Edufuturists #241 Widening The Curriculum with Carl Gombrich
May 6, 2024
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Carl Gombrich, Dean of London Interdisciplinary School, discusses revolutionizing education by offering diverse and interdisciplinary programs. He emphasizes the importance of adaptive skills, critical thinking, and student agency. The podcast delves into AI in education, fostering responsibility in students, problem-solving with diverse perspectives, and speculating on the future of education and society.
Education is evolving to prioritize skills like adaptability and critical thinking over traditional memorization methods.
An interdisciplinary approach in education is crucial for addressing real-world issues and fostering adaptability among students.
Incorporating AI technology in education can enhance learning outcomes and promote collaboration between students and intelligent tools.
Deep dives
Change in Education Paradigm
The podcast episode delves into the changing landscape of education driven by factors like AI and transparent use of technology. Students are highlighted as pivotal in this shift, moving away from traditional exam-focused learning structures. The conversation emphasizes the importance of skills such as adaptability and critical thinking over memorization, underscoring the need for a broad range of multi-disciplinary skills to navigate the future.
Interdisciplinary Education
The discussion spotlights the value of an interdisciplinary approach to education, focusing on tackling complex real-world problems. The curriculum at the London Interdisciplinary School emphasizes taking multiple perspectives to address issues like inequalities, sustainability, and technology ethics. Encouraging students to view problems from various disciplinary angles fosters adaptability and resilience, essential in a dynamically changing world.
AI's Impact on Learning and Assessment
The podcast explores how AI is revolutionizing learning and assessment methods in education. By incorporating AI tools in teaching and assessment, students experience enhanced learning outcomes and critical thinking skills. The episode underscores the need for transparent use of AI technology in academic settings, promoting collaboration between students and intelligent tools to elevate the learning process and enhance problem-solving abilities.
Encouraging Student Activism in Education
The podcast episode highlights the importance of empowering students to become change agents in the education sector. It discusses the impact of individuals like climate activist Greta Thunberg, emphasizing the need for education to focus on student outcomes and listen to their voices. The episode brings attention to the transformational power of student activism and suggests that education should shift towards supporting and amplifying student voices to drive meaningful change.
Promoting Student Curiosity and Autonomy
Another key point raised is the significance of fostering curiosity and autonomy in students. The discussion revolves around encouraging students to ask questions, challenge knowledge, and take initiative in their learning journeys. The episode highlights the importance of providing students with the space to explore multiple perspectives, develop critical thinking skills, and take responsibility for their own education. It suggests that education should move towards a more inclusive and diverse approach to learning, preparing students for a future that values creativity, reflection, and real-world problem-solving.
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Carl Gombrich, Dean of London Interdisciplinary School. Carl is the Lead Academic at LIS and oversees curriculum design, teaching, and learning. He was previously a Professorial Teaching Fellow of Interdisciplinary Education at UCL and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Before moving into higher education leadership, Carl studied and taught maths, physics and philosophy. He has also studied and taught music and was a professional opera singer for a while, having trained at the National Opera Studio in the UK, where he was the Royal Opera House scholar.
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Ben & Steve x
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