I don't consider myself a techno geek, but I feel that it's my job to keep myself up to date on what's currently going on, in terms of general science and technological progresses. I just volunteered to update a Dhamma Yatra web site and thus was given a whole bunch of text and media files: audio and video. What was amazing to me was how many free tools are available on the web and how user-friendly they are. Even to a complete newbie like me, I could search and download freewares that do audio/video files editing (separate programs). Considering that these programs are free and they work, it is really really cool...
And I wonder, are humans rendered useless because we can do so many things much faster and with much less labor involved? It means that traditional education may not prepare students well enough for the current job situation. Because changes come so suddenly and potentially destructively, adaptability is key. I think it's very important that kids must learn how to teach themselves new things. What I found disappointing was when my students told me they couldn't find this and that or couldn't do such and such. I said, well, that's what the Internet and libraries are for. Go search for it. I think our learning by rote and tutoring schools totally kill students' confidence that they can learn by themselves. My 4th year undergrad student told me that his part-time job was to tutor business-school undergrads on the subject of calculus. I used to believe that tutoring schools end once students enter universities. Obviously, it isn't.
Well, I must confess that I did go to tutoring schools too when I was in my 9th grade (ม. 3) and preparing to enter a highly selective high school. And I did have extra helps in high school. But during the last year of it, I realize that, with practice books, I could work on problems by myself at home and thus saving myself the traveling time and the resulting exhaustion. The problem drill paid off handsomely. I did get to the school I aimed for. But I have a non-typical gut feeling that I could do it.
I guess it all boils down to self confidence and self discipline. The very essence of what makes a person succeeds. Be it, worldly or spiritually.
And I wonder, are humans rendered useless because we can do so many things much faster and with much less labor involved? It means that traditional education may not prepare students well enough for the current job situation. Because changes come so suddenly and potentially destructively, adaptability is key. I think it's very important that kids must learn how to teach themselves new things. What I found disappointing was when my students told me they couldn't find this and that or couldn't do such and such. I said, well, that's what the Internet and libraries are for. Go search for it. I think our learning by rote and tutoring schools totally kill students' confidence that they can learn by themselves. My 4th year undergrad student told me that his part-time job was to tutor business-school undergrads on the subject of calculus. I used to believe that tutoring schools end once students enter universities. Obviously, it isn't.
Well, I must confess that I did go to tutoring schools too when I was in my 9th grade (ม. 3) and preparing to enter a highly selective high school. And I did have extra helps in high school. But during the last year of it, I realize that, with practice books, I could work on problems by myself at home and thus saving myself the traveling time and the resulting exhaustion. The problem drill paid off handsomely. I did get to the school I aimed for. But I have a non-typical gut feeling that I could do it.
I guess it all boils down to self confidence and self discipline. The very essence of what makes a person succeeds. Be it, worldly or spiritually.
Comments