A New Educational Paradigm for the 21st Century

Описание: Meet Dr Ian Cunningham, the founder of a pioneering alternative to school, Self Managed Learning College (Brighton, England).

Ian says, “Every survey of employers in the UK in the last 20 years has come up with major criticisms of the educational system. Schooling does not prepare young people well for the world of work.”

He also comments on the research that he and others have carried out on successful company chief executives and experienced senior professionals. The research shows conclusively that schooling - including universities and colleges - contributes at most 10-20% of what makes someone successful in their career. In subsequent follow up research on parents in all walks of life, the contribution of schooling to leading a good life is even less.

Some of the questions which he challenges the schooling world to answer include:

If teaching is supposed to be effective why do children learn so little from it?

If teaching English improved literacy, why is it that over 50% of prisoners are functionally illiterate? And at least 6 million of the adult population in general is illiterate?

If school is the safe place for children, why are 1.5 million children bullied every year in school? And why are there thousands of severe sexual assaults in schools?

Why is there a different curriculum for children in England, Wales and Scotland? Is the curriculum just a biased invention of politicians?

Why are summer born children discriminated against in school (along with working class children, neurodiverse children and many others)?

Why does school cause mental health problems?

If every child is different, why do school pupils all have to be taught in a classroom?

In response to these issues, Ian decided to set up his own answer to school – #SelfManagedLearning (SML) College - where young people aged 9-16 can learn anything they want and in any way that they want.

In this webinar you can find out more about why Ian set SML College up, how it differs from conventional #schooling and what Ian’s vision is for a new educational paradigm for the 21st century.

"It’s no use trying to tidy up school, classrooms, the curriculum, and so on. They are all major distortions that get in the way of effective learning - and they all have to go.”

More about our guest, Dr Ian Cunningham:

Ian is the founder and Chair of Governors of SML College in Brighton. SML College is a unique organisation that supports young people (aged 9-16) in managing their own #learning. The College provides a learning community that enables young people to learn to lead a good life. There are no classrooms, no formal lessons, no imposed timetables, and freedom for young people to learn whatever they want and in any way that they want.

He is also a:- Dancer (member of Three Score Dance Company since 2011); Metal sculptor (City and Guilds qualified welder); Organisation Development consultant (for 45 years); Writer (8 books and over 150 published articles and papers) and former Company Director (from 1984 to 2021).

SML College: https://smlcollege.org.uk/

Ian's latest book, Self Managed Learning and the New Educational Paradigm: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Managed...

About our host, Alex O’Neill:

Alex is leading and coaching changemakers to make their stamp on the world. She has a lifelong passion for education and interviews inspiring guests on her podcast, Limitless, to encourage people to see the difference they can make when they step out and make their dreams a reality.

Listen to the Limitless podcast at: https://limitlesscommunity.podbean.com/

Could You Make a Donation?

This webinar was free to attend but it would be so much appreciated if you could consider making a donation towards SML College's Hardship Fund, so that they can continue to provide places for children and young people from their local community, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Here is the link to donate https://localgiving.org/charity/smlco.... Thank you for any donation you are able to give.

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