Other Necessary Abilities

Ghana School

Attribution: A.Kauffeld from USAID in Africa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We would propose that there is no benefit in transforming our entire school systems into exclusively computer-based distance learning institutions; rather we would propose a much more flexible system going forward, where students and teachers perhaps met on fewer occasions and in smaller ‘bubbles’ or groups. Research has shown that an optimal group size for humans to perform at a collectively most advantageous level might be something like a combination of about eight to 12 people.¹ These smaller, more flexible groups could then be applied in a school setting on a rota basis, with more specialised educational and well-equipped facilities catering to practical subjects with hands-on learning. The subject areas requiring a hands-on approach most urgently would probably be art, music, crafts, home economics, physical education, and technology, although any future truly revolutionary education system would probably not elect to divide subject areas to this extent, but instead adapt an entirely more transdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. Indeed, the integrative aspect of STEAM™ education opens up a wide variety of possible combinations of school subjects that would provide a comprehensive and wide-ranging pedagogical holistic approach that would offer a genuine sustainable active learning experience.

Moreover, schools generally have an added purpose of teaching the young to interact in society, so that they learn to become productive citizens while developing their social competence and self-discipline. Students participating in physical education, where interaction and team sport are also forging their collective and individual character, will undoubtedly develop essential teamwork skills. Some would argue that similar competences could be developed with the help of e-sports or other types of educational games, but these solutions seem to neglect one of the core aspects of anthropology and sociology. Evidently, social interactions between students need to be preserved on a human level; interaction should not be limited to a chat room, interactive game platform, or virtual forum for discussion. Humans are social beings, and we need to preserve as much in-person interaction as possible in order to preserve our mental health and social competences.

1. Pulliam, H. and Caraco, T., Living in groups: is there an optimal group size? In Krebs, J. and Davies, N., (Eds), Behavioral Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach, Second Ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, England, 1984, pp.122–147.