"Learning from experience"- was the first quote which i read and the one which has stood out the most. In my line on work at the present and the continuation of my career is always going to be based in education, and i have never directly linked "learning" which "experiences"- which through reflecting on this statement i see that this is in fact fundamental to ones journey through the educational system- whether that be positive or negative, successful of unsuccessful- a journey through education is based on ones experiences!
As the work at Chickenshed is a progressive journey (which it has to be in order to continually fulfil its inclusive ideology) Reflection is key in order to evaluate, adapt, change,progress and flourish in contemporary society. This key function for Chickensheds survival I have seen is directly linked to John Dewey who defined the educational process as a "continual organisation, reconstruction and transformation of experience" and he also mentioned the Arts as leading to a "unique and valuable experience". Which ties in exactly with how i would like my future in education to be shaped. I believe the Arts provide a much larger platform for individuals to learn and develop without the restrictions of exams and tick boxes- which at this present time is all that is being offered to individuals under the age of 16- ironically enough it is under the age of 16 where the success in education is essential in order to continue in further education.
Although I found this handbook interesting and did not have to force myself to continue reading, it baffles me that philosophers have identified that if individuals are engaged with their experiences they become a better part of society and therefore solving worldly problems. If this has been identified then why are there not more functions in order to aid this engagement? It seems like such an easy way to start to improve life- starting from secondary socialisation- a process which has been determined as the most influential processes in a young persons life.
This cycles has and continues to be used at Chickenshed- I can see this though its development of education, its shows for younger children and it workshops for older people. Through directly linking Kolbs theory to my life it made it a lot easier to understand "what is being defined to me as Grahman Mcfree states is very important.
My final point which I has stuck out to me in the hand book as to the point i am at now is Gardener and his theory of multiple intelligences. He provides eight different ways in which people learn. Through this I can see why Chickenshed teaching techniques are for the most part very successfull and why i believe the educational system is failing. Chickenshed in a session trys to hit as many if not all of the intelligences which Gardener referrs to with range from verbal-linguistic to bodily-kinaesthetic. This show the variety of methods which are needed inorder to attempt to teach several individuals at one time. These different intellegences are what i believe are the main fault in mainstream education as only one intelligent (verbal-linguistic) is the only one on the list identified which is valued and can therefore achieve with. This is another reason why i would like to tackle the educational system head-on in order to try and change this falut in the system.
