Curiosity Birthed a Learner

 

Curiosity Birthed a Learner


     Watching Sugata Mitra's TedTalk I resonated with many of the sentiments he expressed, specifically regarding the way schools currently run. He spoke of the last standing empire in history, Great Britain, and how public education systems were created to create copies of each other to keep the systems running. You can see the same push to assimilation in the Native American boarding schools, which primarily took place from 1869-1960s, were designed to "Kill the Indian, Save the Man".  This same narrative is played out over and over again in schools all across this country, and all across the world.

    Mitra pushes to use technology to spark the curiosity in children to motivate them to learn. He shines light on the importance of curiosity, which I was thinking is something we take away from young people. I have been reflecting on the language I hear when speaking to young people and the language I use. I find that we continuously contain their thinking and synthesize down instead of leaning in and engaging with young people on their terms. I also think about the phrase "curiosity kills a cat", and I understand the fun in using idioms like this, but the message is don't ask questions. I think that is the message we repeat over and over to young people while we continue to push cookie cutter curriculum. 




    We can spark that curiosity, as educators and teachers, by engaging young people, asking quality questions, and back off.  Mitra's experiment, leaving a computer in the wall of a remote village to see what children would do with it, showed that children had the drive and desire to learn when they were left to do so. Those young people never had to compromise who they were and were able to learn information way beyond their years in another language!!!! 

    I believe the role of the teacher is to facilitate an environment that fosters the CO-CREATION of community and knowledge.  I want to emphasize co-creation because it is part of my "why", I believe young people learn best when they feel a part of a community,  have voice and power in the community, and are inspired. I work along side youth to create the space where we are all learning and understand it is a continuous process. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 5, 2021 at 9:04 PM

    Yes! You brought so many important perspectives and examples into this conversation.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DaniaJuly 12, 2021 at 11:49 AM

    It's wonderful that you were able to use Mitra's talk to solidify and provide more justification for your "why".
    Thank you for bringing up the "curiosity killed the cat" quote and the problematic nature of using that as a tenet in the classroom. That was an, "oh my GOD" moment!! Thinking about it now, I can't believe that curiosity has ever been so blatantly discouraged.
    You're right, we all need to make a conscious effort as educators to encourage nurture curiosity, not squash it.

    ReplyDelete

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