The Vulnerable Present and The Autonomous Future
In recent times one arena that has become the victim of too much visualization of the future, is the arena of education. The undermining concept in mapping the future of any arena is the data upon which visualization has been constructed. All Educators who are from slothing times, are actually freaked up at the pace at which the world is changing around them. But do kids are freaked as we all are? I might say NO. As a consequence of our fears that we are stirring up in our heads, we are visualizing an apocalyptic future. This is pushing us to lean on to the Proven Past Experiments to be our guiding principles for predicting their future, which would mold kids towards linear career paths. This superhero mindset of saving their future is actually dooming their real future. All I see is a rupture between the fearful futuristic narratives and creative perspectives of Kids.
Future is not some dimension we can climb onto and predict and make constructive decisions on it. Future is a collection of collective actions we make today with the future beings. As long as educators hold students’ hands and won’t allow the hands to help you in decision making and problem solving and accept their collaboration in your work, we are not even qualified to visualize their future. The machine world is moving towards autonomous, but the human world is not even close to semi autonomous. A true educator must understand the significance of autonomy in the classroom. Bring the guided autonomy to teaching, assessments etc. We will see how students would become responsible for the freedom you gave them.
Next time when you are ready to teach a concept in your class, just pause for a second and give children a metaphorical example of the concept and see if the student could come close to the concept. Give them this creative liberty and you actually feel amazed the way students would respond to the metaphor, from there it is the educators who connect to the concept. I am sure you must have replied the same when your teacher gave you the chance when you were a student. Ask students if they want to write an exam without an invigilator, I am sure at least 75% would see it as an opportunity to strengthen their morale. Of Course 25 % would try to satisfy us with marks. As educators we shall feel free to ask for help from students in using digital tools in the teaching learning process, I am sure they will guide us in the best possible way and don’t forget this is an ego free ecosystem. Start identifying the feudalistic rules class and eliminate one by one by creating clear purpose among students.
It is okay to be vulnerable in front of your students.It will just help us to become the best version of ourselves. This creative Liberty and exposing our vulnerabilities is our first step into their world. We need to have trust in the universe, as it guided us in our times. Sure it will do to them as well.
