Comments on: Infinite Information, Infinite Ignorance http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:41:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: vasudevan http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-115233 vasudevan Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:02:09 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/#comment-115233 Our children are burdened with trash. We can do away with History/Civics/Geography and the second and third languages. In any case, these can be offered as optional for those who wish to pursue a career in divisive politics which anyway teach us that India is a continent and every indian not residing in his own individual country (now called as 'state' by mistake) is a foriegner due to be treated thus and likely to be chucked out at any time. Therefore, there is no need to learn about the history of an alien continent or learn its various alien languages. Our children should learn only their own mother tongue (should they chose so) or they can learn one common languge out of interest. As long as they know english it is enough to go round the globe and earn in dollars or to settle down anywhere in the other continents. Once thus deprived of the trash the children will learn only basic science or arts (as per their own choice) and would find lot of time for more useful vocations like singing/dancing/dramatics/painting/music/adventure/etc.etc. which will be the true education they need in life to get noticed by the boss. Our children are burdened with trash. We can do away with History/Civics/Geography and the second and third languages. In any case, these can be offered as optional for those who wish to pursue a career in divisive politics which anyway teach us that India is a continent and every indian not residing in his own individual country (now called as ’state’ by mistake) is a foriegner due to be treated thus and likely to be chucked out at any time. Therefore, there is no need to learn about the history of an alien continent or learn its various alien languages. Our children should learn only their own mother tongue (should they chose so) or they can learn one common languge out of interest. As long as they know english it is enough to go round the globe and earn in dollars or to settle down anywhere in the other continents. Once thus deprived of the trash the children will learn only basic science or arts (as per their own choice) and would find lot of time for more useful vocations like singing/dancing/dramatics/painting/music/adventure/etc.etc. which will be the true education they need in life to get noticed by the boss.

]]> By: vakibs http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-114957 vakibs Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:49:48 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/#comment-114957 Hi Atanu An informative post. My comment is in relation to what I wrote to your previous post (regarding the speech of Michel Serres) Before the advent of computers, we had other ways of manipulating information. Two significant changes that the world has experienced were (1) writing and (2) printing. The systematic compilation of knowledge began in earnest after (1). But due to the extreme scarcity of disposable knowledge, the memory of a student had been a vital ability. Specifically, (2) has produced a significant change in the way children get educated. With a library of printed books at his disposal, the teacher was not forced to memorize all the subjects that he taught to the students. But the unit of a teacher still remained, as one who can guide the student towards his personal needs. What is happening right now in the internet age is another step forward (3). The infinite power of copying and disseminating information that we possess, gives us new capabilities. The entire learning history of a student can be tracked, and his needs can be assessed very objectively. The notion of a single-monolithic-teacher also disappears, as the student can be coached by an entire range of virtual entities. We in India need to harness this infinite energy of connectedness. This will be really useful as the number of teachers in India who are available by physical presence is very low, and can hardly cater to the needs of its population. But we are still lagging behind the earlier stages. Since we didn't have the printing revolution itself (2) in its entirety, we in India still proceed with the attitude of (1) where we prize memory and value rote learning. Hi Atanu

An informative post. My comment is in relation to what I wrote to your previous post (regarding the speech of Michel Serres)

Before the advent of computers, we had other ways of manipulating information. Two significant changes that the world has experienced were (1) writing and (2) printing.

The systematic compilation of knowledge began in earnest after (1). But due to the extreme scarcity of disposable knowledge, the memory of a student had been a vital ability.

Specifically, (2) has produced a significant change in the way children get educated. With a library of printed books at his disposal, the teacher was not forced to memorize all the subjects that he taught to the students. But the unit of a teacher still remained, as one who can guide the student towards his personal needs.

What is happening right now in the internet age is another step forward (3). The infinite power of copying and disseminating information that we possess, gives us new capabilities. The entire learning history of a student can be tracked, and his needs can be assessed very objectively. The notion of a single-monolithic-teacher also disappears, as the student can be coached by an entire range of virtual entities.

We in India need to harness this infinite energy of connectedness. This will be really useful as the number of teachers in India who are available by physical presence is very low, and can hardly cater to the needs of its population.

But we are still lagging behind the earlier stages.

Since we didn’t have the printing revolution itself (2) in its entirety, we in India still proceed with the attitude of (1) where we prize memory and value rote learning.

]]> By: chenchu0987 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/comment-page-1/#comment-114939 chenchu0987 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:13:22 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2008/03/02/infinite-information-infinite-ignorance/#comment-114939 The above post, as usual is absolutely correct. The 12-year long torture routine called the school system in India is the single biggest talent killer in the country, in addition to being responsible for the large drop-out rates. Instead what can be provided,as a temporary fire fighting measure, are "capsules" of education in the all important skills of reading, writing, arithmetic and critical thinking over say 3 or 4 years targetting an age range of 8-14 years. Upon completion, the candidates could choose to study further or engage in vocational training. Though the above period of study seems too short, it should be sufficient to transfer the skills to the students. Learning is essentially a self driven process, and no amount of teaching or coaching is likely to make a major difference once the critical skills are in place. Mr. Ashok Ganguly of the CBSE is gradually rationalising the examination process, though existing constraints mean that the pocess is rather slow. One more thing is that all the state boards should be scrapped with immediate effect, especially the ones in the south of the country. These promote only rote memorization, and are heavily politicised. The object of these boards is not education but to pass as many students as possible with a blatant disregard for standards(everyone knows why).These examinations should be conducted by the CBSE, which is the most benefcial of all the education boards in the country. The issue of languages should not be a problem as the national board has the necessary infrastructure in place, or in case it needs extra resources it can use the that of the state boards. The biggest problem in India is the lack of critical thinking skills. This is the basis of modern scholarship and ought to be inculcated in everyone. Unfortunately, our system has failed to even identify the need, instead blindly imitating the Macaulayan process which is a watered down version of the 19th century English system whose main focus were the greek and latin classics. The focus should now be on making literate as many persons as possible, especially the teenagers. To educate them may be too much of a task, and one can only hope that literacy leads to real education in a generation or two. Then Indians should again be able to generate the ideas that decide the course of the civilization. The above post, as usual is absolutely correct. The 12-year long torture routine called the school system in India is the single biggest talent killer in the country, in addition to being responsible for the large drop-out rates. Instead what can be provided,as a temporary fire fighting measure, are “capsules” of education in the all important skills of reading, writing, arithmetic and critical thinking over say 3 or 4 years targetting an age range of 8-14 years. Upon completion, the candidates could choose to study further or engage in vocational training. Though the above period of study seems too short, it should be sufficient to transfer the skills to the students. Learning is essentially a self driven process, and no amount of teaching or coaching is likely to make a major difference once the critical skills are in place. Mr. Ashok Ganguly of the CBSE is gradually rationalising the examination process, though existing constraints mean that the pocess is rather slow.
One more thing is that all the state boards should be scrapped with immediate effect, especially the ones in the south of the country. These promote only rote memorization, and are heavily politicised. The object of these boards is not education but to pass as many students as possible with a blatant disregard for standards(everyone knows why).These examinations should be conducted by the CBSE, which is the most benefcial of all the education boards in the country. The issue of languages should not be a problem as the national board has the necessary infrastructure in place, or in case it needs extra resources it can use the that of the state boards.
The biggest problem in India is the lack of critical thinking skills. This is the basis of modern scholarship and ought to be inculcated in everyone. Unfortunately, our system has failed to even identify the need, instead blindly imitating the Macaulayan process which is a watered down version of the 19th century English system whose main focus were the greek and latin classics.
The focus should now be on making literate as many persons as possible, especially the teenagers. To educate them may be too much of a task, and one can only hope that literacy leads to real education in a generation or two. Then Indians should again be able to generate the ideas that decide the course of the civilization.

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