Part 1 of a 2-part blog series
The “Five Ws” (who, what, when, where, why) are still one of the best methods to explore the significance of just about any human endeavour. Who was involved? What occurred? When did it happen? Where did it occur? Why did it take place?
Perhaps my favourite example of the use of some of the “Five Ws” occurs in the children’s fable, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. You might recall the following:
Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
The Cheshire Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
Alice: “I don’t much care where.”
The Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.”
Carroll, and other children’s book authors, often have the ability to entertain children while speaking to adults, for example, touching on existential questions. Poems, stories, books and movies that simultaneously engage the entire human demographic. In my mind, this is sheer brilliance.
Of all the Ws, however, the “why?” is often the most important. As an educator, every student at the start of any lesson or activity (no matter how small), should be told “why” they are doing what they are about to do!
And, what about the big questions in education? Let’s look at perhaps the biggest question of all: What is the point of education?
Prompted by Alice in Wonderland and a blog post, based on research conducted by a educational consultancy firm (Ian Symmonds and Associates, October 30, 2023), that posed the question “what is the primary purpose of education in a future marked by light speed cultural and technological change?”, I thought I would propose my own Top 5 List of Purpose.
Before doing so, however, let me outline the four (summarized and condensed) key themes identified in the aforementioned blog post, resulting from the consultancy’s inquiry as to the purpose of education:
- Meaningful relationships – between people, knowledge and culture
- Instills a passion and outlet for lifelong learning
- The future will require humans to better shape and mold a changing world and a formal education is the best tool to mobilize global citizens in this effort
- A critical driver of the development of soft skill and emotional readiness that breeds adaptability and resiliency
In my blog post next week, I will provide my own Top 5 List of Purpose relating to education. Between now and then, I invite you to think about this question and perhaps chat with friends and colleagues to come up with your own Top 5 List.
Until next week!
