Reflective Journal 5: Reflect on education. You may choose reflect on the necessary priorities of education, how far the ideals and realities of education converge, how the problems discussed about education in US and China can be resolved. You should explicitly explain how class discussion on education in US and China have influenced/shaped your views.
I personally totally doubt the practicality of the education system in the world today, no matter it is the US or China education system. The main purpose of education is to prepare the general population, the youth today for the future ahead of them when they would move into the workforce and play a part in driving the country’s economy.
From the class discussions and research done, there is a very distinct difference between the Chinese and American education system where one is deemed as designed to produce ‘mid-level accountants, computer programmers and technocrats’ and the latter coming up with bright and innovative minds. The reason behind China’s education system is very apparent, where it is designed to produce people who can drive China’s current economy which is primarily based on exports of products made in china. On the other hand, since America is already a developed country, the aim of its education would be to nurture more innovative minds so as to drive its creative industry.
From all that I have said, I would like to point out that a country’s education system is totally based on a supply demand basis, in a sense that it is made so as to cater to its current industry needs. Hence, it is very unrealistic to judge a country’s education level just by giving standardized tests to students in different countries and region.
Moving on, what I suggest as a replacement for standardized testing would be of a practical form of assessment. As what was mentioned in class of the university, I would suggest of something similar to that form. By doing so, it truly shows the understanding of the student in that particular subject as he knows how to apply the skills learnt instead of merely memorizing formulas without ultimately understanding them.
Also, I think that the education system should be shaped in a ability basis instead of age. For example, two people of the same age may have totally different learning abilities and intelligence. Hence, it is really unfair to trap someone of such great intelligence in the education system when he/she could be learning things far more advanced than of what he is currently doing. Also, I think that students should be given the chance to choose what they really want to be and just focus and specialize on that aspect through the stages of their education instead of taking up every subject when what he is really interested in is one.
` I used to really idolize the American education system, where the students are given the freedom to explore what they really like and prefer to further their studies in. Also, I really like the style of American education where it gives the students a chance to voice out their thoughts where it offers a great platform for students to exchange their views on a certain subject so that they would be able to have a more all rounded view towards the subject. This hence helps in shaping the child’s attitude and mindset, where he would be more open-minded and willing to take in new ideas, accept challenges to his own ideas and be able to accept other people’s ideas over his own if the other one is better.
I always thought the American education system was the ideal education system until I came into contact with the different problems concerning the American education system, especially when it comes to PISA. It showed me how the American education system has ill-equipped the students where the American students stand in the middle of the crowd in the tests. On the other hand, I learnt that the Chinese education performed the best with Shanghai topping the chart. This does show how the Chinese Education has successfully stood on top of everyone in producing students well equipped for tests, and notice I didn’t mention the brightest.
Yes, it is indeed a fact that Shanghai which represented China for the PISA test topped the chart. However, does this really show that the Chinese education is of the best quality in the whole world? No, I doubt so. It merely shows the world that China has produced yet another batch of students who are able to memorize and squeeze everything needed for an A+ into their brains. I don’t really understand why China’s education system is in the limelight when it merely produced people who are good are doing what the computer does best, copy and paste. The impact of China’s education system is very apparent where in China, unauthentic products that are made after well known products are everywhere. This merely shows how the Chinese education has failed.
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Hi Terry,
ReplyDeleteYou have taken a very unique stand on the issue of education. According to you, you doubt the practicality of today's education system. I hope you can elaborate on this further.
Personally, I feel that today's education system is still very practical, in the sense that it does provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to survive in the work force. For example, in mathematics, we learn how to calculate which is a very practical ability, and in English where we learnt how to write essays and articles. This is also an important skill as it helps us in our report writing in the future when we are working.
You also mentioned that students should be given the chance to choose what they really want to be and just focus and specialize on that aspect through the stages of their education instead of taking up every subject when what he is really interested in is one. Personally, I have my doubts about this issue. A person's interest may change as he is growing up, and especially for a young student. If we allow them to choose their subjects base on their interests and an early stage, we may be limiting their opportunities in the future. Currently, students in Junior College are already somewhat specialized. Hence I believe the current system in Singapore is good enough.
That's all for now.
WenHan
Hello Terry,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very informative and entertaining blog post that you have wrote. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and while reading it some queries did come into mind.
Firstly, you suggested that we should replace standardised testing with a form of practical assignment. Although this may be a better form of testing then standardised testing, it remains a test. Is this what the educational systems of countries such as China really needs? In fact, in China, such practical classes are already held in university, as one has to understand the fundamentals and formulas in order to transfer such knowledge over to the practical area. In other words, practical testing is tied with rote memorisation. Furthermore, the results of practical testing will be the same as what China's educational system is already achieving - the production of mid level accountants, computer programmers and technocrats. What China really needs to reach the next level in education is as you have said, to abolish rote memorisation, but instead of replacing that with practical testing, China should implement the American style of education into their current education system - such as including discussions and a less test-centric approach towards education.
Secondly, you suggested that students should be classified based on their abilities and not according to age. However, I would like to point out that students are already being classified according to ability everywhere in the world. In Singapore, there is streaming, GEP and elite schools, and even within these schools students are split into classes representative of their capabilities; In China, there too is elite schools, and within such schools there are "experimental classes" - another term for elite classes, where only the best and brightest can attend. Students are already classified according to their abilities and as such there is no worry that students of vastly different learning capabilities get into the same class. Also, I personally feel that the classification of students by age is to promote interaction between students, to cultivate friendships and bonds and improve their EQ. Wouldn't you agree that it is rather hard for a 10 year old to communicate and bond with a 15 year old?
That is all for now.
Zhang Jin Lin
Hello Terry :D
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your reflective journal, in your journal u wrote about your major doubts for the education system and the practicality of it, well supported by evidence. You have identified the major flaws in the system I felt that it was a coherent approach to this question.
Firstly, I liked your point that education is based on a supply-demand basis of the economy and that therefore the real worth of the education system is the contributions the students make to the society. Indeed, I agree, education are modeled based on the needs of the economy, A successful economy has a workforce capable of operating industries at a level where it holds a competitive advantage over the economies of other countries. In order to achieve a stable economy that stays competitive, the workforce need to be skilled. As necessary skills are needed to perform a task, through education, these skills could be taught such that the production rate of the industries in the country can be increased or higher. However, in my opinion, this is not sufficient. In order to sustain a competitive market that is able to compete with other nations, one products need to be creative and innovative. This requires a lot of divergent and critical thinking, which is what Chinese is sorely lacking in, as knowledge and memory work are emphasized instead of the application.
Secondly, I find the point u made about China’s education system being a failure a hasty conclusion. You mentioned that what China workers does best is copy and paste, value-added products are few and far between, therefore Chinese education system is a failure. I disagree with this point, as education are meant to sustain the country’s progress and economy, if the Chinese education system has failed, how is it possible that China’s is progressing so rapidly? Indeed, I concede that Chinese education system lack the application and divergent thinking process, however as you have mentioned, education is based on a supply-demand basis, China needs more workers with technical skills and knowledge instead of workers that creates and innovate. China holds an advantage over other country because of its labour resource and ability to produce fast, for example When Apple needed engineers for iPhone production, 9 months were needed to gather 8700 engineers in America. It took only 15 days in China. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all) . This shows that it has a large pool of skilled workers, therefore production rate could be sustained at a high level, therefore it is too hasty of a conclusion that because China is unable to create, its education system is a failure.
Chin Ann
Hi Terry,
ReplyDeleteIt was generally a good post by you as you managed to list out different points regarding China’s and America’s education system. You stated the problems regarding both of the education systems, and your view on what the ‘ideal’ education should be like. However, there are some points that I would like to state my views on.
Firstly, you said in your post that “I think that the education system should be shaped in an ability basis instead of age.” In my opinion, I think that such an education system would not be very effective. This is because on top of a person’s academic capability, there are also many other factors that differentiates someone who is in a primary school level and one who is in a secondary school level. If our education system was to be on an ability basis, where those who are more intelligent are able to go to ‘higher education’ before those who are less intelligent, many problems would surface. This is because it would be difficult to gauge who is ‘smarter’ than others, and also, maturity would be a problem. If a 10-year-old child has the intelligence to study in university, he certainly would not have any problems coping with his studies, but because of him not being matured enough yet, socialising would become a stumbling block for him. Most certainly, he also would not be able to do well in the workforce as he is not matured enough. Through an education shaped by age, it would enable students of same age to compete with each other and push one another forward. We cannot expect all of them to be of the same intelligence, but it is also the difference of their intelligence, which allows few ‘talents’ to be seen in each age group.
Secondly, regarding your post that students should be able to take up specialized courses, and focus on what they do, I agree with what you have said. However to add on, I would like to mention that there are many schools in Singapore that already allow us to take up the specialized courses. Hwa Chong Institution is one example. Hwa Chong has the Science and Maths Talent Programme, Humanities Programme and Bi-cultural Studies Programme that students can choose. It enables them to specialize in the area that they feel they have the most interest in. There are also schools such as SOTA or Sports School, that cater to those who want excel in the arts or in sports. I believe that our society has done much to enable us to be able to have a specialized education. What is lacking is the mindset in students. Many students do not take the chance to join these specialized courses even though it is right at their grasp. If the mindset can be changed, I believe more students will then become more ‘specialized’.
Lastly, I feel that to make your entry better, you can elaborate on what should be the priorities of a good education system, and whether the priorities can be incorporated together.
In conclusion, it was a good post but lacked some statistics, and the entry would be better if you could answer the questions I have posted to you.
Cheers,
Si Jian