EEC1103 Education in the 21st Century - Future Democratic Society

(NOTE: Submit these essays together in a single file)

Select one of the following movements and analyze the pros and cons of this alternative learning option instead of the traditional, public education pathway: Charter Schools, Home Schooling, Unschooling, Online/Virtual Schooling, MOOCs, Open Educational Resources (OER), Sudbury School: child-run schools, or another option that you might know about.  

Answer: 

Essay 1: Alternative Learning Options in the 21st Century

Introduction

Alternative learning option serves different types of students with their agreed on characteristics (Greiff et al., 2014). This study will be focused on unschooling learning option that is quite different from traditional learning options. Moreover, the study will demonstrate the pros and cons of this learning option. Apart from that, the study will also select the best learning option for my child and compare the learning option applied on me and my child.

Discussion

Unschooling is the learning method and philosophy in which the learner chosen activities are considered as the primary method learning. The students pursuing unschooling learning can learn through natural life experience like household responsibilities, play, curiosity, work experience, internship, family, books, social interaction, personal interest, travel and many others. Unlike the traditional learning options, the children under unschooling are free from any kind of burden and control of education. Moreover, Hodson (2014) opined that unschooling learning option functions with the faith that the children are naturally curious and definitely follow their own interest for learning in their own way. Moreover, the children are permitted to learn through real life experiences, which make them stronger enough towards dealing with real life issues. Hence, this learning option would best fit my learning style. However, Chaim and Kong (2017) opined that lack of proper structure and standardization of education testing may lead to knowledge gap among the children. Hence, such children can lag behind the others in term of competing with the educational competition.

According to Greiff et al. (2014) unschooling creates a learning environment, where the children are allowed to grow and nurture their creative ideas for enhancing their learning opportunities. In this way, such learning option results in enhance creativity and willingness of new learning among the children. However, Chai et al. (2017) opined that unlike the traditional schooling, unschooling learning does not have any specific arrangement and organization. Hence, the children may not develop their organized skills towards organizing their real life. Such learning option enhances the emotional strength of the children due to their increased family interaction.

I would recommend unschooling learning alternative for my child, as it is free from burden and control of traditional educational option. The child would be able to take cues from their passion and learn as and when required. The particular learning method would definitely encourage the natural and self-learning process, where they are allowed enough freedom to their own way or interest of learning (Neuman & Guterman, 2017). In traditional learning method, the teachers used to impose demand for traditional educational curriculum that actually increases the stress for the children. However, lack of structured educational curriculum and grading system in unschooling reduces the mental stress of the children. Hence, the child would get proper environment for his/her proper mental upbringing. Apart from that, this learning method provided enough opportunity to the children for their increasing bonding with their family members. Hence, the child will better understand the way of making relationship with others that can help them in their professional career.

In comparison with me, the unschooling learning option would be best suited for my child. In contemporary educational and job market, there are still many institutions or organizations, which demands higher grades in educational qualification for getting chance. In such situation, lack of proper grade of unschooling method can be inconvenient for me to get admission in higher studies or getting job scope in reputed organization. However, in case of my child, unschooling would be perfect for his educational as well as career excellence. Moreover, it has been estimated that 65% today’s children are going to do jobs that do not exist currently (Chai & Kong, 2017). Hence, the traditional skills and talents may be obsolete for performing such innovative kinds of job. In such situation, the innovative and creative learning of unschooling learning option can foster huge creativity among the contemporary children. Hence, my child would be better ready for opting for such new kind of jobs.

Conclusion

While concluding the study, it can be said that unschooling learning option give enough freedom to the children for learning in their own way. They can choose their own interested area for learning through their passion. Such learning option does not have any grading system and the children do not have to give any test for proving their educational progress. Hence, it reduces the level of mental stress of the children leading to proper mental upbringing. The learning option would be best suited for my child, as provides the scope enhancing the creativity and innovation level of education. Hence, the child would be better get ready for opting for any new kind of job.

Essay 2: Education in a Future Democratic Society: The Ethical Goal of a Level Playing Field

Introduction

Education plays an important role in establishing a responsible future democratic society in global basis (Zeichner et al., 2015). The study will examine the philosophical and sociological arguments regarding the “ends” and “means” of education. Apart from that, the study will also demonstrate the role of education in promoting civic responsibility and caring for environment. On the other hand, the study will be concerned with the role of education in promoting equal learning opportunities.

Discussion

In case of Philosophical argument regarding the “ends” and “means” education, means defines the way of gathering education and ends is the result of having education. According to Biesta (2015), education acts as the laboratory, where the philosophic distinctions are tested and become concrete. Moreover, philosophy can be means of education through which education transmit the education from one generation to others. It also provides aims of education, which decides methods, curriculum, discipline, test books, the school discipline and the role of teacher. As per philosophical perspective, education is the best means of realizing the ideals of lives. Philosophy seems to be dealing with the ends and education seems to dealing with the means of achieving those ends. On the other hand, Fredlund et al. (2015) opined that sociological aspect of education deals with making the large of social system. In case of sociology, interconnected social system act at the ends and education acts as the means of achieving those ends. Moreover, just like the social system, education has the social structure of making social interaction with the schools. Apart from that, education in the schools prepares the individual students towards learning their social roles. In this way, education acts as proper means of shaping the attitude, behavior and norms of the students.

The public education in 21^st century has essentially included civic responsibility in the educational curriculum. Since the inception of service learning, most of the universities and colleges have incorporated civic responsibility as he part of their educational curriculum. Such civic education promotes the understanding of the ideas related to democracy in the democratic society. Furthermore, the education is also associated with learning of reasoned commitment in regards to principles and values of democracy. On the other hand, Huda et al. (2018) opined that the students can also learn about their roles as being citizen of society. Hence, such education promotes their social responsibility. Apart from that, the students can also gain knowledge about the roles of government, politics and civic system for dealing with social issues. Hence, such students can better contribute in formation of organized democratic society.

21^st century public education is also associated with promoting the care for the environment. Most of the universities and colleges have incorporated environmental education as the mandatory part of their educational curriculum. Chai et al. (2017) pointed out that environmental education promotes the understanding of connection between the eco-effective welfare society and human wellbeing. Some vocation education programs also allow the students to participate in the practical activities of caring for environment. In this way, such students become high interested in caring for environment and gain practical knowledge in protecting the environment from harmful effect.

The public education of 21^st century is highly intended towards establishing a meritocratic society. Hence, the aim of such education is to provide equal learning opportunities to all the individuals regardless of economic status, religious beliefs, race or ethnic heritage, age, gender or sexual orientation, geographic or disability accessibility. According to Zeichner et al. (2015), every jurisdiction in global society has mandate primary education for every child regardless of their backgrounds. The educators of 21^st century global society better understand the cultural and social elements, which may hold back some children because of their minority or cultural backgrounds. Hence, such educators can effectively create the platform for all children to scale them and gain best skills and abilities. Apart from that, Adams (2016) stated that contemporary educational system has also initiated diversity learning, where the students from all backgrounds embrace the ideas of gender, economic and race equality for promoting equal learning opportunity.

Conclusion

While concluding the study, it can be said that the philosophical means of education is to promote the ideas of life. Sociological means of education promotes the attitude, behavior and norms among student for establishing structured society. 21^st century education has incorporated civic education and care for environment as an important part of promoting civic responsibility and care for environment among the students. Most of the jurisdictions of modern society have embraced equal learning opportunities for establishing meritocratic society. 

References

Adams, M. (2016). Pedagogical foundations for social justice education. Teaching for diversity and social justice, 27, 118-121.

Biesta, G. (2015). Positive news about the future of philosophy of education. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 34(1), 1-3.

Chai, C. S., & Kong, S. C. (2017). Professional learning for 21st century education. Journal of Computers in Education, 4(1), 1-4.

Chai, C. S., Tan, L., Deng, F., & Koh, J. H. L. (2017). Examining pre-service teachers’ design capacities for web-based 21st century new culture of learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 33(1), 1-20.

Fredlund, T., Linder, C., & Airey, J. (2015). A social semiotic approach to identifying critical aspects. International Journal for Lesson and Learning Studies, 4(3), 302-316.

Greiff, S., Wüstenberg, S., Csapó, B., Demetriou, A., Hautamäki, J., Graesser, A. C., & Martin, R. (2014). Domain-general problem solving skills and education in the 21st century. Educational Research Review, (13), 74-83.

Hodson, D. (2014). Learning science, learning about science, doing science: Different goals demand different learning methods. International Journal of Science Education, 36(15), 2534-2553.

Huda, M., Mat Teh, K. S., Nor Muhamad, N. H., & Mohd Nasir, B. (2018). Transmitting leadership based civic responsibility: insights from service learning. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 34(1), 20-31.

Neuman, A., & Guterman, O. (2017). What are we educating towards? Socialization, acculturization, and individualization as reflected in home education. Educational Studies, 43(3), 265-281.

Zeichner, K., Payne, K. A., & Brayko, K. (2015). Democratizing teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 66(2), 122-135.