The #EFF9 debate “To school or not to school?” took place on Monday, 20 January 2014 at Westminster Central Hall, London ahead of BETT 2014. The debate was held at the Education World Forum with over 100 international ministers in attendance, representing over 83% of the world’s population.
What was the debate all about?
Many of the schools around the world were built for a different time. Schools are being constantly pushed to improve and evolve but can they? The skills we require from students are changing and the student’s needs and expectations are changing. If we are to support these changes to what extent can we rely on traditional approaches to learning; to what extent do we require an entirely new approaches to learning? Does the drive for change and the pressure of economic forces mean that the notion school is outdated, or can schooling be changed to better support the needs of today’s learners and the economies within which they work?
Opening the debate was Senator David Coltart and guest speakers Vicky Colbert, Founder of Colombia’s Escuela Nueva and Ramji Raghavan Founder of India’s Agastya International Foundation. The debate was also joined by special guests Alexander Uvarov from Russia, as well as Kristen Weatherby. A full list of special guests can be viewed here.
Here are some Twitter highlights of the debate:
#EFF9: http://t.co/KvDvJDaA0f via @YouTube A little taster of what’s to come TOMORROW 10:15 GMT LIVE with audience of ministers at #EWF2014
— EFF (@effdebate) January 19, 2014
Thrilled to be here in person at #EWF2014 for the #EFF9 debate starting now “To school or not to school?”: http://t.co/TcUVB2mV8Q
— Michael Furdyk (@mfurdyk) January 20, 2014
First day .@EWF2014 kicks off with @MichaelFullan1 talk about new pedagogies for #learning
— Brian Lewis (@blewisiste) January 20, 2014
Ramji Raghavan – 3 elements of learning – The Ah! Element, The Aha! moment & The Haha moment… #eff9#ewf2014
— Helen Honisett (@Helencp) January 20, 2014
Shifting from “Yes” to “Why” #EFF9#EWF2014
— Ken Royal (@kenroyal) January 20, 2014
RT @Helencp: Innovation requires allowing schools to succeed in a different way #EFF9#ewf2014
— Aditya Gupta (@connect_aditya) January 20, 2014
Peter Hill says that we are facing a validity issue when it comes to assessment. Couldn’t agree more. #npdl#EFF9
— Kourosh Houshmand (@Kourosh_Housh) January 20, 2014
Diffusion of learning – world wide movement. Globalisation of the exchange of ideas is where we will really see this work. #eff9
— Janice Prandstatter (@JanP65) January 20, 2014
I agree that student engagement (and teacher engagement) needs to be looked at more closely! #EFF9
— Lucy Gray (@elemenous) January 20, 2014
.@newpedagogies launch wrapping up at Education World Forum now. #NPDL#EFF9
— Erin Millar (@erinmillar) January 20, 2014
“@elemenous: Check out Michael Fullan’s white paper here : Towards a New End: Pedagogies for Deeper Learning http://t.co/I9vEUssOQ1#EFF9”
— ICT in Education (@terryfreedman) January 20, 2014
Great to be next to @haifjordan at #EFF9 – online with Hong Kong, Australia, New York, São Paulo & rest of the world. Jim Wynn in chair!
— Tim Unwin (@TimUnwin) January 20, 2014
Is schooling outdated, or can the idea and construct of school be changed to meet the needs of today’s learners: David Coltart #EFF9
— EFF (@effdebate) January 20, 2014
.@DidacIndia -To school or not to schoo
l? Relevant globally, more so in developed countries. #Eff9
— Aditya Gupta (@connect_aditya) January 20, 2014
Motivation to learn is key to learning says Ramji Raghavan during #EFF9, #handsonlearning, #schoolforall
— Jodie Pozo-Olano (@JPozoOlano) January 20, 2014
Ramji Raghavan v engaging on importance of exploration in learning & taking science labs to learners – including on motorbikes! #eff9
— Jim Knight (@jimpknight) January 20, 2014
I agree that education should be about learning to question, not only being able to answer. “Shifting from yes to why.” #EFF9
— Erin Millar (@erinmillar) January 20, 2014
@elemenous Fair point! Data is often the best way to get gatekeepers to open the door and make change. #EFF9
— Promethean (@PrometheanUSA) January 20, 2014
Need to change the role of the teacher – from the bottom up. Vicky Colbert #eff9
— Kristen Weatherby (@Kristen_TALIS) January 20, 2014
Vicky Colbert stresses that there was nothing new, but the impact was demonstrable and cites the value of research published worldwide #EFF9
— EFF (@effdebate) January 20, 2014
#EFF9 process of generation of innovation, people need to see a model
— Eliane Metni (@emetni) January 20, 2014
The most sustainable change in #education is from ground up. “The actors of change need to be the schools & teachers” Vicky Colbert #EFF9
— Joe Avison (@joeavison) January 20, 2014
Children teaching Children…allowing mentors to develop. #eff9
— Samantha Clewes (@SamanthaClewes) January 20, 2014
@effdebate@Kristen_TALIS My experience is that innovation gets swallowed up by the glacial creep of habitus of formal structures #EFF9
— Derek P Robertson (@derekrobertson) January 20, 2014
#eff9 Only schools care about what you learn. The rest of the world wants to know what you can do. Therein lies the problem.
— Phillip Cowell (@Phillip_Cowell) January 20, 2014
Startling facts: 57 million children not in primary school around the world. That number increases in secondary school. #EFF9
— Promethean (@PrometheanUSA) January 20, 2014
#eff9 Balint Magyar Hungary says Govts need to provide the enabling freedom framework for education to innovate
— Abel Caine Fiji (@abelcaine) January 20, 2014
Great to see how EFF bring views from an international audience to the table – great use of technology #eff9
— Jim Buchan (@jimbuchanruach) January 20, 2014
We will be looking forward for these improvements in future. Proud that Indonesian Minister is one of the person whom concern about it #eff9
— Herdayanto S. Putro (@hsputro) January 20, 2014
The power lies within communities, They share stories & experience, We create powerful digital content, We create the global demand #EFF9
— Maha Taibah (@mahataibah) January 20, 2014
#EFF9 takes reform debate to EWF education ministers (MerlinJohnOnline) http://t.co/QCedomu2Qm < featuring projects from Colombia & India
— Tony Parkin (@tonyparkin) January 21, 2014
“@RabMaryam: More & more Teachers are resistant to change in most emerging countries. Can’t generalise between developed & developing #EFF9
— Aditya Gupta (@connect_aditya) January 20, 2014
Looking at education with eyes wide open! Great EFF debate today at the EWF London. #EFF9 #EmpowerTeaching
— Machele Stefhon (@mstefhon) January 20, 2014
About Education Fast Forward (EFF)
Education Fast Forward (EFF) brings together leading global experts and change agents from the world of education to discuss the topic
s that matter most. The forum addresses the key challenges facing governments, educators and employers both now and in the future, and aims to find practical resolutions.
About Education World Forum (EWF)
Education World Forum (EWF) is the annual global summit for national ministers of education and their immediate delegations. It is the internationally recognised ministerial forum for debating future practice in education and is a closed event by official invitation only.
