Comments on: Education – Don’t Take it For Granted http://www.leapwalking.com/2009/10/11/education-dont-take-it-for-granted/ Navigating Today's Future Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:52:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: boon http://www.leapwalking.com/2009/10/11/education-dont-take-it-for-granted/comment-page-1/#comment-430 boon Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:43:09 +0000 http://www.leapwalking.com/?p=304#comment-430 I like the fact that Wikipedia upholds neutrality toward all its articles, but it doesn't provide the kind of depth of a classroom study. You can't learn in depth, subjects like nuclear physics or cultures of remote tribes just from Wikipedia. I'm not arguing against teaching a critical perspective of history or geography - I'm against teaching it at surface value, where you grade students on how much they can remember from books. I like the fact that Wikipedia upholds neutrality toward all its articles, but it doesn’t provide the kind of depth of a classroom study. You can’t learn in depth, subjects like nuclear physics or cultures of remote tribes just from Wikipedia. I’m not arguing against teaching a critical perspective of history or geography – I’m against teaching it at surface value, where you grade students on how much they can remember from books.

]]> By: Fabien http://www.leapwalking.com/2009/10/11/education-dont-take-it-for-granted/comment-page-1/#comment-429 Fabien Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:45:14 +0000 http://www.leapwalking.com/?p=304#comment-429 Sure history / geography are key (or history keeps repeating itself), but you need good -and a bit rebellious- teachers. Things is , the syllabus is very heavily influenced by the politicians. History is written by the winners, and the school book reflects that. It is also used for some communication/propaganda. A couple of examples: there is still very very little about the involvement of France in the Algeria war [1954-1962] (which has never been officially recognized as a war, just "events"). And students from my generation were heavily suggested the idea of Europe was the best thing ever without any counterpoint... you need good teachers that also tell you the other version to have both and make up your mind. So in many ways, by its international and crowd-sourced editing system, wikipedia can give a better and fairer assessment. Sure history / geography are key (or history keeps repeating itself), but you need good -and a bit rebellious- teachers.
Things is , the syllabus is very heavily influenced by the politicians. History is written by the winners, and the school book reflects that. It is also used for some communication/propaganda.

A couple of examples: there is still very very little about the involvement of France in the Algeria war [1954-1962] (which has never been officially recognized as a war, just “events”). And students from my generation were heavily suggested the idea of Europe was the best thing ever without any counterpoint… you need good teachers that also tell you the other version to have both and make up your mind.

So in many ways, by its international and crowd-sourced editing system, wikipedia can give a better and fairer assessment.

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