong way’. I dislike that the standard way of education feels outdated and even at times, archaic. Expecting students to sit quietly, listen to lectures, memorize content, and regurgitate information is not only not characteristic of learning and but it also makes me question our role in the education system.
What is our responsibility as educators?
are we supposed to support deep learning, or are we supposed to uphold the curriculum with the idea that is it still relevant to our students?
The film was mainly based on a school called High Tech High which uses project and inquiry-based learning models. High Tech High has no official classes, bell systems, or standardized exams. Instead, they focus on a few classes that highlight projects that are cross-curricular for instance, one project in the film used Tech, Math, and History. The projects are large and can take months to complete. Some of the projects that they worked on utilized building soft skills (life skills) like teambuilding, and critical thinking. While High Tech High could be a great way to move our education system, there are some Pros and Cons that should be considered.
Pros of High Tech High’s Education Model:
- This model can work for many different types of learning, not just for students who are book-smart or can memorize information
- A much more interactive experience for students. More freedom and less time for lecturing, sitting, and overall compliance.
- Students would see how their work would be beneficial in real life.
- Students are evaluated differently in High Tech High. They have peer assessments, self-evaluations, and authentic conversations with their teachers to be able to go over/ reflect on their learning.
Cons to High Tech High’s Education Model:
- This wouldn’t work for all different types of learners, some may not like the collaboration/ teamwork involved.
- By not taking tests, or having a standard education, will it limit students in the future when they apply for universities?
- By not covering all material from the curriculum they could have some holes in their learning.
- The inquiry-based and project-based learning projects can take a lot of work to set up which can be daunting for teachers who are used to the conventional educational system.
It’s important to note that career prospects and demands have changed due to the ever-growing technological advances, which makes us need to re-evaluate what we are setting our students up for in the future. Critically asking “what will our students actually need to know to have success?” As a pre-teacher, I think we should move toward how High Tech High evaluates its students as well as promote more project/inquiry-based learning models. Upon reflection, it dawned upon me that the students at High Tech High looked like they were flourishing socially, personally, and academically and so I ask this.. what do we really want for our future generation?
