The current education system has been criticized by some experts in the past few years, especially regarding the drop of interest of today's students in school. Both Ken Robinson (2008) and Marc Prensky (2001a, 2001b) agree upon the fact that this lack of interest may stem from an inappropriate education system for today's learners. Both authors propose a change in the way students should be taught by making use of a simple and clear language which is in accordance with the renewed ways of teaching they postulate.
Robinson (2008) points out that today's system is based on an old model which dates back to the Enlightenment and which is modelled by the interests of industrialization. He also claims that children nowadays show a greater interest in digital entertainment (such as videogames, cellphones or television) than in education, and blames their lack of interest on the structure of the model. This model seems to work against divergent thinking, that is to say the ability to come up with multiple answers to a single problem, as children seem to lose this ability as they are educated and taught there is only one answer to each question/problem. Standardized testing embodies a clear example of this thinking.
Similarly, Prensky (2001a, 2001b) criticizes an education system which in his opinion is old-fashioned and unsuitable for today's children. He refers to them as "Digital Natives” (2001a: 2), as they have been raised as "”native speakers” of the digital language of computers”, videogames and the internet” (2001a: 3); as opposed to "Digital Immigrants”, those who became familiar to this "language” later in life. According to Prensky, the problem of education is closely related to the fact that the so-called Digital Immigrants are the ones in charge of teaching Digital Natives - today's children - with the "same methods that worked for the teachers when they were students” assuming that they "will work for their students now”. As a solution to this problem, Prensky proposes using videogames to teach students in a way they would understand "the language” in which they are being taught, as well as to be more engaged in the learning (2001a, 2001b).
Although it is true that the current education system has its flaws and needs to be updated, we should not base learning on videogames; these might be a good exercise to complement learning and motivate students, but learners should also develop other abilities and ways of thinking. What Prensky refers to as the "language” of Digital Natives should not be the only language they speak. Students ideal education should not be virtual - which would detach them from reality -, but human, unless we aim to have cyborgs instead of people in the nearby future. Furthermore, Prensky does not seem to value the role teachers play in education, not only by lecturing, but also by correcting and monitoring students' progress in a humane and close way technology cannot offer.
It seem, though, that today's system fails to motivate students; the current model does not classify students' according to their interests and abilities, but merely by age, as Robinson points out. Although a common background of basic knowledge seems to be necessary for every child, a more personalized learning - which would match their abilities and difficulties as well as their aspirations and interests - may bring about more successful students. Every individual has his/her own learning pace in different areas of knowledge and abilities in the same way they are more or less talented in some disciplines than in others. Therefore, being assessed under the same criteria does not seem fair to all students, especially regarding the fact that certain abilities - such as creativity, musical talent and manual skills - are not given the same importance or prestige as sciences and languages are. A successful system needs, as well as a proper distribution of groups and subjects and fair assessment of students, effective methods, which are designed by educators. Methods, of course should be updated. However, in such a fast-changing society as it is that of today, adapting the system will not be an easy work.
All in all, both Prensky (2001a, 2001b) and Robinson (2008) seem to coincide in the following idea; education has become old-fashioned and does not suit all of today's student's needs and interests. However, we should not attempt to solve such a complex matter with simplistic solutions, such as it is the case of teaching by means of videogames, as we would probably be leaving out many important issues that need to be addressed. On the contrary, a successful solution should include making structural changes - probably in terms of methodology but also in terms of organization of students and modules - that boosted students' motivation, and guaranteed the integrity of their human qualities and values.
References:
Prensky, Marc (2001a): "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Iss: 5: 1 - 6.
Prensky, Marc (2001b): "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 2: Do They Really Think Differently?", On the Horizon, Vol. 9 Iss: 6, pp.1 - 6
