Ben Kestner
Thoughts on Education
Category: Uncategorized
We need to make space in the school day for students to simply talk
If you want to know what young people really think about politics, social media, school and the state of society, start by reading the report Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-Old by Shuab Gamote and Peter Hyman. Inside the Mind of A 16 year Old They travelled across… Continue Reading “We need to make space in the school day for students to simply talk”
Democracy Starts in the Classroom: The Government’s Big Chance to Get It Right
Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review. Building a world-class curriculum for all – Final Report Time to Go Further on Democracy in Education The government have just released the full Curriculum and Assessment Review – Building a world-class curriculum for all. You can find… Continue Reading “Democracy Starts in the Classroom: The Government’s Big Chance to Get It Right”
Are you taking the easy road?
This map shows two very different paths a child can take through education. On the left is the traditional route, familiar, structured, predictable. It’s safe. It moves quickly through a tunnel that’s already been built. The focus is mainly on exams, grades and following… Continue Reading “Are you taking the easy road?”
Argument for Real Democracy in Schools
Children go from being in a completely top-down system, where adults make every decision, to feeling like they have no real power to change anything when they leave school. So they end up thinking: What’s the point? I’ll just keep my head down, pass the… Continue Reading “Argument for Real Democracy in Schools”
Real Democracy in Schools.Why Lowering the Voting Age Must Go Hand in Hand With Change in Education
The UK government’s decision to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 has drawn both praise and concern. People in support argue that young people already contribute to society through work, taxes, and volunteering, and that voting from 16 will encourage lifelong engagement… Continue Reading “Real Democracy in Schools.Why Lowering the Voting Age Must Go Hand in Hand With Change in Education”
Self-Directed vs. Tutors?
A vital part of the self-directed approach (SDE) to education the world over is the commitment to fostering a natural, self-guided learning process that allows children to explore their interests and passions at their own pace, free from external pressures and prescribed curricula. Whilst… Continue Reading “Self-Directed vs. Tutors?”
Changing our schools so that we can work alongside Artificial Intelligence
Schools have perpetuated the idea of Artificial Intelligence, long before AI existed. Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly present in our lives from virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa to predictive algorithms which often guide us through questions when we visit a website. With the onset of… Continue Reading “Changing our schools so that we can work alongside Artificial Intelligence”
A 17 year Old’s Journey to Discovering Glacier Lake (democratic) School
“#DoItForTheCAS.” The screen of my phone lit up with yet another notification from one of my fellow International Baccalaureate classmates. Our Facebook group was active, now even in summer, and every time I glanced up from the Lego game I was playing with the… Continue Reading “A 17 year Old’s Journey to Discovering Glacier Lake (democratic) School”
Not another new curriculum paradigm!
Many people seem to think that they have come up with the best way of educating children. For decades, educators have been trying to adapt, change and re-mold the learning experience for our young people. Many of the schools who boast a new, progressive… Continue Reading “Not another new curriculum paradigm!”
Ben Kestner 