Attention to LearningWhy Now?EducationThe Case of ChinaA folk song: 讀書郎（School Boy)小麼小兒郎呀郎Little John, Little John,背著那書包上學堂On way to school with books in backpack;不怕那太陽曬There is no fear of the fierce sun,也不怕那風雨狂or heavy rain or wild storm;只怕先生罵我懶喲The only fear is teachers reprimand of laziness.沒有學問喏With no achievement,無臉見爹娘Its shameful to face parents.Education in Ancient ChinaSynonymsEducationAttending schoolsStudyExaminationLearningReading booksChina: The Home of ExaminationsAncient China廊中始于隋朝传入日韩单一功能选拔官员社会上升唯一途徑十年寒窗一朝成名不问出身 只须勤奋四书五经 读书为高一次考试 崇尚文字引经据典 八股文章 勤有功 戏无益揣摩上意 政治正确 拜為宰相招為駙馬目的鮮明旨在功名家喻户晓 全民文化Korea 2006Korea 2006Is it Education?Yes!Is it learning?Well 功名功名The Examination .The Civil ExaminationNormally three tiersStarted formally 603 AD (隋)(shui dynasty)Immediately copied by Korea and JapanCurriculum: Four Books & Five ClassicsAssessment: Essay writing The finalists interviewedAppointment to the Officialdom The Examination: Nature“Education” was solely preparing for the Civil ExamCivil Exam was solely for recruitment into the officialdomJoining the officialdom was the sole means of social mobilityThe Examination: VisionOverwhelming reward to success拜為宰相 appointment to power招為駙馬 marriage to the royal family衣錦榮歸 glorious home-coming.The Examination: MissionExcellence in the ExaminationGood memory Application of the classicsGood writing skillsIdeas that attract appreciation.The Examination: StrategiesHard-working: “Ten years by the cold window” 十年寒窗Emphasis on efforts“Diligence compensates for Stupidity” 勤能補拙The Examination: Learning ModeTextbooks readily availableBasically self-studySelf-motivatedDistance-learningTeachers a luxurySchools dispensable.The Examination: Entrance RequirementsNone!The Examination: Perceived BeautiesExtremely simple system: only examExtremely simple curriculum: classicsExtremely low-cost: no teaching, no fees, distance learning Extremely fair: no class discrimination Extremely rigorous: open and tight .Implications .單元智能 Single measure of single intelligence勤能補拙 Effort treasured over innate ability精英選拔 Selection of a few崇尚競爭 Norm referenced; favors competition集體同化 Depriving individual development万般皆下品 唯有读书高Everything is low but reading” 勤有功戲無益Work HardDont PlayHowever Industrial SocietiesIndustrial EraOrganizationSocietyKnowledgeCredentialsAssumption: People are Specialized, Classified & RankedManpowerYoung PeopleEducationManpowerYoung PeopleEducation ExaminationsSyllabusesTextbooksSchoolsClassesTimetable. Industrial InstitutionsOperativesCraftsmenTechniciansEngineersDegreesDiplomasBasic EducationVocational TrainingEconomic GrowthManpower RequirementsHuman resourcesHuman beingsEducation:Turning Human Beings intoHuman ResourcesFor individualsEducation provide credentialsAdmitting people to jobs in the labour-marketPeople work in stable jobs and single occupationsStay there for a long time, mostly lifelongEducationTorturing studentsuntilthey confess to the system!學歷學歷Society has changed!Example 1: Work Units Hong Kong Around 304,000 registered companies (2008)99.3 under 100 (SME) 69% of employees94.3% under 2040% of employees87.0 under 1033% of employeesOver 1,000 employees: 110 Free-lancers 220,000 estimatedvis-vis 2,200,000 in registered companiesThe United States Business Enterprises98 under 10086 under 20National Bureau of Economic Research, 2002 Shanghai (2005/6)SME: 99.7%Employees: 86.8%Total asset: 69.2%Cantonese CuisineCantonese CuisineChaozhou CuisineChaozhou CuisinePeking CuisinePeking CuisineOther Chinese CuisinesOther Chinese CuisinesMisoMiso, Kiko, Kiko,m.a.x. concepts: mezz, EXP, caf Landmark, thai basil, m.a.x. concepts: mezz, EXP, caf Landmark, thai basil, can.teen, little basil, the basil, can.teen, little basil, the basil, fresh basil, rice paper, fresh basil, rice paper, Caf Express, Deli and Wine, Curtain Up, Caf Express, Deli and Wine, Curtain Up, Concerto Bar & Caf, Simplylife Concerto Bar & Caf, Simplylife Starbucks CoffeeStarbucks Coffee Around 600 shopsExample 2: Restaurants: Maxims HKExample 3: Career PathsJohn (B.Sc.Eng,1971)1971 Electrical Engineering Department, GovernmentConsecutive promotions over the years2004 Early RetirementLearning Chinese painting and er-hu (Chinese violin)Rebecca (B.A.Econ., 2002)2002-4 MPhil (Psychology) + Free Lance Photographer2004-6 Free Lance Photo Organizer + PT Tutor2006-7 Manager (Fashion Design) 2007 Administrative Officer (6 months) 2007- Financial Planner+ NGO Rural EducationYear1234Aspiring to be an engineer (%) 81744944Example 4: Study-Work MatchingImperial CollegeExample 4 (Cont)University Graduates (HKU)Medicine: 1% Law: 15-20%Engineering: 35%Arts & Social SciencesvariedThe majority are in the “mismatch” category!Example 5: Workplace expectationsAccountantsMismatchPhysics, Psychology PhD, Computer Science PhDMorgan Stanley“Winning Personality” Senior Partner Deloitte“Integrity and sensitivity”KPMGMore non-accounting graduatesSociety of Accountants“Dont teach!”Example 6: Job changesChange of jobs：UK (City and Guild, 2006): 13 jobs/lifeUS (DOL) 10.6 jobs/life (2006)4.3 occupations/life (2002)Source of Knowledge and Skills MIT AlumniExample 7: MIT Source: Kristen Wolfe, B.S. Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, June 2004Knowledge and Skills MIT AlumniMean Frequency of UseSource: Kristen Wolfe, B.S. Thesis, Department of Mechanical Engineering, June 2004Example 8: Time factorDepartment Heads in Department StoresSecondary school graduates1970s: stable and comfortable1980s: re-engineering, second tier shops1990s: shops in mallsLate 1990s: domestic helpers Same credentials, differential salaries(Top salary/Bottom salary)Investment banking 13+Retail banking 5.5Computer related 4.5 Marketing 4Social Work 2(Kan 2009, Data from two universities in Hong Kong)Moreover Jobs?Jobs are declining in number!Jobs are changing in nature!Traditional jobs are disappearing!Free-lancing & self-employment are on the rise!Beyond “Jobs”Work units are getting smaller and looserFront-line responsibilities are getting more complexMore people do not work in organizationsMore people are between jobsMore people retire earlyBeyond SkillsMoral StandardsAttitudesEmotionsValuesEthicsPersonality.All in the affective domain!Moreover, Learning beyond economic livesFamily lives, cultural lives, political lives, spiritual lives, leisure lives, retirement lives, Moral judgments, ethical dilemmas, indecent temptations, emotional challenges, Non-cognitive learningRe-examining 4 Pillars of LearningLearning to DoLearning to BeLearning to Live TogetherLearning to KnowDelors: Learning: The Treasure Within, UNESCOLearning to DoFrom mass production, large organization, standardized products, simple skills at the frontlines, workers abide by design, structure, job descriptions, rules and regulationsTo “Less of more”, quality, tailor-made products and customized services, smaller teams, higher level and versatile skills needed at frontlines, more flexibility and autonomy New products, new means of production, new technologies, new markets, new ideas, new networks, emerge every moment. Constant adjustment to a constantly changing environment.Workers have to engage in learning every minute. “Learning to do” acquires a new meaning.Learning to BeIndividual lieves less predictable: Unstable jobs, changing occupations volatile organizations, varying expectations, precarious rewards. Organizational loyalty and occupational identity are fading away.Much less organizational binding, increasingly individuals have to manage themselves. Knowledge one has soon becomes obsolete. New technologies, skills emerge every moment. Everywhere, demands for new ideas and innovative solutions. New social relations and social norms every day. New dilemmas in moral and ethical fronts. Forced to take sides in political confrontations and ideological confusions Learning to be carries a very new meaning.Learning to Live TogetherUnpredictable natural disastersMan-made accidentsEmerging disease and recurring epidemicsPrecarious economic crisesUnexpected political turmoil Individualized terrorismIrresponsible politickingWidespread corruptionsMounting potentials of warsIntolerable social inequality and conflictsUnder these circumstances, Conscience and principles: essential Peace, justice, fairness: major issues in the international arena. Global concerns and digital networking. Mutual understanding, tolerance of differences, global citizenship. “Learning to Live Together” assumes a position more important than ever.Learning to KnowNew problems for societies, challenges to all established institutions. Governments no longer pretend that they are capable of solving all the major social problems. Societies begin to rethink the meaning of Democracy.People are losing their faith in the Market.The market-government interplay is taking on a new evolution. Organizations: financial institutions, commercial firms, industrial factories or NGOs, all making adjustments.Even for families and religious institutions, stability has become a luxury. Not only individuals, but all organizations, institutions and governments have to learn, or to learn to learn. Learning to Know has much wider interpretations these days.Expectations on individuals Team WorkHuman InteractionsIntegrated ExpertiseSelf-ManagementPersonal ResponsibilityInnovations & DesignRisk TakingMoral TemptationsEthical DilemmasCommitmentPassionEnthusiasmCommunicationsPresentationsBrainstormingNegotiationPersuasionDebatesNetworkingLifelong LearningSelf-ConsciousnessEducation and SocietyThen and NowIs the study-for-job formula still practicable?Education-for-Credentialis not working!The Economic Discourse about Educationis Obsolete and Detrimental! Educationhas to come back to the basics:Learning!Lifelong LearningLearning for LifeLearning to LearnLearning CommunityLearning Profession.Its all about learning Learning LeadershipRather than School ManagementLearning EnvironmentRather than mere resource inputA Profession of LearningRather than a Teaching ForceAssessments for LearningRather than assessments of learningICT for Liberation of LearnersRather than ICT for replacement of teachersA different society!Different kinds of expectations on individuals!Different way of looking at Education!It is not just dong more and betterof what we have been doing!Restoring Genuine Learning in Education!Thank you!kmchenghku.hk