Week 10- Q4

Is there a potential problem being stored up for people if 'education' is tailored to fit into their cultural and personal preferences?

In terms of Wenger's notion that people learn better when they are in a community of practice with people who share similar interests, cultures etc then in response to the question of whether the idea of tailoring education to fit with peoples own preferences poses a problem, I would say no. However, if we look at the bigger picture if education was to be tailored to fit individuals cultural and personal preferences then we would find ourselves separating people into groups who all have similar views. This would not be beneficial for these students because one of the main parts of learning I believe is to integrate with other students who share similar or dissimilar views. If everyone was of the same views or shared the same culture then there would be no diversity amongst students. Given that the U.K is a multicultural country is would be unwise to seperate cultures, as this could lead to negative effects on the way these groups interact with one another. The below is a report I found from the Houses of Parliament on 'Individually tailored education'.

35. We welcome the Government's proposals to provide more individually tailored education. These policies, directed at what actually happens in classrooms, are as important as anything in the White Paper. These proposals could directly and beneficially affect every child at school in England, and we look forward to seeing how matters develop in practice.

36. We do, however, sound two cautionary notes. Included in the chapter on personalised learning are proposals on the gifted and talented programme and for an increase in setting and grouping by ability and attainment. Professor David Gilborn, from the Institute of Education at the University of London, drew our attention to the fact that, according to DfES statistics, white pupils were twice as likely to be identified as gifted and talented as pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds in general (10% of white pupils; 6% of pupils of Indian origin; 5% of pupils of Pakistanis origin; 4% of pupils of Black Caribbean origin; and 2% of pupils of Black African origin).

This report shows that individually tailored education may be beneficial to those who are talented and gifted. It is however effected by race, as more white people are more likely to be identified as gifted as oppose to Black or Asian people. Education is not there simply to be adjusted for students who share different views, or like different things it is there to provide learning and develop one's skills and personality. I think is education was to be tailored to meet certain groups needs then many problems would arise, it would also be very costly to the government and I think money could be spend elsewhere on better resources. In an article on the BBC news website, Mike Baker asks what exactly is tailored/personalised education?

"re-integration of learning, life and community", making use of "catalogue and natural versions of curriculum and assessment" and "de-coupling of age-stage progressions". ..

"That White Paper said personalised learning meant a "tailored education for every child and young person". So, behind this haziness, the reality is that personalised education could be the biggest change to teaching and learning for many decades. It has the potential to re-engage the interest of thousands of unmotivated teenagers."

Baker conludes however it would be difficult for the government to implement and challenging for the the teachers and schools. Overall I think that tailored education would cause quite a few problems in regards to who decides who gets special treatment, race issues, cost effectiveness...Educations job is to educate as many people as possible, seperating people into groups may effect there learning experiences and views of other groups.

Houses of Parliament Report
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmeduski/633/63306.htm

BBC News- Tailoring Lessons for every pupil. (Mike Baker)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5021550.stm