Science Fiction and Modern Education
It was a bright and sunny day, after a long spell of rainy, gloomy and less bright days. The sunshine sparkled on the dew drops, that reposed on very still leaves, blades of grass, and flower petals that had made up their mind, to finally bloom fully and gaze directly at the Sun. Only to shimmer with an organic brilliance that cannot be matched by any synthetic means available to mankind. In this moment of contemplation I was reminded of Wordsworth’s poem, The Tables Turned.
‘One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.’
Where he argues that nature can be a better teacher than mundane classrooms, and teachers who have no flair for the teaching profession.
And I have no reason whatsoever to challenge this belief of Wordsworth. Because I experienced a similar feeling when I witnessed the morning sunshine shimmering over the silent , and dew drop kissed leaves. I experienced something that was beyond what a child can learn at school, and that too in the confinement of the brick walled classrooms. I know you are thinking about Pink Floyd's famous song, ( another brick in the wall ) which is largely misinterpreted.
Most of the people think that the song directly advocates for total freedom of children, and demands that teachers let every child do as he/she may please in the classroom. Whereas in reality that is not the message the song wants to convey. It actually emphasises on the fact that allowing a child to follow his/her passion is very important while evolving the schooling system to facilitate the overall development of the child. Specifically catering to his/her interests to help him/her to be the master of these organic faculties, that the child is genetically, mentally; and then via learning experiences, more inclined towards. And can perform much better whenever he/she applies these organic faculties in real life. Because for his/her body and mind, engaging with them as an intentional effort that is expected to produce a desired output is an activity of pleasure and not a task of boredom. This is what is missing in the current education system.
Please note : Now this does not mean that a child with a liking for Biology should not study mathematics. Because we all need basic mathematics in day to day life. And who knows, by exposing a child to mathematics, by using teaching techniques that he/she relates with easily, the child will be able to realise the math genius within him/her. Afterall, human mind is a very complex ecosystem capable of adapting to any situation and evolving in infinite ways.
And for complete mental growth, an undeterred physical development of the child is equally important. For this, outdoor activities play a vital role, and experiencing the voices of nature, and listening to its murmurs, just like I did this morning, grooms the human mind in ways that no teacher can.
I referred to the confinements of the classrooms. However, classrooms are important too, yet many of us refer to them as cells of confinement. But are they really so?
For parents reading this blog post, it might be a heavy dose when it comes to dealing with a subject that indirectly deals with parenting, schooling and lot of other aspects involved in the social, personal, mental, intellectual and other areas of development that aim at grooming the young mind. Whereby we first realise the child’s true inclination and then harness his/her complete potential.
So to ease the topical redundancy of this blog post, here is the link to famous Pink Floyd song titled “Another Brick in the Wall”
That for all good reasons I do not consider to be just a song, but given the year it was first released in, it is a revolutionary epoch as far as education system is concerned. Because the song efficiently portrays the limitations of the conventional schooling systems that still fail to help a child realise his/her true mental potential.
Relax and listen to this melody, and think of your childhood days, and the possibilities that could have come true, had the people responsible for defining our educational systems been able to understand the actual message the song tried to convey. Nevermind, as long as we believe that the true legacy of any nation lies in the honest efforts it invests to make the lives of the forthcoming generations more prosperous, responsible and productive. Anything is possible and we can still do it!
By now you must agree that being a rebel in order to side with the truth is actually a noble cause and we all must pursue it with utmost dedication. So, let me propel this stream of thought further via this rebel of a blog post.
"Classroom = confinement."
This needs to be understood in more detail and with few analogies.
I like flowers, it is a taste I cultivated because of my close association with my father when I was young. But sometimes, he would take me to a glass house where his friend grew cacti. He and his friend would examine each flower with a lot of detail as if they were looking at a fairy from some alien planet. But I stood there, took a look at all the cacti; and then my thoughts wandered somewhere else. As I entered the glass house, and was visually greeted by the cacti flowers; I liked the experience, but after 15 minutes I felt a desperate urge to leave the place and go somewhere else. It felt like a force trying to confine me physically as well as mentally.
Now, when I went to other gardens with flowers, other than cacti, I could be there for many weeks and I would not feel confined or forced to appreciate something that I was not that inclined towards. Please do not ask me why. And I certainly do not wish to displease cacti lovers. Therefore, I must admit before I become a subject of their wrath, that few cacti flowers are extremely beautiful.
Now here is something that all of us can relate with. Marriage or being in love. Imagine being married to someone you do not feel anything towards. What will your life be like? It will be like a sentence where you are decreed to live in lifelong confinement. Would you like that? Nobody would.
So why should the children?
Confinement, when interpreted from different contexts, relates to different aspects with meaning that varies based on the situation and the person in that situation.
Hypothetical scenarion:
In a class of 30 students, 10 students enjoy mathematics, whereas 5 love English Literature, and the rest of the students have a mind where cacti as well as other flowers define a beautiful garden i.e. they are good with every subject.
So, during the Chemistry class, 15 students will feel confined, whereas in the same classroom the remaining 15 will feel like enjoying a trip in the garden of Paradise. And this is exactly where the generalised approach to education and poor assessment of students’ abilities to learn; actually kills the child who lives in his/her mind, and as this child grows into a man or a woman, he/she feels just like I feel in the cacti garden in full bloom.
So is the classroom a confinement cell? No, it is the way we have evolved our schooling system that turns classrooms into prison cells, where there are predefined moments of freedom. During which the child has few moments to feel free. For example a lunch break.
I too believe that making the process of education interesting, almost like a game for a young child, is very important. Because that is what will excite the child to wake up in the morning and reach his/her classroom, and be the best at what he/she likes being the best at. Gamification of the education process while knowing what sort of mental and physical engagement the child prefers, is what will be an ideal schooling system.
My brother’s sons play many video games, especially Minecraft. From what I can tell, this makes them feel they too can create something, like architects. It is the moment when they get highly excited and start jumping like ping pong balls. But this interaction has a side effect as well.
If I ask them to complete a task in reality, they do so. But with a lot of prodding, and whenever they attempt to complete even a smaller task in reality they seem to get impatient. The reason is obvious. In a game like Minecraft, they design and construct a building or erect a structure in a matter of few minutes; and simply by moving their fingers. Given their young minds, when they try to accomplish smaller tasks in reality they get restless and impatient because their mind is used to fulfilling tasks by moving fingers and ready to use physical attributes that complete a sequence in the game. Whereas in reality, nothing can be achieved simply by moving fingers. And when a child’s mind tries to counter this pattern of addiction towards ease. It fails to do so , forcing the children to leave the tasks incomplete or quit in the middle.
Wondering why! Well, when the dopamine rush fails to achieve its climax, which in a video game is achieved easily by completing different levels, the children get impatient and at times leave the tasks in the middle. It is a direct result of their inability to trigger the release of dopamine that human body releases whenever it achieves something or fulfils a task successfully.
Based on this observation, it is not only about gamifying the lessons delivered in the classrooms. What matters more, is the person who is delivering these lessons. Because it can happen that the teacher, who himself/herself has been a child and has undergone many years of training and education to evolve into a man/woman capable of teaching young children. This teacher too when interacting with a certain set of students in class room may feel like interacting with cacti flowers and in the same classroom when he/she interacts with other children he/she feels happy and enthused. Because being with them, is intellectually more fulfilling for the teacher. Addressing this problem will help us solve the bigger problem that has always challenged the schooling systems and for whatever reasons it has always been unaddressed.
Please note : A teacher, who as a child always wanted to study mathematics, but for whatever reason was forced to learn music. Somehow he/she graduates with a degree in music/fine arts. Now when this person assumes the role of a teacher in a class of 30 students. He/She would naturally tend to interact more with children who are good at mathematics and develop a subconscious inclination towards them. And the students who are good at fine arts, they will become his/her indirect victims. It can be other way around as well.
Sensibly Gamifying the lesson plans and lecture delivery style can really revolutionise the education system. But can it eliminate the mental confinement that a child feels trapped in when he/she is in a class, where everything seems boring and drab? Yes it can be!
This is where science fictions play a very critical role. Few of the famous and widely read science fiction novels:
Dune
The Martian
Starship Troopers
A Space Odyssey
Rendezvous with Rama
Children love novels with ideas that fascinate them, that intrigue them, that add a spark of scientific imagination to their curious minds, that make them appreciate their lives and value the ecosystem that supports planet Earth. These ideas place them on the launchpad of imagination where they define the course of their scientific thinking. And from my brothers’ sons I have realised they often get excited about knowing more whenever I refer to science fiction, fantasy etc. But they again suffer from instant withdrawal if I ask them to read the novel and explore it themselves. It is a direct impact of excessive involvement with digital games where everything is accomplished by touching a button. And with advancements in the technology, now that touch too is not wholesome, because it has been reduced to “Feather Touch.” And a young child is made to believe that this is what reality is like. Feather touch like, smooth and sleek. Which is not true.
So all of you reading this blog post, might already be thinking that by raising this point, I have actually shot myself in the foot. Not really!
I learned something from someone I admire and love a lot, that there is always a better way. And there is a better way in this case as well.
I am certain you have read the famous parable where a farmer father, to motivate his lazy sons tells them of the gold hidden in the fields.
Can you recall it and do you understand what I mean?
No!
Ah maybe I should refresh your memories and help you recollect the exact story. Please refer to this link :
https://moralstories26.com/hard-work-story-farmer-son-treasure/
You got my point?
Not yet.
Please allow me to elaborate further.
This is how the Brain’s Reward System works.
Quoting from National Library of Medicine :
“When rewarding stimuli are experienced, the dopaminergic mesolimbic system is activated which causes the release of dopamine to the targeted nuclei.”
We all love being rewarded, whether as young children or grown up adults. One reason the West is performing better than the East when it comes to achieving targets in private companies or other public sectors which are target driven. In the West there is a well defined incentive structure that one receives in an addition to his/her salary based on his/her performance.
And trust me, young children love incentives as well. But its application comes with a caution. While applying reward based education ( I am not talking about examinations and report cards , because that is not a reward system; it is a paradox that actually confines the child’s mind to believe that you are only good at this or you are extremely bad at that )
When applying the reward system at school education level, it is important to avoid the incentive model followed by corporations, where sometimes in the race to make more money, few employees tend to sacrifice their personal relationships and even their moments of enjoyment necessary to lead a fulfilling life.
In children, excessive release of Dopamine can lead to many mental deviations that can be classified as addictions of mind. So strong, that the young child would do anything to feel that rush of excitement coupled with a sense of fulfilment. So it needs to be given in the right doses and in the form of group activities, where they feel rewarded as individuals and as a team as well. Then occasionally this should be experienced by the child at individual level as well. It would eliminate his/her excessive reliance on a team. Because in real life there are many situations where one cannot avail the luxury of working with a team, and the situational need demands that he/she works and delivers the objective alone. Take for example a counselling session with a drug addict, who is shy and prefers conversations with a single individual, and that too of a certain gender. In this situation a child that has always performed in a team environment would fail to perform as an individual. Because in the same situation, working as a team and working alone demands different skill sets, and only few individuals possess the ability to switch between the mindsets, where he/she performs as an individual and performs as a member of a team as well. But these individuals are rare to come across because their grooming process pushes them to the extreme where they are left with no options, but to survive anyhow. And out of 1000, I would say only a few make it through, because we all are born with different levels of mental and physical stamina.
Oh my God, we have actually been able to deal with the topic quite well and I am certain most of you are already thinking of ways to achieve it in reality, even if that means doing so at a smaller scale, which would mean beginning from the children in your family or neighbourhood. So , go forth and be the inspiration and facilitate a renaissance.
Anyway, coming back to the science fiction novels. For ease and my personal liking towards two science fiction novels: Dune and The Martian. Let me refer to them in this blog post.
Dune refers to accessing the multidimensional faculty of the human mind. It is a fascinating concept.
The Martian takes us on a scientific odyssey unlike any other and shows what is possible with collaborative human effort and scientific thinking.
Also let me mention Interstellar where the humanity’s last hope, Cooper is assigned the task of travelling through a worm hole and find a habitable planet.
Now imagine sharing these concepts with children via visual renditions, and gamification that can be absorbed by a child’s mind. Often we forget to consider the fact that an adult mind is unlike the still developing mind of a child. Therefore, explaining concepts like gravity or worm holes to a child would need references and lesson orientation considering the child’s mind as the central recipient of this knowledge.
How can this be done and can this be done at all?
Again I would quote something from my science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075, “There is always a better way!”
It can be achieved by the right digitisation of classrooms and by employing computer aided lesson delivery which engages with the five senses. If this can be achieved we have actually won the battle against being stuck in the conventionality of our schooling systems.
And when it comes to digitisation of classrooms, understanding the word digitisation in its completeness, in context to schools and classrooms, and the fact that it is aimed at children with different temperaments, both mental and physical is very important. Given the current digital ecosystem, I am unable to single out a solution that can be patented for this digital revolution at schools. And the only solution will be the amalgamation of several digital platforms, which are then evolved as a singular platform for modern and less boring classrooms.
Let us consider a hypothetical situation:
An English classroom where the teacher is introducing the children to the characters of the play titled “Tempest.”
Imagine all characters coming alive on the digital and AI aided smart boards mounted on walls, and these characters introduce themselves, and then act in the digital version of the play. But that is not all, the characters that come alive on the screen, impersonate certain students from the classroom. Now that will be exciting and the students will be able to remember every sequence of the play.
Then based on the individual IQ of every student, the AI based system should push new words, phrases, summaries to each student as their as their weekend assignments. But these AI generated assignments should not be generalised, instead they ought to be specific to each child. That would be magical and would enhance every child’s ability to learn and engage better with lessons being delivered in the class.
Am I being too unrealistic? Maybe I am, but then, wasn’t it the same when humanity triumphed after being bombarded by speculations and incendiary remarks about the landing of humans on the Moon. And neither did Pink Floyd band members, nor did Elon Musk suggest about achieving something as challenging as landing humans on the Moon. Pink Floyd, Elon Musk, and myself, we are seeking a change in the education system to facilitate the much needed revolution that would evolve the classrooms in accordance to the learning capacity and interests of every child . And it will not be so as long as we do not dare to make an effort in this direction and choose to be the harbingers of good change.
A well thought science fiction has every element to set the child’s mind on an adventurous quest, and as of today it is marred by academic unadventurousness. And everyone of us is responsible, because we have taught ourselves to be complacent, and retire into self denial when something that is our right is denied to us. It is only in science fiction that I see a few brave men and women trying to break free from the cliche; and without adopting a reticent stance they write about the adventures of human imagination and set a child’s imagination on fire.
Please do not be misled or enraged by the word “Fire” Instead think of the holy fire Moses confronted on the sacred mountain. I am referring to fire in this context: passion, enthusiasm, valour, curiosity……….. Ah humans actually experience fire in so many ways.
In order to prove my allegiance to this thinking and socially concerned club of science fiction writers, I too finally expressed the curiosity of my mind in the science fiction novel, They Loved in 2075. It is special for many reasons, except the fact that I wrote it. It places the reader in the center stage and asks a very important question, “The Earth is dying, what are we doing to save it? What legacy are we going to leave for our future generations? And in 2075, will we still hear heart warming phrases like, “They Loved in 2075!” I doubt if we can.
In the science fiction, They Loved in 2075, there is a moment when the main character Saabir witnesses a real rose along with his girlfriend. In his clan and that of his girlfriend’s clan, Rose is mentioned in the old folktales and stories narrated by the elders of the clan to the younger generation. And none of them has ever seen or touched a real Rose. Saabir is the first person, perhaps on the Earth in 2075 the only fortunate one, to witness a real Rose. It is an enriching emotional moment for him, but he is surprised to realise that his girlfriend did not feel anything. Nothing at all!
“Is she emotionally sterile or has she lost the ability to feel strong emotions?” Wonders Saabir as he turns towards her and sees her standing in a state of emotional numbness next to a live specimen of the rose. The rose had failed to cast its magical spell on Saabir’s girlfriend or she was unable to react, because she was caught in the stillness of this beautiful moment while being unable to react. And it was so for many reasons.
Which Saabir as her lover ought to understand if he were to invoke the feeling of love in her. Well, to know whether he succeeded in accomplishing this mission or he got too preoccupied pursuing his quest to save the Earth; and prevent his clan and the StarLight clan from becoming extinct. You will have to read the science fiction, They Loved in 2075. Where the spell is cast by the Rose but only experienced by Saabir and not his girlfriend.
And perhaps it is time that we include modern literature in school syllabi if we are to single out those shy geniuses who have what it takes to find a habitable planet, and lead humanity into an era of greatness, where we master reality as much as we do it in our fiction. In no way should it mean that those who are not geniuses have nothing to contribute, whereas they are the ones who contribute equally as much, and sometimes more.
Ah, us humans, we need to prove every point and point of view as well. So let me share something before I conclude this blog post. When scientists were perfecting their space missions, they were faced by a simple, but very intriguing problem. That time there were no tablets or sophisticated laptops. So they were grappling with one technical problem. How to take notes on the paper? With a zero gravity ecosystem around them they certainly could not use a pen.
All the so-called geniuses of astro physics debated for many days, then all of a sudden someone who did not consider himself to be a genius said something extraordinary, “It is simple. I do not understand why you have spent so many days debating about such a simple problem. You could use a pencil!”
You smiled, I know. I did the same when I read it. Almost a decade or so ago. But the memory of the smile and the realisation of the true meaning of a genius belongs to me, and to me alone. And that too forever.
Every genius present in the room looked at him with eyes wide open.
Do you believe me now that every person carries the genetic material of a genius? It is just that the genius of most of us, is present in its subtle form. As subtle as pencil and as refined as someone who can drive a car in reverse gear at very high speed, almost above 40 kilometres per hour. Most of us cannot do it. And for most of us, Michael Schumacher is a genius when it comes to driving skill, but for me this person, who drives the car in reverse gear at more than 40 kilometres per hour is a genius too. Please do not ask me if I can drive it at the same speed as well, maybe I can, maybe I cannot. Who knows, for now only I do; and let us keep it that way. But let me admit something, I have tasted Melange many times. How did I get to planet Arrakis is a good topic for next blog post.
With that said, believe in the genius within you and the genius in your child, and other children too, and read authentic science fiction and dissolve some scientific thinking into your life, and that of young minds in want of this scientific intellect. Who knows you too might kindle the mind of a genius. If nothing, reading improves the mind’s ability to grow in multiple dimensions. And for that you do not have to go to planet Arrakis, and fight the giant worms to find that famed spice Melange, believed to enhance multidimensional thinking in the human mind. For humans, multidimensional thinking can also be mastered by reading the right books, interacting with like minded people or by reading authentic science fiction novels like : They Loved in 2075.
As I conclude this blog post, I shall let you decide, whether you want to enhance all faculties of your mind by reading science fiction or you want to go to planet Arrakis and retrieve Melange from the colony of monstrous and territorial worms. But even if you wish to go to planet Arrakis, you will have to read the science fiction Dune.
So, it will be right to say, "Happy reading anyway!"
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