education we all have a stake and interest in education whether as
interest in education whether as
interest in education whether as students teachers parents even employers
students teachers parents even employers
students teachers parents even employers it’s in all of our interests that
it’s in all of our interests that
it’s in all of our interests that education is of a high standard but
education is of a high standard but
education is of a high standard but despite all the focus of raising
despite all the focus of raising
despite all the focus of raising standards changing educational pedagogy
standards changing educational pedagogy
standards changing educational pedagogy we often fail to stop and ask ourselves
we often fail to stop and ask ourselves
we often fail to stop and ask ourselves something that seems quite simple and
something that seems quite simple and
something that seems quite simple and that’s what is the purpose of education
that’s what is the purpose of education
that’s what is the purpose of education not on an individual level not passing
not on an individual level not passing
not on an individual level not passing exams and getting to the next level
exams and getting to the next level
exams and getting to the next level getting a good job
getting a good job
getting a good job but the purpose of education as a whole
but the purpose of education as a whole
but the purpose of education as a whole on a societal and global scale why the
on a societal and global scale why the
on a societal and global scale why the schools exist why does education exist
schools exist why does education exist
schools exist why does education exist it’s actually not such an easy question
it’s actually not such an easy question
it’s actually not such an easy question when you stop and think about it I’ll
when you stop and think about it I’ll
when you stop and think about it I’ll come back to it later in the meantime
come back to it later in the meantime
come back to it later in the meantime and give you a little insight into Who I
and give you a little insight into Who I
and give you a little insight into Who I am where I become absolutely fascinated
am where I become absolutely fascinated
am where I become absolutely fascinated by the idea of Education and its global
by the idea of Education and its global
by the idea of Education and its global purpose three years ago I arrived here
purpose three years ago I arrived here
purpose three years ago I arrived here in Bangkok at the successful
in Bangkok at the successful
in Bangkok at the successful International School and I was very keen
International School and I was very keen
International School and I was very keen to make a good first impression
to make a good first impression
to make a good first impression so I readily volunteered to help
so I readily volunteered to help
so I readily volunteered to help facilitate the student council now
facilitate the student council now
facilitate the student council now having done this before in a previous
having done this before in a previous
having done this before in a previous school where every week I would turn up
school where every week I would turn up
school where every week I would turn up and have the children complain about
and have the children complain about
and have the children complain about either school dinners or school uniform
either school dinners or school uniform
either school dinners or school uniform I was reluctant to face another year of
I was reluctant to face another year of
I was reluctant to face another year of the same mundane complaining so I
the same mundane complaining so I
the same mundane complaining so I decided to do something a little
decided to do something a little
decided to do something a little different I enrolled the school as an
different I enrolled the school as an
different I enrolled the school as an eco school and I turned up armed with
eco school and I turned up armed with
eco school and I turned up armed with this new initiative for some of the
this new initiative for some of the
this new initiative for some of the student council members who were
student council members who were
student council members who were interested to form kind of a breakaway
interested to form kind of a breakaway
interested to form kind of a breakaway team and so three members of the student
team and so three members of the student
team and so three members of the student council joined me to form the first eco
council joined me to form the first eco
council joined me to form the first eco team at the school over the next few
team at the school over the next few
team at the school over the next few years we went from three members of the
years we went from three members of the
years we went from three members of the student council to a 50 member strong
student council to a 50 member strong
student council to a 50 member strong eco team with students from five to 18
around the same time the United Nations
around the same time the United Nations launched their global sustainability
launched their global sustainability
launched their global sustainability goals 17 sustainability goals towards a
goals 17 sustainability goals towards a
goals 17 sustainability goals towards a better future for our planet and for
better future for our planet and for
better future for our planet and for future generations they identified
future generations they identified
future generations they identified education as absolutely key in meeting
education as absolutely key in meeting
education as absolutely key in meeting these goals and targets I’m sure you’ll
these goals and targets I’m sure you’ll
these goals and targets I’m sure you’ll all agree that’s absolutely right so
all agree that’s absolutely right so
all agree that’s absolutely right so with this in mind and with the Eco team
with this in mind and with the Eco team
with this in mind and with the Eco team fully underway I decided to do my best
fully underway I decided to do my best
fully underway I decided to do my best to embed these sustainability issues in
to embed these sustainability issues in
to embed these sustainability issues in education for sustainability into my
education for sustainability into my
education for sustainability into my teaching practice and into my wider
teaching practice and into my wider
teaching practice and into my wider reach within the school community when
reach within the school community when
reach within the school community when you talk about behavioral change as an
you talk about behavioral change as an
you talk about behavioral change as an educator information is kind of my
educator information is kind of my
educator information is kind of my business so my idea is always stand up
business so my idea is always stand up
business so my idea is always stand up and teach my way to change I was going
and teach my way to change I was going
and teach my way to change I was going to stand up and present scary statistics
to stand up and present scary statistics
to stand up and present scary statistics deter information and open the eyes of
deter information and open the eyes of
deter information and open the eyes of my students so that they would behave
my students so that they would behave
my students so that they would behave accordingly they would change the way
accordingly they would change the way
accordingly they would change the way they’re behaving and they would suddenly
they’re behaving and they would suddenly
they’re behaving and they would suddenly all of them behave in a very
all of them behave in a very
all of them behave in a very environmentally friendly and global
environmentally friendly and global
environmentally friendly and global sustainability mindset this was an
sustainability mindset this was an
sustainability mindset this was an incorrect approach for two reasons first
incorrect approach for two reasons first
incorrect approach for two reasons first of all the students on my eco team it
of all the students on my eco team it
of all the students on my eco team it became very apparent even after the very
became very apparent even after the very
became very apparent even after the very first meeting they did not need their
first meeting they did not need their
first meeting they did not need their minds changing they did not need their
minds changing they did not need their
minds changing they did not need their eyes opening they did not need to be
eyes opening they did not need to be
eyes opening they did not need to be awakened this sustainability threat we
awakened this sustainability threat we
awakened this sustainability threat we face in the same way that studies have
face in the same way that studies have
face in the same way that studies have shown that happiness is directly related
shown that happiness is directly related
shown that happiness is directly related to time spent in nature it became very
to time spent in nature it became very
to time spent in nature it became very apparent to me that young people have an
apparent to me that young people have an
apparent to me that young people have an innate understanding when the world
innate understanding when the world
innate understanding when the world around them when nature around them is
around them when nature around them is
around them when nature around them is not happy they walk down the street they
not happy they walk down the street they
not happy they walk down the street they see the litter they can feel the
see the litter they can feel the
see the litter they can feel the pollution they can identify inequality
pollution they can identify inequality
pollution they can identify inequality all around them the second reason that
all around them the second reason that
all around them the second reason that simple information delivery and
simple information delivery and
simple information delivery and awareness was not an effective strategy
awareness was not an effective strategy
awareness was not an effective strategy it’s because it rarely is
as far as creating genuine behavioral
as far as creating genuine behavioral change information and awareness time
change information and awareness time
change information and awareness time and time again proven ineffective it’s
and time again proven ineffective it’s
and time again proven ineffective it’s why people still smoke that’s why not
why people still smoke that’s why not
why people still smoke that’s why not everybody wears their seatbelt and it’s
everybody wears their seatbelt and it’s
everybody wears their seatbelt and it’s why despite warnings and requests at the
why despite warnings and requests at the
why despite warnings and requests at the start at least three mobile phones have
start at least three mobile phones have
start at least three mobile phones have gone off this evening simply raising
gone off this evening simply raising
gone off this evening simply raising awareness and telling people how to
awareness and telling people how to
awareness and telling people how to behave doesn’t work so what does as
behave doesn’t work so what does as
behave doesn’t work so what does as we’ve seen tonight and as we’ve seen in
we’ve seen tonight and as we’ve seen in
we’ve seen tonight and as we’ve seen in many many TED talks in the past
many many TED talks in the past
many many TED talks in the past education is at something of a
education is at something of a
education is at something of a crossroads the most viewed TED talk of
crossroads the most viewed TED talk of
crossroads the most viewed TED talk of all time comes from Sir Ken Robinson
all time comes from Sir Ken Robinson
all time comes from Sir Ken Robinson where he looks at schools modern
where he looks at schools modern
where he looks at schools modern education and how creativity is the key
education and how creativity is the key
education and how creativity is the key to 21st century education when you do a
to 21st century education when you do a
to 21st century education when you do a little further research you see other
little further research you see other
little further research you see other TED Talks and other educational pedagogy
TED Talks and other educational pedagogy
TED Talks and other educational pedagogy the focuses around these skills that are
the focuses around these skills that are
the focuses around these skills that are vital in a 21st century world skills
vital in a 21st century world skills
vital in a 21st century world skills like creativity innovation adaptability
like creativity innovation adaptability
like creativity innovation adaptability problem-solvers independent learners
problem-solvers independent learners
problem-solvers independent learners these are all things that as an
these are all things that as an
these are all things that as an education professional I become more and
education professional I become more and
education professional I become more and more familiar with I believe most of us
more familiar with I believe most of us
more familiar with I believe most of us are doing our best to embed these skills
are doing our best to embed these skills
are doing our best to embed these skills and attributes within our students I
and attributes within our students I
and attributes within our students I know we certainly are at my school and
know we certainly are at my school and
know we certainly are at my school and so I decided to approach my teaching of
so I decided to approach my teaching of
so I decided to approach my teaching of Education for sustainability with this
Education for sustainability with this
Education for sustainability with this in mind I decided to make it as
in mind I decided to make it as
in mind I decided to make it as child-led as humanly possible and so in
child-led as humanly possible and so in
child-led as humanly possible and so in stepping back I didn’t become some kind
stepping back I didn’t become some kind
stepping back I didn’t become some kind of wonder teacher who brought out all
of wonder teacher who brought out all
of wonder teacher who brought out all these amazing attributes in the young
these amazing attributes in the young
these amazing attributes in the young people that I was working with far from
people that I was working with far from
people that I was working with far from it I did very little I’ll rephrase that
it I did very little I’ll rephrase that
it I did very little I’ll rephrase that I did basically nothing I simply turned
I did basically nothing I simply turned
I did basically nothing I simply turned up each week and provided a platform an
up each week and provided a platform an
up each week and provided a platform an opportunity for the young people I work
opportunity for the young people I work
opportunity for the young people I work with to demonstrate their 21st century
with to demonstrate their 21st century
with to demonstrate their 21st century skills not information regurgitation
skills not information regurgitation
skills not information regurgitation not standardized assessments but simply
not standardized assessments but simply
not standardized assessments but simply a platform for them to demonstrate their
a platform for them to demonstrate their
a platform for them to demonstrate their genuine leadership skills the organic
genuine leadership skills the organic
genuine leadership skills the organic teamwork it worked
teamwork it worked
teamwork it worked while some of the initiatives and ideas
while some of the initiatives and ideas
while some of the initiatives and ideas the young people had naturally fell flat
the young people had naturally fell flat
the young people had naturally fell flat many many didn’t in fact looking back
many many didn’t in fact looking back
many many didn’t in fact looking back over my time as eco-schools coordinator
over my time as eco-schools coordinator
over my time as eco-schools coordinator here it became apparent that everything
here it became apparent that everything
here it became apparent that everything that was successful had been entirely
that was successful had been entirely
that was successful had been entirely the students ideas as a result we earned
the students ideas as a result we earned
the students ideas as a result we earned international accreditation
international accreditation
international accreditation awards and recognition we become the
awards and recognition we become the
awards and recognition we become the first school in all of Thailand to
first school in all of Thailand to
first school in all of Thailand to become a green flag eco school became
become a green flag eco school became
become a green flag eco school became very apparent to me that the ultimate
very apparent to me that the ultimate
very apparent to me that the ultimate context for these 21st century skills
context for these 21st century skills
context for these 21st century skills was in terms of real-world 21st century
was in terms of real-world 21st century
was in terms of real-world 21st century problem-solving that is education for
problem-solving that is education for
problem-solving that is education for sustainability often you’ll hear people
sustainability often you’ll hear people
sustainability often you’ll hear people talk about how as teachers and educators
talk about how as teachers and educators
talk about how as teachers and educators we’re preparing students for jobs that
we’re preparing students for jobs that
we’re preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist I believe we’re also
don’t yet exist I believe we’re also
don’t yet exist I believe we’re also training them to face problems that have
training them to face problems that have
training them to face problems that have not yet been realised our iron stand
not yet been realised our iron stand
not yet been realised our iron stand said you cannot solve a problem with the
said you cannot solve a problem with the
said you cannot solve a problem with the same mindset that created it in
same mindset that created it in
same mindset that created it in presenting 21st century education in
presenting 21st century education in
presenting 21st century education in anything other than education for
anything other than education for
anything other than education for sustainability we run the risk of using
sustainability we run the risk of using
sustainability we run the risk of using the same tools towards sorry different
the same tools towards sorry different
the same tools towards sorry different tools towards the same end what I’m
tools towards the same end what I’m
tools towards the same end what I’m saying is if we simply use 21st century
saying is if we simply use 21st century
saying is if we simply use 21st century skills in order to reach the same
skills in order to reach the same
skills in order to reach the same mindless consumption blind economic
mindless consumption blind economic
mindless consumption blind economic growth then sustainability issues such
growth then sustainability issues such
growth then sustainability issues such as those raised by the United Nations
as those raised by the United Nations
as those raised by the United Nations will not be addressed dr. Stephen Cheyne
will not be addressed dr. Stephen Cheyne
will not be addressed dr. Stephen Cheyne carried out some research where he
carried out some research where he
carried out some research where he interviewed many of the leading
interviewed many of the leading
interviewed many of the leading sustainability leaders current
sustainability leaders current
sustainability leaders current be working in industry and big business
be working in industry and big business
be working in industry and big business and even politics today he interviewed
and even politics today he interviewed
and even politics today he interviewed these sustainability leaders these
these sustainability leaders these
these sustainability leaders these inspirational people that are doing such
inspirational people that are doing such
inspirational people that are doing such amazing things and he identified that
amazing things and he identified that
amazing things and he identified that they did not have any skills or
they did not have any skills or
they did not have any skills or knowledge or information that you or I
knowledge or information that you or I
knowledge or information that you or I do not possess already what they did
do not possess already what they did
do not possess already what they did have was what he refers to as an
have was what he refers to as an
have was what he refers to as an ecological worldview an ecological
ecological worldview an ecological
ecological worldview an ecological worldview that was created at a point
worldview that was created at a point
worldview that was created at a point either an early childhood or early in
either an early childhood or early in
either an early childhood or early in their careers that change their my sense
their careers that change their my sense
their careers that change their my sense that made them approach everything they
that made them approach everything they
that made them approach everything they do not in terms of financial gain but
do not in terms of financial gain but
do not in terms of financial gain but with a sustainability mindset the
with a sustainability mindset the
with a sustainability mindset the question I have is imagine if we could
question I have is imagine if we could
question I have is imagine if we could create a whole generation with these
create a whole generation with these
create a whole generation with these kinds of sustainability mindsets
having seen 21st century skills and
having seen 21st century skills and education being so successful in
education being so successful in
education being so successful in administering education for
administering education for
administering education for sustainability I would argue now that
sustainability I would argue now that
sustainability I would argue now that the only context for 21st century skills
the only context for 21st century skills
the only context for 21st century skills is in terms of Education for
is in terms of Education for
is in terms of Education for sustainability I asked my class I teach
sustainability I asked my class I teach
sustainability I asked my class I teach 11 year olds I have 22 10 and 11 year
11 year olds I have 22 10 and 11 year
11 year olds I have 22 10 and 11 year olds in my class and I asked them what
olds in my class and I asked them what
olds in my class and I asked them what what is education for what is the bigger
what is education for what is the bigger
what is education for what is the bigger purpose of Education of those 20 to 18
purpose of Education of those 20 to 18
purpose of Education of those 20 to 18 mentioned education either in the
mentioned education either in the
mentioned education either in the context of problem solving or changing
context of problem solving or changing
context of problem solving or changing the world
Nelson Mandela said that education is
Nelson Mandela said that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to
the most powerful weapon you can use to
the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world and so returning to my
change the world and so returning to my
change the world and so returning to my original question of what is the bigger
original question of what is the bigger
original question of what is the bigger picture global purpose of Education I
picture global purpose of Education I
picture global purpose of Education I think it might be about providing the
think it might be about providing the
think it might be about providing the skills the attributes but most
skills the attributes but most
skills the attributes but most importantly the mindsets and worldviews
importantly the mindsets and worldviews
importantly the mindsets and worldviews so that young people can make change
so that young people can make change
so that young people can make change towards a sustained
towards a sustained
towards a sustained boo future thank you very much
boo future thank you very much
boo future thank you very much [Applause]
”
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