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Imagining Possible Futures with Patrick Alexander
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Patrick Alexander, an expert in education, discusses the current issues facing the education system, highlighting the overemphasis on assessments and the lack of focus on authentic, human experiences in learning. The conversation covers how radical thinking, the transformation of classroom dynamics, and the role of teachers as public intellectuals can bring potential futures into reality. Moreover, the possibility of re-imagining education without the traditional constraints of schooling is explored. Throughout the conversation, Patrick emphasises the importance of involving children in discussions about education and creating unstructured time in schools for critical discussions.
- (00:43) - Patrick shares his thoughts on where schools are right now from the perspective of an anthropologist
- (03:44) - Patrick discusses the historical context and evolution of education systems to uncover how the current structure of schools came to be
- (05:55) - Ed and Patrick cover teacher well-being and how more could be done to challenge conventional discipline within schools
- (15:36) - Patrick explores the meaning of futures literacy and how sustainability in the broadest sense, from political and economical to educational can improve the education of young people
- (19:50) - Patrick considers hopeful trends and the potential of generative AI in education
- (28:01) - Patrick reinforces the importance of creating spaces for critical conversations and rehumanising education
About our guest
Professor Patrick Alexander is an academic specialising in the anthropology of education, with a particular focus on how young people are socialised through schooling. Formerly trained as a secondary school teacher, Patrick has spent over a decade conducting in-depth research in schools. Much of this work has focused on understanding how young people are socialised into particular ideas about the life course and about what the future will look like.
Connect with Patrick Alexander.
Key takeaways
- Create spaces within the school environment for discussions about the future, allowing students to think beyond the constraints of traditional educational outcomes.
- Foster a culture of professionalism among teachers, enabling them to take a critical stance and feel empowered.
- Challenge the overemphasis on assessments and explore the potential of education without such constraints.
- Involve students in discussions about the purpose and direction of their education, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement.
- Facilitate constructive disagreement and diverse perspectives within the school community, fostering a richer educational experience.
Quotes
"What I try to bring to research in schools is sometimes described as the familiar strange in anthropological practice. So really trying to go to a situation that is unfamiliar and through a long process of research[...] to kind of understand what might at first seem strange to an outsider." - Patrick Alexander
"Look at the systems and look at the structures [within schools] and say if you were given a blank canvas, if you were to think about the future of education, what would you do differently that would improve your wellbeing?" - Patrick Alexander
"To be able to push against those constraints, those structural problems that sometimes make people feel like they haven't got any power, there has to be some kind of intellectual re-engagement and by that I mean a kind of critical, authentic engagement with the big philosophical questions of education." - Patrick Alexander
"When I think about teacher well-being and obviously[...] behaviour, student well-being, well-being in the round in schools is so kind of interlinked, you can't really think about one without thinking about the other." - Patrick Alexander
Resource recommendations
''Intellectual Wellbeing: The Pursuit of Freedom in the Professional Learning of Teachers'' available on Medium here.
''Intellectual Wellbeing in Schools: The Radical Ecological Challenge of Valuing the Future Differently'' also available here.
"Reimagining our futures together: a new social contract for education" available here.
To learn more about Futures of Education, you can find more information here.
To learn more about Futures Literacy, you can find more information here.
What will you take away?
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