Saturday 21 November 2015

Film No. 76 (2015) Most Likely to Succeed. October 21st.

Film No. 76 (2015) October 21st.  7.00 PM REDMOND THEATRE  Ocean Reef. 


"We divide the day up in High Schools into bits of time, into 40 or 50 minute blocks then we ring bells and people begin to shuffle around the building ...... that's an organisational devise it's not an educational principle". (An on screen quote by Educational expert Sir Ken Robinson).





There is a scene early in this thought provoking documentary where a facilitator fronts a group of students and suggests they find a way to organize themselves following certain criteria. The students look at one another quizzically wondering who should move first or more importantly should they risk movement in case they are wrong. This sums up where Most Likely to Succeed is headed. 


This film asks the question, "Based on an education system established decades ago, is the right system in place for an ever changing world?" We then take a prolonged visit to a less conventional education campus, High Tech High San Diego US. Here students are facilitated by teachers while they work their way towards presenting a variety of their own projects either via public performance or display.


Where is the sense in that? I hear the question as it reverberates around the cold corridors of a conventional school. 


Most Likely doesn't quite work like the amazing display board of cogs and wheels depicted in the film, mainly because we don't see enough evidence of the benefits of this unconventional learning environment. That's not to say as an educator I don't believe this method of learning doesn't work, I have no doubt it does. All people learn differently, thus places like High Tech High are essential on the education landscape. There is much food for thought here. If you are an educator or a parent with a child who doesn't fit with conventional learning methods and environments then this film is a must watch.  9GUMS.   






  

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