Educational future: children more creative, less boring and stressed

If the most important qualities were those intelligence tests are able to evaluate, our civilization would never have developed as it has. " Ken Robinson

The emerging industrial revolution educational systems subject children to endless examinations where mathematics and language predominate over other materials.

Many of the things that our fathers told us no longer apply. The model "studies, get a job and climb within the company" is obsolete. In addition, this model happiness of individuals does not matter at all. So my message today is this: let the children play Let me explain why. Our society has changed greatly in the last fifty years. The economic model is being transformed from a production-industrial paradigm to a model based on business services, information, and knowledge. Therefore, it stands to reason that the qualities required of individuals in the future also change. 

Originated in the industrial revolution education systems, they have capitalized teaching to this day. Its main purpose: to prepare people to enter the productive sector. They are characterized, therefore, by several things, although we seem obvious, it might not be so: to separate children by age, according to his facility with mathematics and language, strictly distinguish between "science" and "letters" (giving more value to the first) and very important: pressure on young people to decide as soon as possible, where they want to direct their professional future and the educational-industrial system born from the need to prepare workers.qualified so they could work in factories and conduct mechanical work. The system also assumed, therefore, the need for standardization and gave a high value on repetition and memorization of data. In other words, what mattered (and still important) are the results, the productive potential of the individual. Needs and potential "hidden" from students spend in the educational production system into the background.Consequence: many children are bored in class, they get frustrated, they feel excluded. However, according to some studies, non-curricular talents (creativity, intuition, flexibility, spontaneity, empathy, intercultural skills or organizational capacity) will be much more important in the future. The reasons: the aforementioned change of business model but also career models (linear and before long - now changing and multitasking).

Scientists: intuition, passion, and curiosity

Edwards O. Wilson, a professor at Harvard University biology professor and winner of two Pulitzer prizes, note: "I've met a lot of students who did not dare to venture into scientific careers for fear of mathematics. But, after all, in the vast majority of scientific disciplines, passion and intuition are more important than math. " In his book Letters to a young scientist, Wilson is even more explicit: "Many scientists worldwide are successful, from a mathematical point of view, little more than semi-literate". And it gives perhaps the key: first, passion, then preparation and in some cases, the preparation is given the wrong way.

So how should educate children?

The productive-industrial model raised this in response to another question: what would you be more (doctor, mechanic, plumber)?Therefore, the proposed model "to study, work, produce".

It is possible that the educational model of the future, as career models will be very different (non-linear, multiple jobs, multitasking), as well as the (creativity, empathy, communication) skills needed, try to answer other questions: What do you like to do, they make you feel good (writing, traveling, compose, analyze, order)?

All this may sound very abstract when thinking about an educational model, so let me give an example of what I try to explain: the other day I was talking with the director of a science museum. His main concern was to ensure that the museum would appeal not only to adults but also to children. In the end, he concluded that the best museum would be one that would allow children to play and run freely ultimately play.

And it is that seeing every day my five-year-old daughter play, invent, communicate, associate with others, find creative solutions, ask questions, I am convinced now of something my mother told me many years ago: let the kids play. What a beautiful idea: maybe one of the keys of the future of education is to give the children a little more air time to learn to play and being more themselves, and probably happier. This may be achieved, as some argue, relying on e-learning or more practical and less theoretical care classes.