What Are Classrooms Like in the 23rd/24th Century
- Thread starter Dayton3
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As a teacher, I'm always a bit disappointed when they show a school, since the education shown isn't too different than what we're doing today. I'd like to think that in the next 400 years we'd improve in what constitutes modern education.
Obviously their education must be superior somehow, since they have shown little kids doing higher math, and such. I've just never seen how they accomplish this.
Obviously their education must be superior somehow, since they have shown little kids doing higher math, and such. I've just never seen how they accomplish this.
I'm sure the technology will make it significantly easier to "virtual reality" oneself into the lesson, be it history, science, or literature. The body of facts to learn will certainly increase, but if the classroom of today is any indication, the social interaction will decrease, as will the need to rely on memory and internalizing concepts versus simply calling them up with computers.
I've always been a supporter of interactive learning and seeing kids encouraged to use all their senses in the process of absorbing new ideas. I believe schools are boring and not as effective as they could be because they force kids to just sit and listen or read, but not to learn through experimenting or touching things.
I would like to think that, since the Star Trek world is very science and exploration-oriented, that classroom learning would reflect that. We would see more kids learning in a hands-on way that prepares them for a future career in field work. Even reading and math work can be incorporated into science projects, they don't have to be learned through sitting at a desk doing drills. Holo-technology could also be used as interactive education, including for teaching history and world events.
I would like to think that, since the Star Trek world is very science and exploration-oriented, that classroom learning would reflect that. We would see more kids learning in a hands-on way that prepares them for a future career in field work. Even reading and math work can be incorporated into science projects, they don't have to be learned through sitting at a desk doing drills. Holo-technology could also be used as interactive education, including for teaching history and world events.
To the best of my recollection, there was never a lot of thought or imagination put into depicting futuristic schooling in TNG and DS9. In TNG I just remembered various episodes where kids would be running around or singing (not so far removed from modern Kindergarten) and that idiotic children's computer in "Rascals". 
I think Keiko's short-lived classroom was shown in DS9, but I don't remember much about it. I wonder if an episode that actually takes place entirely in a school could have been interesting. I think it may have been possible in DS9's early seasons with Jake and Nog, but there weren't enough child characters in TNG (schools on that show were mostly used to show how Alexander or some one-shot appearance child had problems fitting in).
I think Keiko's short-lived classroom was shown in DS9, but I don't remember much about it. I wonder if an episode that actually takes place entirely in a school could have been interesting. I think it may have been possible in DS9's early seasons with Jake and Nog, but there weren't enough child characters in TNG (schools on that show were mostly used to show how Alexander or some one-shot appearance child had problems fitting in).
What may be rather different from today's approach is that different kids get taught different things. That is, the young Harry Bernard from "When the Bough Breaks" hated calculus while the much older Jake Sisko struggled with algebra, a subject that must come before calculus... Yet both were in a socially similar position (Starfleet brats) in what has been suggested to be an egalitarian society.
Perhaps the 24th century UFP has done away with the idea of standard curriculi, and customizes the process and the goals for each and every kid.
Generally, the idea of a schoolroom as a social meeting place may outweigh ideas about more efficient methods of education, there being no pressing need to get all the people educated efficiently, but a great need to raise them as socially acceptable citizens.
Timo Saloniemi
Perhaps the 24th century UFP has done away with the idea of standard curriculi, and customizes the process and the goals for each and every kid.
Generally, the idea of a schoolroom as a social meeting place may outweigh ideas about more efficient methods of education, there being no pressing need to get all the people educated efficiently, but a great need to raise them as socially acceptable citizens.
Timo Saloniemi
That socialization issue is changing, as more and more courses are being taught via the Internet and other technology, and in some cases, students never physically meet classmates or even the instructor.
There are also many theories about education, but two viewpoints sometimes working in tandem and sometimes at odds are that of education being the mastery of a finite body of facts and theories and that of education being introduction to a variety of learning styles, viewpoints, and methodologies, the chief product of which is teaching a student how to learn. "No Child Left Behind" has largely privileged the former, which is also more easily done where social interaction is less critical than memorization. But the give-and-take of the traditional classroom setting often makes developing critical reasoning more possible, if for no other reason than the rapid fire exchange of ideas and nonverbal communication requires students to "think on their feet."
There are also many theories about education, but two viewpoints sometimes working in tandem and sometimes at odds are that of education being the mastery of a finite body of facts and theories and that of education being introduction to a variety of learning styles, viewpoints, and methodologies, the chief product of which is teaching a student how to learn. "No Child Left Behind" has largely privileged the former, which is also more easily done where social interaction is less critical than memorization. But the give-and-take of the traditional classroom setting often makes developing critical reasoning more possible, if for no other reason than the rapid fire exchange of ideas and nonverbal communication requires students to "think on their feet."
One would think that an emphasis on social interaction would be important. I know we are seeing the opposite happen now due to new computerized technology and the convenience of distance learning, but I think things will swing around again.
In the Star Trek world, much that they do relates to other beings - many of whom are not human. Social interaction and cultural studies should be emphasized so that students are ready to get out into the universe. They must be prepared to tactfully handle many kinds of social situations and to work with different species in a variety of locations. This can't be learned from sitting in front of a computer or just doing written assignments.
In the Star Trek world, much that they do relates to other beings - many of whom are not human. Social interaction and cultural studies should be emphasized so that students are ready to get out into the universe. They must be prepared to tactfully handle many kinds of social situations and to work with different species in a variety of locations. This can't be learned from sitting in front of a computer or just doing written assignments.
