While there is growing rumbling that higher education is becoming less useful in the face of an increasing ability to access information (local libraries, the internet, online libraries) with a high rate or reliability, I do think that the education system has an advantage that is very difficult to emulate as smoothly online, and yet, the education systems fail to take advantage of such a tool, because they see it as unimportant. Information is easy to access - not much doubt about that; however, something far closer to home is much harder to reach than any set of concrete facts found online or in a book. I've discussed the difference between "Smart" and "Intelligent" in the past, but a short blurb on the subject can be of use here.
Essentially, being smart means you know information, while being intelligent is a far more raw, difficult to measure representation of thought, creativity, abstract thought. The school system measures smarts - just about 99% of the time. Do I find this annoying? Extremely. As a matter of fact, I'm biased against it. I feel that the school systems I've encountered, and heard of, are failing to realize the immense importance of allowing a person to unleash their intelligence (some more than others, obviously). Classes need to be offered, maybe even required, with an extremely open curriculum. Professors should guide students to unleashing their interests, their mind, and expressing themselves through their opinions. Facts are for smart people, opinions unleash intelligence. Instead of looking at students in the outdated concept of "fill 'em up" with information and send 'em out", we should be taking a serious look into growing and cultivating students' interests by enabling growth through communication and sharing of opinions. There are a high number of benefits to this, as these students will grow as more complete human beings, more expressive, and would learn to communicate efficiently.
So, how do we do this? Start offering classes with an extremely thin curriculum that is not set to be completed, but rather, to stimulate. Let me tell you, I've been in a class where a professor has said something controversial and BOOM! the room goes off in a buzz, arms start raising, students suddenly sit straight up, and the level of activity exponentially rises proportional to the day in day out "smart" teaching of "suck in this information for later". It gets to a point that when students are interested, because someone asks a question of interest to the whole class (or a part, even), that the professor has to reign in the conversation and direct it back to the lecture (most have a hard time doing this, because even they are enjoying the conversation).. which is BULL SHIT.
People just don't get that excited about their interests on a regular basis, let me tell you - I know this is opinion, but it might just as well be fact. Education systems need to stop thinking so damn linearly - it is, absolutely, a less efficient system in the long term development of students. I know most institutions will see it as a waste of resources, but I could easily argue that it will turn an institution from a regular, unoriginal system to a lively, feedback driven organism feeding off of the human element of people's minds. We need to have classes where going "off topic" is exactly what the class is designed for - let people be people and assert themselves in the eyes of their peers; this is a wise business tactic, as well, because it allows students to learn effective communication skills, it livens up the class room, and it is low stress, high reward. I'm sure many students would see it as pointless, but those who do engage (and trust me, I've been in several instances in which it involuntarily exploded in classes) will show their true colors and true potential.
The system is broken, but the human element is its most egregious, overlooked leak in a flawed system of education. Bring back the human element, and you will regain some appreciation, love, all while teaching people how to communicate effectively, passionately, intelligently with one another - the students walking out of that school system will be better adjusted, adaptable, communicative, and above all, have a clearer understanding of their own views.
Listening to: The Black Keys, "Howlin' For You"
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