I've gotten to observe some tutoring recently and it gives me a different perspective on this than the typical "Oh look how stupid people are" reaction than probably got this post flagged.
Some people, when faced with a problem they can't answer, respond with a glib answer, or a panicked one. I propose that when you ask someone where Iran is and they don't know, they click on Northern Africa not because they think it's in Africa but because as soon as they give any answer they can be done. "Fuck it, I'm choosing North Africa."
It's like that kid who answers '5' when the teacher asks what 2x4 is. How the fuck could five be the answer? It's not even an even number! Are you stupid? No. You've given up, and you think guessing will get you out of this experience. Many of the teachers I knew would double down in this situation. Yes, you should not condition the child to get out of things by doing them badly, but now they're the focus of everyone's attention which is also detrimental to the process.
I would like it if education focused on making people more resilient and empowered to figure out what they don't know instead of trying to get out of the uncomfortable situation. If people can learn on their own you don't have to min-max education to help the most people with a single process (leaving both the gifted and the slow kids in the dust in the process).
I've said before that I think physical education should focus on how to do physical things without hurting yourself (ex: how to fall properly).
Now I'd also like it if academic education focused not on how to cram things into people's heads faster but how to keep from getting frustrated or panicked when facing adversity in learning.
Some people, when faced with a problem they can't answer, respond with a glib answer, or a panicked one. I propose that when you ask someone where Iran is and they don't know, they click on Northern Africa not because they think it's in Africa but because as soon as they give any answer they can be done. "Fuck it, I'm choosing North Africa."
It's like that kid who answers '5' when the teacher asks what 2x4 is. How the fuck could five be the answer? It's not even an even number! Are you stupid? No. You've given up, and you think guessing will get you out of this experience. Many of the teachers I knew would double down in this situation. Yes, you should not condition the child to get out of things by doing them badly, but now they're the focus of everyone's attention which is also detrimental to the process.
I would like it if education focused on making people more resilient and empowered to figure out what they don't know instead of trying to get out of the uncomfortable situation. If people can learn on their own you don't have to min-max education to help the most people with a single process (leaving both the gifted and the slow kids in the dust in the process).
I've said before that I think physical education should focus on how to do physical things without hurting yourself (ex: how to fall properly).
Now I'd also like it if academic education focused not on how to cram things into people's heads faster but how to keep from getting frustrated or panicked when facing adversity in learning.