UK Strategist

Schools Leaving Too Many Children Behind

Berlin (GER), September 2010 - Our schools are leaving too many children behind and are failing to teach skills that are relevant for the future. These are key points criticised by Charles Leadbeater, acknowledged UK education and innovation strategist. "In a world of information and misinformation on the web, we need people to learn how to search, question and think rather than copy and memorise," he argues. As a result, school curricula will soon become obsolete.

At the largest global eLearning conference, Online Educa Berlin (December 1st - 3rd), Leadbeater will examine the learning strategies that may be needed to change our approach towards a sustainable knowledge society. The management thinker and author is an advocate of radical transformation in education systems. His most recent work includes a study into education innovation in slums and other deprived places.

One of the lessons learnt from education in poor countries is that learning must either be enjoyable, or it must pay-off quickly: "Practical forms of learning which lead to problems being solved or money being earned or products being made is vital," Leadbeater says. Digital technologies can boost education mainly because they enable peer-to-peer learning.

Charles Leadbeater has published several acclaimed books on the dynamics of innovation. He has also advised major corporations such as the BBC on innovation strategies and worked as a senior adviser for several governments including the British and the Chinese.

UK Strategist

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