It’s time we made major changes to the education system

New frameworks are needed that include the latest research on neuroplasticity to enhance learning

It is evident that our school systems are in need of reform as we prepare future generations to tackle major global problems. It is not the fault of the teachers, but rather the system in which we teach. Both the general public and teachers need to work together to create a tangible difference. Most schools still use outdated techniques to teach their pupils. We are making progress though. For example, some schools are starting to include mindfulness in the school timetable, and even programming.

A significant problem in education is that students are often forced to memorise information rather than understand it, which leads to a lack of real-world applicable skills. We merely become robots capable of reciting information. However, our global problems need new innovative solutions that do not fit the norm. A worldwide paradigm shift is needed in schooling.

We need to prepare our children to be able to design new solutions and products (both physical and non-physical) independently as we move off into a more remote world. It is important to use real world examples when teaching as well as avoiding giving answers so that students learn to think for themselves.

Nudging and concept-checking questions should be used to lead the students towards an answer, with answers very rarely given out to class problems when time permits. In addition, it would be nice if students could gain more practical hands-on skills in the school environment. For example, in Switzerland there is a high focus on all students completing a practical apprenticeship before university.

1. Problem solving

Creativity and problem solving are vital skills that need to be cultivated. Often we merely run on autopilot without questioning what is going on around us.

Perhaps we should introduce problem solving classes where teachers will introduce a real world problem with students needing to come up with out-the-box ideas as to how the problem could be solved. There is no right or wrong answer in these classes, and there should be a strong emphasis on this by the teacher.

2. Compulsory programming

Kids in nursery already know how to use an iPad better than their parents. So why don’t we get kids programming from their first class. We should use our technological growth to solve real world problems (climate change, developing space exploration, new complex automated systems etc.), and it is vital that everyone knows how to code in our society to increase the likelihood of finding new groundbreaking solutions.

3. Process engineering

Process engineering refers to the production of useful goods and services. Kids should learn about how the products in our society are produced, whether clean water, agricultural products, fuels (oil, biofuels etc.) and anything else of interest. This may help spark interest and a general curiosity for the outside world.

Students could even pick something that interests them on a weekly basis and then do the research to produce a simple flow diagram as to how it is produced in the industrial setting for an in-class presentation. Independent research is another vital skill that needs to be cultivated in schools.

4. Open book exams

In the real world, we always have information on the internet readily available at our fingertips, so it makes no sense why we have to memorise things for exams. It is more important to be able to source vital information rather than memorise it by heart. The best example is key dates in history. Perhaps, it is better to learn a time period rather than an exact date.

Students often forget what the learnt for their exams in just a few days by just using that short-term memory to cram before an exam. In addition, memorising information for exams only just adds to stress.

5. Languages

Most of us don’t manage to learn a language at school and spend half the time messing about. Communication and practice in the real world setting is extremely important to learning a language.

If you don’t live abroad it’s extremely difficult to learn a language. However practice with a native speaker generates much more progress, as well as cultural understanding. This is why schools should collaborate internationally to create tandem partners or penpals in which students can communicate with each other weekly. The availability of easy-to-use translation software will make communication easy for students across the language barrier.

6. Nature

Students should connect with the environment as much as reasonably possible. We have lost our innate connection with nature in the last hundred years or so. Class walks outdoors to gain exposure to sunlight and even outdoor survival skills need a place in the school curriculum.

7. Food

We have moved away from eating locally sourced food to food flown from across the globe. A study in the US shows that as much as 90 % of Americans could eat food grown within 100 miles of their home.

Horticulture (growing fruit + veg) should also be taught in schools, as well as cookery classes from primary school, which is already common in some countries in Europe. Hopefully this will show the young generation that growing something and then eating it is incredibly satisfying. There is a synergy between the two.

Cooking classes should also be implemented to teach students how to cook well. Studies have shown that when kids cook healthy food they are more likely to enjoy them and their positive perception increases. Thus they are more likely to adopt these practices in later life and be more inclined to some salad. Healthy eating practices should be also taught, such as sprouting grains nuts and legumes, and also water frying instead of oil frying.

8. Individuality

Finally, every student should be treated as unique with their own flaws and strengths. We should eliminate failures from exams, and instead use exams as a means of identifying where students could excel at in society.

We are all unique, and through creating a culture in which we emphasis focus on what we do best, we will only encourage students to follow their passion. Maybe it is better if we each learn to excel at a single discipline, rather than a multitude. Be obsessed or be average as they say.

The Super Protocol to Learning

I recently watched a conference by Logitech (see video below) in which the neuroscientist Dr Huberman proposed a new neuroplasticity super protocol based on the most recent experimental data that can be used in schools to enhance learning. Dr Huberman proposes an eight step guide.

Get Alert

It is important to get students focused before any learning is to be carried out. Several methods can be employed. Our visual field is linked to our level of focus, and merely just staring at something enhances our ability to concentrate on it. Alternatively, telling a story at the start of class help students to relate to the teacher. Studies have found that people with breathing becomes synchronised when hearing a story even if it is over a zoom call.

Get focused

White Noise is a specific frequency of sounds which enhances focus. There are other frequencies which could be used, including brown noise and even pink noise. Binary beats have also been shown to have an influence on the ability of our minds to concentrate. Binary beats refers to audio which plays different frequencies of sound in each ear. You can find all of these on YouTube.

Generate repetitions

The more repetitions you complete the more you will learn. We learn from making errors. This is why I find it wrong to punish students for making mistakes. Imagine aiming for a basketball hoop. It's going to take a certain number of repetitions to get used to where the hoop is in space as well as coordinating the appropriate movements to get the ball to fall through the hoop. This applies to all types of learning. So the more tries you complete the more you will progress.

Expect and embrace errors

Errors and mistakes are an integral process of learning. When teaching, try and be enthusiastic with your students when they inevitably make mistakes and emphasise to them that the act of making a failure will bring them closer to the goal.

Randomly insert micro-rest intervals

It has been shown that placing random micro-rests, for example during piano practice, improves learning. This is because it gives the students a chance to reflect on what they are playing, as well as not being expected by the student.

Use random intermittent rewards

If students expect a reward then the surprise factor will not be there. This means that the effects of the dopamine reward system will not be as strong. so it is better to keep students guessing as to when they may profit from their hard work.

Limit learning to 90 minutes or less

Our learning cycles in the brain can only last for up to 90 minutes before the learning bout is over and it's time to give it some rest to learn the information.

10-30 minutes post-learning NSDR

NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) refers to a number of methods to calm the mind to reach a similar state achieved during sleep. This could be having a nap, doing some meditation or self-hypnosis using the Reveri app. Studies have shown that post learning NSDR radically enhances learning, which is just further evidence that most of our learning happens when we are not actually learning.

Dr Huberman says that students do not require knowledge of the science behind the steps discussed to improve their learning, which shows just how hard-wired they are in our neurology.

What do you think? Do some of the new teaching methods mentioned have place in our schools ?