Week 4: The Education System
Is formal education necessary in today's modern world?
Remember to support all views and opinions. Please stay within the word limit (151 to 500 words).
This is due on 25th March 2012.
All the best.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment about if formal education is necessary in today’s modern world. Well, I have to say formal education is still relevant to students nowadays. It is true that the world is becoming more and more modernized and there are even people who are billionaires without having an educational background. However, most people’s ambitions and aims of achieving success can be mainly achieved from formal education. Formal education is education obtained through an accredited source such as high school or university/college, as opposed to on the job training or street smarts provided by the ‘school of hard knocks,’ as in life’s experiences. If a person has an ambition of becoming a doctor, an engineer or a lawyer, he or she will surely have to go through formal education. Those kind of career can just be achieved through formal education. Formal education also enables the obtaining of a vocational qualifications or publicly valid document to qualify for jobs that they are interested. For example, a student can easily get a well-paid job if they have a degree from a government university. People can also have jobs that are available even if they just finish their high school. Nevertheless, there is still a main reason why formal education is still important in today’s modern world that is because it teaches people some precious skills that they are going to need such as communication skills, writing skills, speaking skills (English) and so on. Those will surely give support to them concerning with their profession or with other cases. “ I never got a formal education. So my intellect is my common sense. I don’t have anything else going for me. And my common sense opens the door to instinct” stated by Jerry Lewis about formal education. This means that as he doesn’t have a formal educational background, his life doesn’t have a lot of job opportunities. In conclusion, formal education is still needed in this modern society although a lot of educational changes are still being made and no one can know what will happen in the future, formal education can disappear in the future too.
ReplyDeleteDear Phyo,
DeleteThank you for pointing out that there are people who have achieved great success without having any formal education.
With formal education, jobs are readily available regardless of the level attained. However, these jobs may not be available to all who have a formal education. This is especially so when the economy is bad and does not have enough jobs for all who want to work.
Keep on improving.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, research, or simply through auto didacticism. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts.(Wikipedia, 2013).
ReplyDelete“Is formal Education necessary in our Modern world?”
Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.
John Dewey
Education has been practiced since human’s civilization was formed. Consciously or unconsciously, we, humans have always being educated and educate other people. Education does not always mean school, it also means when a child is learning how to talk, to walk from their parents. This process is called enculturation.
Formal education is quite different from the education itself. Formal education is classroom-based, provided by trained teachers. Informal education happens outside the classroom, in after-school programs, community-based organizations, museums, libraries, or at home. (Enhancinged, 2013)
Tonight (February 24), President Obama made a state, which to me, was a very critical statement in his speech before both Houses of Congress and to the United States. He said, in essence, that dropping out of high School is no longer an option for Americans. If an American drops out of high school, he or she not only fails themselves, but they also fail this country, the United States of America. He also said that he believes and wishes that every American attend at least one year of some kind of continuing education, either college or some sort of professional school. (wordpress.com, 2009)
According to what I think, as a student, I feel like formal education is still necessary in our modern’s world. Formal education gives some positive points which informal education may not give:
1. The ability to form friends and socialize with people
2. The ability to talk in front of the public
3. The ability to work in group
4. The ability to accept other’s people opinion
5. The ability to be punctual and dress up properly to school
6. The chance to be at the top (1st rank)
These points are actually something that you cannot learn through informal education. These points you overcome naturally in your formal education days. In the real life these points are basically the things which you need in life.
Transition from formal to informal education
Although formal and informal education have some differences, but each one of them have their own positive sides. Informal education will have advantages such as it follows the student’s interest.
This is why most of our formal education is now transitioning to informal education. This can be seen as many schools are now providing choice of subjects to their students and start providing some field trips or study tours. Although this may seems as informal education but this schools are under formal education.
A key to success
What is takes to be a successful person?
Many people now started to think that we can leave our formal education behind and replace it somehow by informal education such as E-learning. Some people think that they do not need to go to schools and university because they think that a lot of billionaires have not finished or even did not attend university at all.
If you think it this way, you should think that how much percentage of people that did not go to universities but can become like Bill Gates.
The percentage and the chance of being like him are very rare and low. This is why President Barrack Obama insists on each and every teenager in USA to go to high school and finish his/her universities. This is because in today’s competitive world, many people are highly qualified and the world is on the phase of rapid globalization, which means you are open to a worldwide competition which is definitely not easy.
Lastly, I would still say that formal education Cannot be replaced by informal education and it still plays a very important role in today’s modern world.
Dear Carren,
DeleteThank you for the wonderfully written prose.
You have presented a balanced argument.
It is true that both formal and informal education do have their role in educating children.
Keep up the good work. I can see you have done a lot of research.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
A reason formal education is necessary today is that it’s become a basic requirement as many employers require college level education, even for roles which previously did not require it, such as administrative assistant positions. The fewer years of education you’ve completed, the fewer doors are open to you. Educational requirements are a quick and easy way to narrow down the field of applicants, especially in situations where there are more applicants than jobs. When hiring from a field of candidates, employers prefer those who have completed the higher level of education.
ReplyDeleteIn school, students are taught on how to gather, learn, and apply knowledge. No matter what career is chosen, students will need to learn procedures, information, and skills related to the job, and execute tasks based on that information and training. School allows interaction with other people and refine one's communication skills, including those of persuasion, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Students also learn how to manage projects, deadlines, and complete assignments efficiently and effectively.
In conclusion, by attending school, we are able to learn from the experience and intellect of people who have gone before us. Through textbooks, research, and class lessons, school gives a consolidated overview of theories, formulas, ideologies, and experiments conducted by generations of scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, historians, and other experts. While gaining our own personal work experience is helpful too, a formal education is a way to learn from centuries of others’ life and work and academic experience before you.
Reference
Why Is Education So Important? For Career Success, How Important is Education, and Why is Education Important? (n.d.). Health Careers. Retrieved from http://healthcareers.about.com/od/educationtraining/f/WhyEducation.htm
Shauon Loe Yong Sheng
Foundation SR Class 1
Dear Shauon,
DeleteBy attending formal education, people will be able to gain "soft skills" as well as knowledge.
Formal education functions as a conduit for knowledge learned from past generations to flow through and into the lives of the current generation.
Keep it up.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Samuel Cheng En Chin
ReplyDeleteFoundation Senior Class 1
First of all, Formal and informal education need to be distinguished. The formal education is the education that individuals receive from parents, peers, media. On the other hand, informal education is the education that individuals receive from educational education such as schools, college and universities (Functions of Education Systems, 2011).
The world is changing by the development of technology, humanism and capitalism, many things are different with the old time. Even so, the formal education is still playing an important role in contributing the economic efficiency and social stability, formal education should not be banned and it should be preserved.
The first reason that the formal education should be preserved is formal education transmits the knowledge and skills and it also enhance capitalist profitability (Functions of Education Systems, 2011). The individuals can receive the knowledge and skills from formal education which may be used to enhance the capitalist profitability as formal education provides not only the academic knowledge, it also provides the extracurricular activities as a lesson for the students to experience and learn the skills of socializing and coordinating. Individuals can learn various knowledge and the skills that might be used in the workplace from the formal education.
The formal education also contributes to allocating the new workforce to a suitable field on the basis of meritocracy (Functions of Education Systems, 2011). In the system of formal education, it provides opportunities for individuals to discern their interest and decide which role are they going to participate in the workplace. So that, individuals can be focused on the interested subjects and learn secondary knowledge and skills of their interests. For example, colleges and universities provide different courses for individuals to choose. At the end of the course, individuals would be rewarded a certificate as the proof that they are qualified in this field and it helps our society to distinguish the extra-ordinary and normal individuals so that the individuals could be allocated to a suitable field in order to contribute the best to our society.
Finally, our society is still running in the system of capitalism, economy is one of the greatest concern of every society. We need formal education to educate and equip the new generation in order to maintain the stability and improvement of the economy by providing the useful knowledge, skills and allocating the new generation to the appropriate workforce.
Reference
Functions of Formal Education Systems. (2011, August 18). Earlham Sociology Pages. Retrieved March 23, 2013, from http://www.earlhamsociologypages.co.uk/edfunctionsmarx.htm
Dear Samuel,
DeleteI believe you have your definition of "formal" and "informal" education mixed up.
Formal education resulted from the need to train a workforce that is capable of functioning well in a capitalistic environment. As such, the skills needed to thrive in this capitalistic society would need to be taught in schools.
I like how you support your points with reasons.
Continue to improve. You do need to improve on your writing style.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Nowadays, the world become modern, people tends to do the modern things. There is one system some parents, may be they are famous singer, billionaires tends to let their kids to follow is non- formal education instead of follow formal education. I would like to comment about why formal education is necessary in today’s modern world.
ReplyDeleteFirsly, let me give a definition of informal education, informal education is a natural accompaniment to everyday life. Unlike formal, informal learning not forcing student to come to class and study, and may not be recognized by the government. For example, may be they can get the knowledge from television programs, on newspaper etc.
Children are great self-learners. They will prefer to study in freedom and empowerment. As the children grow, they should be encouraged to make their own choices such as selecting clothes and shoes for themselves according to the occasion or the kind of food they would like to eat for instance. Choosing their own friends and taking up other pastimes will later help them feel confident enough to make other bigger choices such as what jobs they would like to apply for or picking a profession once they grow up.
So what is the disadvantage that non-formal education will brings? The major problem is if you follow informal education with your own teacher, you will struggling wheather your knowledge that you taught is right or wrong.
Secondly I would like to explain what is formal education. Formal education is classroom-based, organized, guided by a formal curriculum and leads students to a formally recognized credential such as in a high school, college, university and is guided and recognized by government at some level. Teachers are trained as professionals.
So why formal education is important to today’s modern world? Formal education plays an important role to the development of a nation. It is only through the implementation of a formal system of learning that any country can hope to develop a knowledgeable society and progress towards the achievement of societal goals. Since that, the governments became heavily involved in efforts to formalize a system that would not only prepare for their citizens with basic functional skills, but also train them to become responsible and capable members of society.
Formal education will helps children develop greatly because this is how the child will learn the sciences and arts. Although there are many students hate educational activities especially in writing term papers, essays and research papers but formal education plays a vital role in shaping a person’s behavior and personality. It enables to make skills as well as instills a sense of right and wrong among students so that when they reach a certain age, they are well prepared to take on the challenges that life and other factors present.
So, the informal education might make children to study in freedom but so far, they can not be recognized by the government which is will effect their career. The formal education will give childrens a stable future.
Tran Minh Anh
Foundation Senior Class 1
Dear Minh Anh,
DeleteChildren do want to enjoy autonomy in learning and self-expression and informal education can empower oneself especially when the child has succeeded in doing something through their own effort.
You have also rightly mentioned that through informal education, the child will not be able to know if the knowledge gained is correct or even relevant.
Thank you for presenting your views from both sides.
Continue to improve and do not give up.
Do remember to cite.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
I would like to comment about is formal education necessary in today's modern world? Formal education is each person must go through the process of your whole life, Formal education can not be disappear, even though the world becoming more and more modernized, this is very important for every one. So let me explain to you why formal education is so important. The first thing that strikes me about education is knowledge gain. Education gives us knowledge of the world around us. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view on things in life. People debate over the subject of whether education is the only thing that gives knowledge. Some say, education is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is something very different. They are right. But then, information cannot be converted into knowledge without the catalyst called education. Education makes us capable of interpreting things rightly. It is not just about lessons in textbooks. It is about the lessons of life.
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion,education is essential as it paves the path leading to disillusionment. It wipes out all the wrong beliefs in our minds. It helos create a clear picture of everything around us and we no longer remain in confusion about the things we learn.Education brings up questions and also helps us devise ways to find satisfactory answers to them. Education is about knowing that everything has a science to it, it is about learning to reason everything till every question meets its answer. It can lead us to enlightenment. It is education that builds in every individual, the confidence to take decisions, to face life and to accept successes and failures. It instills a sense of pride about the knowledge one has and prepares him/her to live.
Yang kai wen(Kevin)
Senior Class 1
Dear Kaiwen,
DeleteEducation can be said to be the duster that erases all inaccurate information gained through the years of informal education. It illuminates a path for us to take as we navigate our future.
Remember to cite.
Continue to write and you will improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, formal education has been likely to be neglected as the world is being modernized rapidly. People do not need to attend a class or register a course to study, gradually they have forgotten the role of teachers and schools in education.
ReplyDeleteFormal education is defined as a former studying obtained through an accredited source such as high school or university or college, as opposed to on the job training or street smarts provided by the "school of hard knocks," as in life's experiences ¬¬¬(1).
Formal learning requires students have qualification and big efforts in all aspects in academics and in social skills as well . This kind of process of study evolves in an order in which learn, study and teach. For instance, when people reach the age of six, they are supposed to start year 1 of primary school and then six years after, they will be going to the next grade. It is about 6 years later, they will finish high school and then go to university or college. Lastly, some of them would be a teacher and bring their obtained knowledge to teach the next generations. The issue here refers to a stable source of knowledge that could remain over time but not faded. The knowledge could be transferred directly from this person to person then it could be enlarged and diversified. So, knowledge in formal education is very wide and infinite .
Formal education is expressed to students by professors and teachers in institutions or academies traditionally and it remains the customs in the relative country or area, especially in this such modern life. In addition, teachers has played an important role in the many poems and literature.
Some opinions has been raised lately, it is not really good to study in the formal way but use alternative ways instead, like studying in the Internet, from friends, and those who have knowledge about that. It is known as informal education. They do not even study in the class or in the university, conversely, they do research or home study. That group of people is at least good as they can be able to study themselves and update the latest knowledge frequently, there is also another kind of people who are always rely on people and wait for being fed like an animal. In the modern life, if this kind of people spread this way to study, the society will get worst gradually for sure. This such informal education is not itself updated the information or knowledge excepts being concentrated by people. We also cannot admit sometimes the informal one contributes much for educating people but it is reliable . A generation would be pushed left behind the other ones in the world if they were relied on informal education but not have any concern with formal one which is actually well treat people’s knowledge.
“No guide, no realization”, our ancestors do say.
To sum it up, I would restate it that nothing can replace the formal education in this such modern world unless people wished to be left far behind. They could be able to mix both into particular one and then keep it up.
References:
Formal Education Is Important | We Love Writing. (n.d.). We Love Writing | The art of writing is the
art of discovering what you believe ? Gustave Flaubert. Retrieved from http://welovewriting.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/formal-education-is-important/
(1) Definition of formal education : What does formal education mean? - Yahoo! Answers. (n.d.). Yahoo! Answers - Home. Retrieved from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090815122350AAtOJiP
Dear Hoang Tu,
DeleteIndeed, generations have suffered and lagged in poverty as they are denied an opportunity to attend formal education. Education allows people to escape the poverty cycle.
Continue to write and improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Is formal education necessary in today's modern world?
ReplyDeleteFormal education is any education provided by recognised institute which teaches courses, which can be done at high school, colleges/universities and at, home nowadays.
Yes formal education is necessary in today’s modern world because everyone believes that education is really important and it helps you in the future, to become successful people. For example making electronics, you need to learn the technology and you need to understand it through education. Formal education has helped people in many ways and what they want to be in the future, for example if they want to be doctors, engineers, business people. Nowadays companies do not hire people to work without degrees and with degrees people earn a lot of money.
Also learning different languages could be helpful, you could communicate with people how do not know English. Even in different society’s, formal education is important and formal education’s place in society is high. Formal education is central to the development of a nation. It is only through the implementation of a formal system of learning that any country can hope to develop a knowledgeable society and progress towards the achievement of societal goal.
Dear Chirag,
DeleteFormal education is indeed the key to the development of any nation. As more and more of the people in a given country is educated, they will then be employable and contribute back to the economy.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIs formal Education necessary in our Modern world?
ReplyDeleteFormal education – schooling from kindergarten well into adulthood at colleges and universities and other higher education institutions – transforms modern society in ways that were unimaginable at the beginning of the 20th century. (According to David P. Baker, Professor of Education & Sociology, Penn State University)
The formal education is necessary for us to become more successful in life, especially in today’s modern world. Some human think that to be a successful person in non-formal education without formal education. And I would like to comment about the necessary of formal education in modern world.
First of all, I would like to explain about the meaning of formal education. Formal Education is defined as education provided by a recognized institution teaching courses. The form can be classroom-based and provided by trained teachers in schools or universities.
The formal education helps us to learn basic knowledge that everyone needs to have to survive whenever in the world. Most of careers like doctors, engineers, scientists that can be through formal education. For instance, Mathematics is an important subject to learn because some daily routines need to have accounting in despite of calculators. We have to count income of family every month to balance between spending and saving terms. Besides, a tradesman or farmer would expect to pick up most of his vocational skills on the job.
Not only that, the formal education is very important for us because we need to learn skills to have many choices to get better jobs in modern world. The formal education helps us to improve basic skills and provide new knowledge. Technology (social- network) is an example, we have to learn incessantly about new skills and knowledge about internet which is main part in social as we know that it always evolves every time.
If we do not cultivate knowledge, how we can become a successful person in modern world and we will be left behind from other.
In conclusion, the formal education is still required and enhance in this modern life. Although we need to have in-formal education, like experience from part-time job, the knowledge and skills like the level education also involved.
References:
http://www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk/the-schooled-society-and-beyond-the-modernizing-role-of-formal-education-as-an-institution/
Do Thu Nga (Mia)
Senior class 1
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDear Thu Nga,
DeleteIndeed, how can we survive if we do not cultivate new knowledge.
Your facts sound familiar...
Continue to write and to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
There is no doubt that formal education acts a vital role in today's modern world. To begin with, I want to make a clear definition of those two major key words in this motion. Formal education is a comprehensive system of training and training activities that targets on influencing the physical and mental development of the learner. In addition, it includes pre-school education, primary and secondary school education and higher education as well. Modern society is known as the industrial society, with a high developed science and technology. As a result, people's idea is fully updated. Consciousness of competition and the concept of time are strengthening. Science, as well as the formal knowledge, is believed as the truth to the pursuit basic behavior and values.
ReplyDeleteFormal education is one of the key words of our time. A man without it, many of us believe, is an unfortunate victim of adverse circumstances, deprived of one of the greatest twentieth-century opportunities. With the further development of reform, opening up and China's accession to the WTO, all sorts of ideological trends are appearing in the society so, the moral construction of schools highlight its importance.
Studies have shown long-term benefits of preschool include better job prospects later in life. There are also ripple effects. Whether a country has a bright future or not , it largely depends on its attention to the formal education. Schools, as a national formal education organizations and academic institutions, are not only relating to the national development but a long-term vision. Innovative talents are needed in today's modern world, and formal education is the breeding ground.
fanrui
senior class 1
Dear Fan Rui,
DeleteRemember to cite.
Yes, it has be shown that the majority of people with formal education tend to fare better than others who have not.
Continue to write to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Knowledge is the first thing that come into my head when I heard the word education because it gives us knowledge of the world around us. It also develops the way we think and act and help us to build opinions and have points of view on things in life. Education can also make people’s dreams a reality, develop personal growth and improve quality of life. In today’s society, education is necessary in order to be successful economically and socially and the benefits of education are endless.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, without an education it is very difficult to succeed in the modern world we live in today. At the very young age, childen learn to develop and use mental, moral and physical abilities through various types of education. For most people, education begins at home where childern learn from their parents, family member or those who they come in contact with. We learn to develop life skills as children such as sharing with others, learning to use good manners, and having respect for others. We learn healthy and productive ways to grow into socially active adults. It is through education encouraged in us at a young age that we develop critical thinking skills, a healthy living lifestyle, and self-confidence to be successful in the modern world.
Secondly, education helps us transform into mature individuals who will be capable of planning for the future and teach us to make the right decisions in life. It teaches us to learn from experiences and it also fosters principles of equality and socialism. It clears out all the wrong beliefs in our minds which helps to create a clear picture of everything around us and we no longer remain in confusion about the things we learn. It is education that builds in every individual, the confidence to take decisions, to face life and to accept successes and failures.
Finally, I would like to conclude by making my point that education is a positive factor which help a person to grow and be successful in life. In today's competitive world, it won't be wise to neglect the importance of education and most countries have realized this. This has led to many government-aided educational programs and government grants to schools and colleges. The motive behind this is fostering education in society.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (Nelson Mandela)
May
Senior Class 1
Dear May,
DeleteDespite what you said, informal education can provide the avenues for a person to improve.
Good effort.
Keep it up.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
In my opinion, I would recommend and agree that the formal education is necessary for education system . Formal education, as known as organized education model, which is structured and administered according to a given set of laws and norms; including knowledge and learning skills which encourage and support for our working's goal in the future, it is also the basic requirement for job's application .The system of education devided into four basic levels such as Primary school, Junior High School, Senior High School and University. Nowadays, the society become modernized with informal education and non-formal education beside the formal one.People started to think that they could achieve succeed without the background knowledge, and can be replaced by life's experience and challenges. For example: Steve Jobs, the CEO of the Apple Inc, who establish the high-tech screen touching which is the most popular brand in the global with IOS software system without learning university.
ReplyDeleteBut the number of human who can success without formal education have low percentage, no one can make it sure for 100/100 people will become billionares.That's why formal education have an important role in life.
"Formal education will make you living, self-education will make you a fortune"
-Jim Rohn-
"It is miracle that curiousity survives formal education"
-Albert Einstein-
Formal education is central to the development of a nation. It is only through the implementation of a formal system of learning that any country can hope to develop a knowledgeable society and progress towards the achievement of societal goals.
Education is very important to both personal and professional life, in a number of significant ways. Formal education contributes greatly to a child's development because this is how the child will learn the sciences and arts. It helps people acquire the skills they need for such everyday activities as reading a newspaper or managing their money. It also gives them the specialized training they may need to prepare for a job or career.People must meet certain educational requirements and get a license or certificate before they can practice accounting, law, or medicine.
To conclude, I think the formal education is necessary for life, human can not success without formal knowledge in the modern society as nowadays..
Pham Hoang Mai (Lian)
Foundation Senior Class 1
Dear Hoang Mai (Lian),
DeleteCorrect to say that the percentage of people with informal education who have succeeded is small.
Education is the key to any nation's development.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Formal education in today’s modern world – necessary or not? To answer this question, first we need to understand the definition of education. “Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, research, or simply through autodidacticism. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts.” – Wikipedia. Basically education is the progress of ones or more teaching another(s) or self about varius aspects of life. As ridiculously necessary as we realized it is since we were born, why we have to question it? It is because of the word “formal”.
ReplyDeleteFormal education here means the progress of obtaining knowledge through an accredited source like school, college/university(classroom-based), which is what we are receiving right now. Opposite of it is informal education, where we will learn by our own self and experience (trial and error).
Our parents always force us to go to school of course have some reason behind that. If we receive formal education, we will immediately marked as “educated”, we will learn not to make mistake that our formal generations had made and for the most important, we will have a lisence which’s function is to likely secure our career in the future for who have finished studying. Sounds appealing enough? It sure is, that is why I am here writing this comment to finish my ‘formal education’ subject, expecting for a successful career when I finish my university.
But “no great story ever started with someone eating a salad”. Think of ‘salad’ as a ‘safe’ thing like formal education, then you will get my idea. Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, lots and lots of people who quitted receving formal education had changed our history or is now a billionare. They chose to learn on their own, to make mistake, to face challenges in life earlier than those who did not quit. Through their struggles, they learned things that teacher do not teach us in school, things that I do not think my current knowledge allows me to talk about it academically, things that made them became extraodinary people as we know today like how to be a leader, how to view the world differently from the rest, how to make tons of money.
Unfortunately, everything has its two sides. Formal education may not make us that special or successful, but it give us necessary knowledge and skills to get a decent job. It produce what we now call “skilled worker”, which is the main workforce that every companies want to work for them and are often very well-paid. On the other hand, people who quit or cannot go to school, are very likely have to do jobs that receive minium wages, or even be unemployed. Chances for them to be extraodinary is significant low, even if they have potentials to be billionare like Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. Luck is one factor that cannot be ignored here as well.
If you ask random people on the street if they want to recieve formal education and get a job, or to learn by themselves and dream big, I am sure that at least 9 out of 10 people will choose to go to school. As long as people still want to gain knowledge and skills in a ‘safe’ way, like mankind has done thousands of years before, formal education will still be effective and necessary, and cannot be replaced by another method, at least for our modern world today.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education
Dear Mic,
DeleteHmm... some of your sentences sound very familiar.
Through formal education, many belief that their life will be smooth sailing. However, there are instances whereby this has not turned out to be true.
Continue to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Bryan Guan Senior 1
ReplyDeleteThe question of whether formal education is necessary in today's modern world has been in many peoples mind and been topic of great debates. Education can be defined as the activity of educating people in schools, colleges, and universities, and all the policies and arrangements concerning this and formal education as one word can be easily defined nowadays as attending and finishing your undergraduates program or even your masters in developed countries such as Singapore, UK, and so on. Saying whether one is necessary to have formal education or not to have is too drastic because there are many factors contributing to the successfulness of one in a modern world, maybe having formal education will secure you a job but compared with doing what that certain person has passion for might be better for him. For example some people believe that doing what you love is what is best for you because this means that you will put 100% effort in all your work while if you just secure a job which you are just in it for the money most likely you would just stay there and will not get anywhere far. For example Bill gates and Mark Zuckerberg they are drop outs but managed to get their names in the top 40 richest people. On the other hand it is true having the formal education does make it easy for one to get jobs and lets face the truth that nowadays people are judged based on their paper qualifications and people with paper qualification will ultimately have higher pay then people who do not.
In conclusion a formal degree is necessary in todays modern world but it does not guarantee your success especially when success varies from one and another, I believe that it is needed because it aids us in our working lives such as with a good degree it gives us confidence and lets us socialise without being judged by our friends and families but ultimately do something your passionate and interested about because that will help you achieve so much more in life because in the end education is just a piece of paper which only teaches you theories so you yourself have to learn how to be street smart.
Sources
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/education
http://www.debate.org/opinions/are-degrees-in-education-essential-to-success-in-life
http://www.polishwomen.com/articles/formal-education-practical-experience
Dear Bryan,
DeleteTrue... having a degree can land you that job but it does not guarantee success.
Sometimes, pursuing our hobbies through informal education can also lead us to job satisfaction.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
I would like to comment about if formal education is necessary in today’s modern world. Well, I have to say formal education is still relevant to students nowadays,No one can deny the importance of home education and early childhood learning. Indeed, current research is adamant in claiming its central influence on the success of future learning. But vibrant societies have also recognized the place of a more structured, public system. In today's world, few people would question the need for a formal education system that is accessible for everyone.
ReplyDeleteFormal education is central to the development of a nation. It is only through the implementation of a formal system of learning that any country can hope to develop a knowledgeable society and progress towards the achievement of societal goals.
Education is important for me, a degree is nothing but a indication of how much money a person makes during the year, Yes education is literal these days, but don't look at it as just school. Look at it as the experiences you've had when you went to high school, the parties and study groups in college, the graduations, the relationships between friends and family.
From my point of view, I agree that education is essential in today's modern world because education is a vital element in making one's life successful and everyone should know how important education is in today's society and that no one should be deprived of education. A more educated population plays a vital tole in success of the nation.Having a higher education ensures that a person will be able to get and maintain a job that is both financially and socially rewarding.
Dear Mong Tao,
DeleteRemember to cite.
We must continue to make formal education more accessible to all as it is the best means to help a person break out of the cycle of poverty they have found themselves to be in.
Keep it up.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Is formal education necessary in today’s modern world? Yes, it is.
ReplyDeleteIn today’s modern world, in order to get a good job with high salary formal education is playing an important role. Formal education means education or training received from institutions like schools, colleges, or universities. People believe that formal education is very useful and important to enter the society. People got the value because of the education. For example, we’ll give high value to doctor because he’s a high-educated person. Nowadays, formal education needed to become successful in getting better job.
As centuries passed by, education has been an important aspect of the society. College education is necessary for everyone who wants to have a job. Many employers now require education for employment. Another primary reason education is important. It is basic requirement for so many employers. When hiring from a field of candidates, employers prefer those who have completed the higher level of education.
In conclusion, formal education is necessary in today’s modern world. President Barak Obama said, in essence, that dropping out of high school is no longer an option for Americans. If an American drop out of high school, he or she not only fails themselves, but they also fail this country, the United States of America. He also said that he believe and wished that every American attend at least one year of some kind of continuing education, either college or some sort of professional school.
Name: Kim Ratanavatey
Class: Senior 1
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteReference:
DeleteWhat is Formal Education? - Answers.Ask.com. (n.d.). Ask Answers - Answers.Ask.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013, from http://answers.ask.com/Society/Philosophy/what_is_formal_education
Is Formal Education Everything? | Saepe Nihil Cogitamus. (n.d.). Saepe Nihil Cogitamus | Weblog of Jared Holloway. Retrieved March 24, 2013, from http://jzholloway.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/is-formal-education-everything/
Dear Kim,
DeleteDropping out of high school should not be an option for anyone. All children must be given the chance to develop to their full potential.
This would mean a radical rethink in the way we educate our children.
continue to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIs Formal Education Necessary In Today's Modern World?
ReplyDeleteIn today’s modern world, we depend upon the skills we have acquired in order to utilise and maintain the technology and systems that form the basis of our society. The acquisition or learning of these skills is usually in the form of both formal and informal education that we receive. Formal education can be defined “a systematic, organized education model, structured and administered according to a given set of laws and norms, presenting a rather rigid curriculum as regards objectives, content and methodology.” (Claudio, 1988) That being said, the skills learnt during formal education usually correspond to the level unto which the student has progressed, with clear guidelines to indicate what they are to learn, their level of proficiency and with lessons taught in some form of institution or another, such as a school. Informal or non-formal education on the other hand, can be defined as education in which the tenants of formal education are not strictly adhered to. (Claudio, 1988)
The necessity of formal education in a modern world can be argued for on the basis that formal education provides a set of basic skills, often for the student’s professional growth, to all students in order to fill the wide variety of roles in today’s world. Our societal structure necessitates a set of standards by which people can be measured such that the best applicant can be chosen for the right position. (Durkheim, n.d.) This is seen most easily in businesses and industries, whereby there are often more applicants than job positions available. Usually, the applicant with the best-suited academic qualifications is usually given the job whereas those less academically qualified are not. The competition provided in this regard can be used as a motivational tool for people to constantly upgrade and improve their skills in order to maintain the advantage in securing their position of choice. In this sense, formal education can be seen to provide a system with which the skills of individuals can be improved, judged and categorised in order to make decisions that would benefit society as a whole.
Informal education lacks the set of common standards provided in a formal education system with which to measure people with, but can be said to provide a more well-rounded approach in that it may not focus upon the development of professional skills to the detriment of social ones. A formal education system often does not provide the necessary training and skills for students to work together. It might be possible to say that the competitiveness of such a system leads to clashes and an inability to fully trust others. The ability to maintain good inter-personal relations with other is an important aspect of modern working and social life as work and social environments often comprise of individuals being able to function as a whole for the mutual benefit of the organisation, society and themselves. (Durkheim, n.d.) Informal education can also provide the opportunity for people to think of alternative solutions to problems that may increase their efficiency or ability to operate within modern society.
As such, while formal education has its uses in the modern world by providing us with an easy reference with which to categorise people according to their academic qualities, an informal education is also necessary in order to impart skills such as teamwork and non-linear thinking which would be useful in distinguishing oneself from the group, thereby increasing the likelihood of advancement through the ranks of society. Personally, I feel that a formal education is still necessary in a modern world as it provides us with the basic knowledge and skills required to even obtain a job in the first place, but that it should also be supplemented with non-formal education to ensure that the individual is able to function as part of the whole society.
Francis Phang
Senior Class 1
Sources
DeleteClaudio, Z. D. (1988). Formal, Non-Formal And Informal Education: Concepts/Applicability. TECHNE Sistemas Educacionais e de Treinamento. Retrieved from http://www.techne-dib.com.br/downloads/6.pdf
Durkheim, E. (n.d.). Social Structure and Education. Western Oregon University. Retrieved from http://www.wou.edu/~girodm/foundations/Durkheim.pdf
Dear Francis,
DeleteCorrectly put. There must be a standardised measure to gauge the effectiveness of an educational system.
It is important that the system delivers the correct knowledge and skills for the students to learn.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
First, what is the definition of formal education? According to WriteWork, formal education is the hierarchically structured,
ReplyDeletechronologically graded 'education system', running from primary school through university and including, in addition to general academic studies, a variety of specialized programs and institutions for full-time technical and professional training. Formal education contributes greatly to a child's development because this is how the child will learn the sciences and arts. It helps people acquire the skills they need for such everyday activities. A lot of debate about the importance and necessarity
of formal education in today's modern world. Is it necessary? In my opinion, it is necessary in some ways. As we all probably know, we all learn the basic from school, and that is important. We have to get the basic right, and by basic I mean, we learn how to count, spell, read,write, socialize, make new friends, we learn about responsibility how to overcome obstacle, how to deal with different people and a lot more things. The formal education is not the only thing that's important, the informal is also as important as formal. We cant survive in today's modern world just by being formally educated. We need the skills that we have to learn by our self not by the formal institution. Many billionaires, like Steve Job, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Thomas Edison, etc., they didn't do well at school. Some even didn't get formal education at all, but yet are so rich. What I'm trying to say is, its not about the knowledge that we get from formal education that is important, it is about how we expand and use those knowledge for the good of our life, that's important.
But, as I said that it's necessary in some ways, Its unnecessary in some ways too. The education system that we are using right now, it was designed and conceived for a different age which is in industrial revolution in 18th century where the industry needed cheap and educated labor. And it is still going on and on that way. The current education system subconsciously teach us to follow the rules, don't be different, don't be creative. In other words, the education system encourage us to just be an employee. As Sir Ken Robinson said, "school kills creativity", and by killing creativity it will also kill the entrepreneurship. I
couldn't agree more with the statement he made. This is why the modern world ended up with so many jobless educated labor which cause the economy to fail.
So my conclusion is, yes it is needed until a certain basic level is covered. The rest is not really that necessary, it depends on the student themself, what's their interest, dream, and needs. But in the society that we are living in right now, it will take some time for them to change the perception that a person without formal education has a lower status than the one who had formal education. This caused many brilliant people think that they're not brilliant because they've been judged by this particular view of the mind. The bottom line is, the formal education does not determine a person's intelligence, nor the success in the future.
Nicholas
Senior Class 1
Dear Nicholas,
DeleteYou are right to say that formal education works in imparting knowledge up to a certain age.
After that age group, education must evolve to keep up an deliver the skills needed to equip students to succeed in this modern technological world.
Well done.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
SAMAYASAR JAIN: By looking and observing the lifestyle of our world today, I do agree that formal education is necessary during these days. But the fact which I do not agree is that, formal education keeps on getting tougher everyday and causes a lot of mental stress and pressure for most of the students and people in the world. Thus, I would suggest that formal education is indeed necessary, but in a more easier way. Hence, the certain factors our world must follow are as follows: 1. We should not receive too much assignments with the same deadlines. 2. The amount of time we receive to successfully accomplish our assignments and tasks, should be very, very sufficient enough, so that we can manage to accomplish all our work and assignments neatly and peacefully and most importantly we will also be able to follow all our deadlines and time limits properly and very promptly. If we look at the way of how formal education is being taught in countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom England today, yes we all do know that because of the very tough way of teaching and educating the students and people, today these countries are so highly developed and advanced and they rank in the portion of very high human development in the HDI's rating list of countries. But now let us take a look at the way of teaching and educating children, students and other people in the countries like Australia and New Zealand. The systems and ways of education in these countries are of course very formal and modern. But these countries do not make education extremely tough that, a lot of students experience the pain and struggle of hell and nigodha ( a place more worse than hell)! during their student life times, and even in their future also of course! These countries give good and less amount of tasks, and gives us sufficient time limits in order to help students and learners to follow up with their deadlines happily, peacefully and very promptly. Also we all really enjoy the ways and methods of formal education in Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, Australia and New Zealand are the role model countries in our world in today's 21st century, for being the best examples of creating excellent Formal Education systems and lifestyles. Another additional fact is that, Australia and New Zealand being more comfortable as compared to the United States of America and United Kingdom British England regarding education, Australia and New Zealand are the countries that are indeed more developed than the United States of America and the United Kingdom British England. Because New Zealand and Australia rank number top four and five in the Human Develpoment Index where as, United States of America and United Kingdom England Britain rank number twenty five and twenty six in the Human Development Index. Thus, I would like to conclude by stating that, Formal Education is definitely necessary in today's life, but it must be able to make students enjoy their education as well as help them to create their future with shinning colours and eternal success and to develop their nation very well along with the Blessings of our Mighty God! Samayasar JAIN!
ReplyDeleteDear Samay,
DeleteHmm...interesting proposals.
Continue to write to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Is formal education necessary in today's modern world?
ReplyDeleteFormal education is organized, guided by a formal curriculum; leads to a formally recognized credential such as a high school completion diploma or a degree, and is often guided and recognized by government at some level. Teachers are usually trained as professionals in some way. In today's world, formal education still exists as an important part even though informal education is start influencing the world. It is central to the development of a nation. It is only through the implementation of a formal system of learning that any country can hope to develop a knowledgeable society and progress towards the achievement of societal goals. Without formal education, nobody can become doctors, engineers and professors. However, there have so many scientists and billionaires who have never been to study as formal. I think they might be really talented and very good at learning by their own. For the normal people like us is seriously need formal education to get knowledge to be able to think whether it’s good or bad and to do good things with the right ways and create situations and opportunities to get a job. For people without any degrees from any university or any certificates, he will never get a good job/career. Formal education also allows healthy competition among students. The desire to get ahead and do the best in terms of various academic activities among individual students enable them to compete in a healthy way. It always points out for the student to set individual goals to achieve.
To sum up, formal education provides a structured life to individual students to prepare them for the future, which is very important and essential in today’s modern world.
Eint Myet Thwai/Gloria
Senior class 1.
Dear Gloria,
DeleteIndeed those who have succeeded through informal education could have done well because they are talented.
Good point.
Keep improving.
MR Brandon Tennakoon
Is formal education necessary in today’s modern world? Yes it is necessary. First of all,I want to define the meaning of formal education and the difference between formal and informal education. A formal education means what you learned in school and can be defined as structured system of learning provided or overseen by a local or national government body for its citizens. A body of formal education must be an accredited institution whose curriculum is answerable to an overseeing body of academic standards. Generally, a person is formal education begins at nursery or kindergarten and may stretch on through University and informal education is Non-formal education is learning acquired independently through non-academic means. It can either mean that you are self-taught through your own reading and research, or through experience(wiki.answer), for example homeschooling and home education. In today’s world, the world is more develops with a higher technology,more iconic infrastructure building, and higher job qualified.Its all because of the formal education that we take in.We need a better grades university to work in some company because in some company they qualified you with a certificate system, for example company will choose an individualist who have a formal education background than people who do not take a formal education background, thats why we need a formal education in it because in informal education, Individualist cannot have their certificate.
ReplyDeleteThe advantages of formal education we can have many friends from a social life.We will know more people in society if we take formal education, because formal education provide us some activity that will works on,for example club and extracuricullar. Then in a business world,we will have more network in the future. Formal education provide us a teacher that is qualified and answer each question
The disadvantages of formal education, individualist cannot be more creative because individualist should choose the program according to the education system in the country.For example, you cannot choose art if you want to take business program.
In my opinion,formal education in modern world is necessary because we need a high knowledge of education to work in today’s modern world, we need a socially life in this modern world because we need more network in it, and if we compare a people with a formal education and informal education, some workplace will choose the people with formal education.
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” - Jim Rohn
Reference: What are the differences between formal and informal education. (n.d.). The Q&A wiki. Retrieved March 25, 2013, from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_differences_between_formal_and_informal_education
Lukman Dwiki
Senior Class 1
Dear Dwiki,
DeleteThrough CCA, students can network and create opportunities for success.
Continue to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skill. Formal education is education that is obtained through an accredited source such as primary and secondary school or university/college. Informal education is the things you learn outside of the classroom. Both formal and informal education settings offer different strengths to educational outreach project.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, much of our understanding of the world is through non-formal education. Some of this is called "street smart". Non-formal education enhances our overall knowledge. This is where we integrate what we learn in school to what we know about our environment. However, in order to obtain a high salary paying job in this modern world requires a high level of formal education. For example, if a person wants to practice Psychology, he or she has to obtain, at least, a Masters in their field.
In my opinion, formal education is very much necessary in today’s modern world. I say this because, in job ads, these days, the minimal job requirement is a GCE ‘O’ Level certificate or a Diploma, even to be a cleaner, a chef or a waitress. Our modern world is highly competitive, especially when it comes to being successful in education and career. Everyone wants to have a high paying salary, while doing minimal heavy lifting. Having a formal education also helps you to obtain and specialize in a particular field.
There are some people who did not have a formal education but still became successful, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. However, the number of people who are able to be successful without a formal education is very low, compared to those who have a high level of formal education.
Thus, a formal education is very necessary in today’s modern world, especially with all the competition around.
Dear Yashodra,
DeletePeople do learn a lot from the informal education system but it does not often guarantee a high salaried job.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Depending on ones ambitions and circumstances he/she is born into, formal education up to a certain standard may or may not be necessary. if u were born into a wealthy family where you knew you would be inheriting the family business then you just have to learn the ropes from your parents but formal education up to a certain standard is necessary because without it, its hard to pick up a lot of basic education such as spelling, reading, writing, addition and subtraction that we need in everyday life. Also without being in school, we would lack the necessary social skills and confidence with people to carry ourselves and treat people in ways we need to in certain situations. if you were born in an environment where school and having a proper job is not necessary to get by then forget about school but a skill would have to be picked up and street smartness is essential for survival. an example would be knowing how to farm the fields or being a drug dealer in the streets.
ReplyDeleteDear Jay,
DeleteWhen an individual inherits a business, it is often the informal education system that can provide them with knowledge.
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Nowadays, the formal education is occupy major in the education system. Formal education mean the education that received from the school, college, university. Moreover informal education is the education that you learning by yourself in the internet, television or book. As we know formal education always important from the past until now. The high degree certificate bring us a high salary job. Most company willing to hire the people who have the high degree certificate. Specially when here are plenty of people want to get this job. Your certificate is the best thing to prove your ability.
ReplyDeleteHere are some point of view to support the formal education is necessary for our modern world. Firstly, discussion is important for study. For example, discussion can make new knowledge to be more impression. If you just studying by yourself, nobody can discuss with you when you meet the problem. But when you studying at school, your classmates can discuss with you and the teacher can make you more understand for your new knowledge. Second point is the formal education can bring us a regular learning and make us more attention in leaning. In school, teacher will give the regular study plan for us. So that, we can absorb the new knowledge better than studying by ourself. My last point of view is the formal education can improve our communication skill. It’s also the most important point that I given. For example, from the college we have many presentation and group discussion. It can practice our social communication. In this modern society a good communicator is more easy to get success. It will be more natural when we communicate with other people if we have the presentation and discussion experience before.
In conclusion, formal education is necessary for our modern life. Although, the informal education cannot replace the formal education. But in our free time accept more knowledge from informal education is not a bad idea.
Dear Jiefei,
DeleteRegular education allows us to learn new skills and to prepare us for higher education.
Keep up the good work and continue to write to improve.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon
Dear Mariya,
ReplyDeleteI love how you spotted the earn in LEARN but I would agree only to a certain degree (pun intended) that salaries commensurate with qualification. This is only true when you first start out in your job. After having worked for many years, most people's salaries do not get adjusted according to your qualifications. These adjustments are done according to your ability.
Formal education does train us to be well-behaved and disciplined. It provides us with the basic skills. But what about skills for today's job's?
Keep up the good work.
Mr Brandon Tennakoon