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Could we use the adventure of space to reignite education and use that, in turn, to escape the gravity of the conflict paradigm?
Excellence must be motivated by a goal, and the educational system seems to have no powerful, unifying goal, which explains why it repeatedly falls short of excellence. If we can embrace a shared goal like the exploration of space with all of its adventure and wonder, and if we can recognize that success requires that we collaborate and cooperate across cultures (especially major powers like U.S., India, and China) to move beyond our little solar neighborhood, do you think that would be sufficient to shift civilization's conceptual framework from the traditional conflict paradigm to one of curiosity? If so, how do we get from drawing board to launchpad?
David Yavner
As for the conflict paradigm, wouldn't encouraging face to face meeting of people with disparate cultures, or the at least nonprejudicial teaching of human encounters, be helpful?
Having one unifying goal sounds like trying to build one mold to fit all. There are many things that motivate people to learn, and some may not appreciate using space adventures as a basis to get educated.
If "success requires that we collaborate and cooperate across cultures", would that include Somalia, Haiti, Congo, Columbia? China and India are easy to pick out because they are building their own newsworthy success, but is America willing to share the adventure with countries that makes their name by being the poorest? What about countries that are becoming as well developed as the U.S. but are not in the news such as Mexico and Brazil?
All the same, I am frustrated by the lack of motivation to explore space. How to convince people it is better to spend money on a space program as opposed to military preoccupations? Can you convince Americans who are overweight, happy, and -uh - satisfied (indifferent?) that a catalyst to global cooperation would be adventures in space?
I am a bit skeptical of using today's technology as a silver bullet to solve a problem, as much as I will defend that using technology does not doom a person to miss learning basic principles. Long distance education works, as is done in Australia and Alaska using radio. Interacting with a computers and the internet works for young people. But in general, the culture I live in does not have the infrastructure in place, the needed experience, or willingness to try this kind of education.
As for using video games specifically, you can learn from them, just as comic books can teach (both have a bad stigma attached to them). But, you need physical play and social interaction to supplement and for balance.
Erik Richardson 500+
One model to fit all might not be the ideal, but right now we have too many possible goals and not enough motivation. When you talk about trying to upgrade curricula, leverage resources, and generate meaningful improvement, there are distinct disadvantages to having too many goals. We can't just put possible goals in front of kids, that is clearly not working. We have to show them the value and attainability of those goals, and help them get excited about something worth aiming at.
I don't understand, from your example, how Somallia or Haiti could possibly be in a position to collaborate on a space project. Collaboration means each side brings something to the table, not one side giving handouts and resources to the other. This question has the same problem as the other: if we try to include everyone all at once, the project will fail on a ridiculous scale. Let's get it to start growing first, then look at expanding it to include others.
Paul Dextraze
The traditional conflict paradigm as I see it, is more of a product of our own willingness to accept the status quo. I would like to see the tapping into of new possibilities and the demanding of progress.
Erik Richardson 500+
Alexander Thomas