Life Based Learning ™
Delivering subject content through nine life themes
Category: New Thinking & Curriculum Reform
Promoting creativity
The phrases ‘blue-sky thinking’ and ‘thinking outside the box’ would probably be somewhere near the top of many people’s list of most annoying examples of management speak. Clichés are, by definition, tired and hackneyed, but they usually convey something important – in this case… Continue Reading “Promoting creativity”
The purpose of education
Britain’s education system “is failing on every measure”. That is the stark conclusion of the recently published Times Education Commission final report, which begins with a discussion of a fundamental question: what is the purpose of education? The report itself is a bold call… Continue Reading “The purpose of education”
Reimagining education
A year-long education commission, which took evidence from more than 600 experts across fields including business, the arts and education, has recommended major changes to the education system in response to the challenges of the coming decades. Many of the report’s criticisms of the… Continue Reading “Reimagining education”
Meeting the challenges
In June 2021 the so-called schools catch-up tsar, Sir Kevan Collins, resigned after saying that government funding for his long-term plan to help pupils make up for lost learning during the Covid pandemic fell “far short” of what was needed. The recovery plan is… Continue Reading “Meeting the challenges”
Why teaching critical thinking is critically important
Discussing the number of Americans who believe in at least one phenomenon that defies the laws of science, Professor Steven Pinker mentions psychic healing (55%), ESP (41%), haunted houses (37%) and ghosts (32%), “…which also means,” Pinker writes, “that some people believe in houses… Continue Reading “Why teaching critical thinking is critically important”
Children’s commissioner’s stirring call for a new settlement for children
The children’s commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has just published the results of the ‘Big Ask’, the biggest ever survey of children anywhere in the world, with over half a million responses. In her foreword she talks of a “heroic generation …… Continue Reading “Children’s commissioner’s stirring call for a new settlement for children”
Saluting Emma, Aleesha and the many other inspirational young people
The historic achievement of Emma Raducanu in winning the US Open having come through qualifying and without losing a single set has rightly been headline news in the last few days. She is one of Britain’s brightest sporting prospects for a generation and surely… Continue Reading “Saluting Emma, Aleesha and the many other inspirational young people”
Global Empathy Conference 2021
The online 2021 Global Empathy Conference, organised by Virtual School Australia, is on Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September, with a special opening event on Friday 10 September. It offers “highly acclaimed Australian and international guest speakers, educators, professionals from all fields of work,… Continue Reading “Global Empathy Conference 2021”
Passionate about change? Write a blogpost and share your ideas
Are you a changemaker? Are you passionate about wanting to build a better future for our children? Why not contribute a ‘guest’ blogpost to our website, setting out your ideas on the changes that you would like to see? We would love to hear… Continue Reading “Passionate about change? Write a blogpost and share your ideas”
Every child deserves the chance to experience awe and wonder
It is probably Hollywood’s most enduring movie myth, that when the director of The Greatest Story Ever Told suggested to John Wayne (in a cameo role as the Roman centurion guarding the dying Jesus on the cross) that he deliver the line ‘Truly he… Continue Reading “Every child deserves the chance to experience awe and wonder”