Comments on: Mark Treadwell Day Preview

By: Mr. Wegner

Mr. Wegner — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:04:57 +0000

@Paul Your point about league tables is well taken – kind of ironic that I was using a justification that is really at odds with the type of learning that defies easy statistical measurement. And data can be twisted to justify any viewpoint if required – so your over-educated plumber example is a classic example of someone who learnt content at the expense of skills.

By: Paul McMahon

Paul McMahon — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:18:58 +0000

I brought Mark to Hong Kong last May to speak to educators at a 21st Century Learning conference and he was a great hit (and a great guy). He is still replying to comments on the blog from the conference. Marks ideas are backed by a lot of reading and research so he commands a lot of credibility when he speaks.
I would caution against looking to any form of league table or international ranking as the basis for deciding the direction of reform. If you look at the position of Hong Kong on the 2003 and 2006 PISA rankings you will find that the other country consistently up there with Finland is Hong Kong. A fact used by the government here to keep secondary classes above 40 and the curriculum very traditional and examination focussed.
This country allows for kids to be very studious as it does not offer the options that Oz does. 0 medals for HK in Beijing! As a consequence, the plumber here can tell you pi to at least 15 places.
I think we are looking for leaders like Obama to tell us more than how to solve geometry problems or the major rivers of Europe.

By: John Larkin

John Larkin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:24:30 +0000

Spot on Graham. Our friends in New Zealand can teach us a lot. I look forward to the chance to attend uLearn one year. I have always felt that educators in Victoria also seem to have their finger on the pulse, certainly more so than some of us bunnies up here in New South Wales. Cheers, John.