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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Excellent book. It is a must read for educators, parents, or anyone else that works with children and young adults. It really lays out excellent arguements for reframing our approach to many things, especially how we go about developing ourselves as people. Depending on your outlook I think it has a great opportunity to make a large impact on your life's perspective.
I've been anticipating this book since it was first announced, about 8 or 9 months ago. I was also hopeful that the author's voice would mimic his presentation style rather than the last book of his that I tried to read, Out of Our Minds (which I couldn't get through at all). Happily, despite the many typos (around 12!), Ken's humor, narrative and story telling expertise all came though.
This is a book about not only finding your passion, but also about the importance of doing so – both for yourself and for the benefit of society. It is also about how the nature of education has to not just change but actually TRANSFORM in order to better serve those who engage in the process. Robinson's point is that in way too many instances, our educational systems discourage students from pursuing their passions – or worse yet, do not provide environments that foster finding one's element. He relays a slew of stories about prominent people who found their element DESPITE their "education", in some instances choosing to forego finishing their formal education.
There were a number of ideas which resonated strongly with me, two in particular I'll share. (1) "The future for education is not in standardizing but in customizing; not in promoting group think and 'deindividuation' but in cultivating the real depth and dynamism of human abilities of every sort." (2) Finding your element, especially if it is NOT your job, will probably enhance how you do your job.
Getting back to item (1), Robinson suggests we need to (a) transform curriculum and "eliminate the … hierarchy of subjects; (b) instead of "subjects", curriculum should be based upon disciplines, and (c) curriculum should be personalized. Agreed! Now when can we start!
This is a book about not only finding your passion, but also about the importance of doing so – both for yourself and for the benefit of society. It is also about how the nature of education has to not just change but actually TRANSFORM in order to better serve those who engage in the process. Robinson's point is that in way too many instances, our educational systems discourage students from pursuing their passions – or worse yet, do not provide environments that foster finding one's element. He relays a slew of stories about prominent people who found their element DESPITE their "education", in some instances choosing to forego finishing their formal education.
There were a number of ideas which resonated strongly with me, two in particular I'll share. (1) "The future for education is not in standardizing but in customizing; not in promoting group think and 'deindividuation' but in cultivating the real depth and dynamism of human abilities of every sort." (2) Finding your element, especially if it is NOT your job, will probably enhance how you do your job.
Getting back to item (1), Robinson suggests we need to (a) transform curriculum and "eliminate the … hierarchy of subjects; (b) instead of "subjects", curriculum should be based upon disciplines, and (c) curriculum should be personalized. Agreed! Now when can we start!
I read this book for three reasons. First, I’ve been a fan of Sir Ken Robinson since I watched his first TED Talk, “Schools Kill Creativity” along with his subsequent talks on TED.com. Second, I’m an English teacher and I agree wholeheartedly with Robinson that our educational systems need to be redesigned beyond the current industrialism model. Third, I assigned this book to my current English 302 class and wanted to read it along with them.
I was not disappointed. It’s easy to read, full of examples for every point Robinson makes, and dotted with humorous references in every chapter. My students mostly liked it too (most gave it 4-5/5 stars. My only criticism is that most of the book is filled with anecdotal examples, and it isn’t until the last chapter that Robinson actually offers some very doable suggestions for making changes.
The book is filled with some very relatable sentences that make sense and offer good advice or bring the reader to an epiphany. For example, Robinson says, “Creative insights often come in nonlinear ways, through seeing connections and similarities between things that we hadn’t noticed before. Creative thinking depends greatly on what’s sometimes called divergent or lateral thinking, and especially on thinking in metaphors or seeing analogies.”
A few pages later he writes, “We don’t just see the world as it is; we interpret it through the particular ideas and beliefs that have shaped our own cultures and our personal outlook.”
My favorite chapter is the last one, “Making the Grade.” It makes reading the anecdotes worthwhile as Robinson describes ways in which we can transform our current educational system into one that encourages creativity and happiness. I highly recommend this book for all educators, from teachers to administrators, and to policy makers, parents, and students. As Robinson says regarding life and education, “we can always try to think differently.”
I was not disappointed. It’s easy to read, full of examples for every point Robinson makes, and dotted with humorous references in every chapter. My students mostly liked it too (most gave it 4-5/5 stars. My only criticism is that most of the book is filled with anecdotal examples, and it isn’t until the last chapter that Robinson actually offers some very doable suggestions for making changes.
The book is filled with some very relatable sentences that make sense and offer good advice or bring the reader to an epiphany. For example, Robinson says, “Creative insights often come in nonlinear ways, through seeing connections and similarities between things that we hadn’t noticed before. Creative thinking depends greatly on what’s sometimes called divergent or lateral thinking, and especially on thinking in metaphors or seeing analogies.”
A few pages later he writes, “We don’t just see the world as it is; we interpret it through the particular ideas and beliefs that have shaped our own cultures and our personal outlook.”
My favorite chapter is the last one, “Making the Grade.” It makes reading the anecdotes worthwhile as Robinson describes ways in which we can transform our current educational system into one that encourages creativity and happiness. I highly recommend this book for all educators, from teachers to administrators, and to policy makers, parents, and students. As Robinson says regarding life and education, “we can always try to think differently.”
Me ha encantado!! Después de leer este libro, mi visión sobre el concepto de la inteligencia humana se ha enriquecido y ampliado.
Sir. Ken Robinson fue un visionario. Sigue siendo urgente, si queremos sobrevivir a las consecuencias de nuestra propia evolución, el cambio de paradigma en el sistema educativo que él planteaba. Pero me temo que ya llegamos tarde ...
Sir. Ken Robinson fue un visionario. Sigue siendo urgente, si queremos sobrevivir a las consecuencias de nuestra propia evolución, el cambio de paradigma en el sistema educativo que él planteaba. Pero me temo que ya llegamos tarde ...
One of the best non fiction books I have ever read. Terribly interesting and although he points out a myriad of problems in our education system, it is, all in all, inspiring. Not just for parents or students, but for those who have long left their "formal" education behind. Giving it to my 15 yr old daughter to read in hopes that it will help her explore her own interests & that she doesn't stress out too much about the ACTs.
Like a lot of people, my first encounter with Ken Robinson was within the context of his Ted speech "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" which is currently the most viewed on Ted.com. I decided to give his book a spin and found myself either wishing he had further delved into his thesis or trimmed it down a little. It is a little book but is stuffed so full of information, ideas and illustrative examples that you have to close read it. If you want the nutshell listen to the Ted Talk but overall this is a very interesting read.
Very interesting and inspirational book about finding one's real path to happiness - Robinson understands we are all born different and have different talents, therefore he points that our educational system with boxing everybody in the same standardized boxes does not really work as children often have completely unique and various interests and intelligence can't be measured. Trough stories about people who actually achieved something despite surroundings (family not approving, health issues and so on) he explains how we could find happiness trough following what our hearts tells us - along the way he explains the difference from being professional and amateur, the importance of nurturing the hobbies and how to enjoy our little "oddities" simply because it is something that makes us happy. If everybody around you find its "silly", "childish" or "immature" Robinson points that obviously one has to simply ignore surroundings and enjoy what makes us happy because its our natural response to spirit. Only rare people are lucky enough to combine hobby and profession, however the rest of us might nurture wonderful ideas and pictures in our secret lives and this books explains why it is so important never to give up the inner child.
As a teacher and researcher, much of my work has been influenced by Sir Ken Robinson's writing. While this is not a how-to guide on fixing the issues, it does bring to light many things that we have simply come to accept as fact.to create real change, we must start by acknowledging that there are other ways to look at things, and this book inspired me to do that.
An excellent book. Would recommend to anyone involved in education.
A MUST READ
extremely encouraging and captivating...especially as a student wanting to pursue her passions. I highly recommend this book for anyone of any age
extremely encouraging and captivating...especially as a student wanting to pursue her passions. I highly recommend this book for anyone of any age