Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.
Information that might be of particular interest to my parents. Well, not my parents, but the parents of my kids. Not my kids of course, but my students. We’re all one big happy family, after all.
Look, I can’t even ride a unicycle. But this robot can. From Japan, of course. (Clicking on the image brings you to the London Telegraph article and video.)
The 50cm tall “Murata Girl” robot has been modelled on a young child, and can go forwards and backwards on just one wheel. It even displays a number of human qualities.The robot blushes when cycling, and an electronic eye made of ultrasonic sensors tells the five kilogram creation when it is about to bump into something. The robot’s brain then enables it to change direction. “Murata Girl” can remain upright when stationary, using two gyro sensors to remain balanced. Much like a human unicyclist, the robot makes small movements forwards and backwards to remain on one spot.
And so… what is our role as teachers in the 21st century? What is your role as a students? And the parents of students, what should they be demanding of the system?
It’s a brave new world out there. And while the change is profound, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we throw out all that we know about teaching and learning. Even though the question “why do we have to learn this stuff?” will persist, the answer (it’s not the information, it’s the process you come by it) is no less correct now than a hundred years ago. Or ten.
I don’t think we as teachers (or we as an education system) have done enough to explain why we do what we do, or why it’s important for you (the student) to do it as well.
From Japan, of course. (Clicking on the image brings you to the London Telegraph article and video.)