Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash.com
Knowledge is an everchanging aspect of human nature. It continues to grow, change, and develop into complex ideas that form our identities. Education and pedagogy, being the transmitters of knowledge, should follow this trend of growth as well. However, we continue to practice a very traditional style of education. Greg Whitely’s documentary, “Most Likely to Succeed,” challenges this mainstream model of education in an informative and thought-provoking way.
I never considered whether re-imagining education was necessary, however, this film provides a compelling case. The educators of High-Tech High did face obstacles while attempting to remodel pedagogy. This included skeptical parents, not reaching all curriculum criteria, and adjusting students to the self-guided education they were immersed in. Initially, I had concerns about whether this method would properly prepare students for SAT exams and post-secondary education. After reflecting on my own adjustment to University, I realized that the grit, perseverance, and individual motivation they learned would benefit them more than the coursework involved in the generic curriculum.
The start of High-tech High was a well-thought-out program that ensured the proper education of students. They followed a more robust approach to education, consisting of soft skill development and application of concepts. Soft skills include critical thinking, confidence, the ability to collaborate, and more, which all contribute to an education that resonates with students. With this different learning environment, students can become self-motivated and independent before post-secondary education, setting them up for success. On the contrary, students who are not self-motivated may be less successful in this learning style and there is no guarantee that all curriculum content will be delivered.
The traditional education system would need to be permanently modified for a remodel like High-tech High to reach its full potential. Although the film successfully remodels education for high school students, there is still a lot of progress necessary to remodel elementary education. Solidifying new models would begin creating citizens with true innovative thinking, providing more to communities and increasing chances of career opportunities. The base-level education publicly offered does not suit current-day standards of knowledge, making the system problematic in itself. Our knowledge is ever-changing, therefore the curriculum and education system should also be.
Watch the film through the Uvic Library here.
