Children no longer need facts because they can look them up on smartphone, claim teachers (U.K.)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | April 4, 2012 | Graeme Paton

[Stoat]

Teachers said lessons should put a greater emphasis on broad skills such as independent research, interpreting evidence and critical thinking rather than learning dates, facts and figures by rote.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers warned that pupils risked being failed by a Coalition overhaul of the curriculum that will emphasise the core knowledge that pupils should acquire at each key stage.

It claimed that the move represented a throw-back to the 50s and would “kill children’s creativity”.

Jon Overton, a teacher from inner-London, said that smartphones – with full internet access – can by used by pupils to quickly search for facts.

Addressing the union’s annual conference in Manchester, he gave the example of Mozart’s birthday, saying phones took less than a second to find

“We are no longer in an age where a substantial ‘fact bank’ in our heads is required,” he said.

“What we need to equip our young people with are skills; interpersonal skills, enquiry skills, the ability to innovate. That is what universities are saying is lacking, that is what employers say is lacking; transferrable skills that ultimately will make a difference in the life of a young person.”

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has warned that too many children are finishing compulsory education lacking the most basic knowledge because existing syllabuses have been stripped of core content.

An expert panel has now been formed to review the curriculum, with new specifications in the core subjects to be introduced in 2014. 

[Stoat]

Although this article is from the U.K. I would caution American readers not to discount its relevance to us here in the USA.  A great many social, cultural and economic trends gain a foothold first in Great Britain and are then emulated by the Left elsewhere.

 

Some older Free Republic threads which may be of interest:

Churchill dropped from England's history syllabus (- pandering to a P.C. agenda-)

UK- Half of young people do not recognise Winston Churchill... & will be 'forgotten' in 80 yrs

 

[Stoat]

“Thought you might be interested” ping

[barmag25]

smartphones – with full internet access – can by used by pupils to quickly search for facts.

...Because everything on the internet is true...

[sand lake bar]

An old, tired idea that has been thoroughly demolished. But the beauty part for the left is that empty minds are easily manipulated.

[C210N]

Well, gotta somewhat agree with this assessment. After all, nothing good can come of having students memorize the Koran.

[DuncanWaring]

It claimed that the move represented a throw-back to the 50s and would “kill children’s creativity”.

That's curious.

People educated in the 50s (and before) "created" the Apollo program.

[chesley]

Might be a good idea: IF THEY ACTUALLY TAUGHT ‘CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS’.

But that’s not what they are after. Besides, we all know how accurate the Web is.

[Karliner]

So how would they teach science? Or welding?"okay class this is a torch and there's the acetylene and oxygen lines. Now please refer to the anarchists handbook...."

"Okay class, it's time to dissect the cadaver. Johnny, put down the samurai sword now!"

I mean what can possibly go wrong leaving children to their own devices? Some might think the German's really did bomb Pearl harbor and others would never remember just how many hundreds of millions were killed in the last 250 years to preserve their right to make up their own convenient history. So what are we paying teachers for again?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Makes perfect sense...until “Skynet becomes self-aware”.

[mountainlion]

So if you get out of cell coverage or your batteries go dead you become immediately STUPID!

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-—...Because everything on the internet is true...——

As opposed to what, textbooks?

A true education should teach people how to think (grammar and logic) and impart religion. Everything else is non-essential.

[sthguard]

I tell my (college) students that Google etc makes it relatively easy to find information on a given topic, at least if you know how to use keywords effectively (many of them don’t). But then I remind them of Thomas Sowell’s point: “Facts do not speak for themselves. They speak for or against competing theories. Facts divorced from theories or visions are mere isolated curiosities.”

Without the critical thinking skills to frame and apply knowledge, Google is useless.

[proxy_user]

Now factual knowledge, as opposed to knowledge of virtue, might well be one area in which Meno’s paradox has some force. If you don’t know anything at all, how can you realize there is a gap in your knowledge?

[G Larry]

Then the kids should stay home, because they sure don’t benefit from the opinions of teachers such as this!!

[BitWielder1]

This is so wrong on so may levels.

If you know nothing, you won't even know what to look for.
Without some background knowledge, how can you sift through the junk hits?
Without knowledge of the subject, you have no way to tell if what you found is accurate or relevant.
Without extensive knowledge, you can't tell if the information you're looking for has been purged from the search engine.

Don't fall into this trap. Use the web but don't rely on it or trust it.

[JimRed]

Then the control of content will be even more important to the regime. Look it up on your smertphone and get the “approved” version!

[webheart]

So if you get out of cell coverage or your batteries go dead you become immediately STUPID!

In addition to coverage area and battery limitations, someone is going to have to pay 30 a month for a data plan for each and every student. They will need jobs, or a public subsidy. Then, they all need smartphones. They will need jobs or some other way of paying for them. Not to mention, the smartphones will need to be replaced every 2 years, just to keep up with technology. Of course, they can be broken, lost or stolen. Maybe we will need a universal phone insurance mandate.

On the upside, we will be able to know where each and every one of them is at any given time.

[az_gila]

Try the Smart Phone look-up in a discussion with a liberal.

The abhor actual facts and will debase them based on the source, even if it is the NYT or a White House web site - “that's not what they meant” or “that doesn't count”...

Try it, and ask the liberal which internet source they would trust - you usually can't get an answer. Their favorite sources are long on opinions and short on facts...:^) It's good for a laugh.

[Stoat]

“Thought you might be interested” ping

[Slings and Arrows]

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY