A new way of thinking
A new concept aims to revolutionize how students learn
A new concept aims to revolutionize how students learn
Enough of the chalkboard, there’s new tech that can replace it. Enough of the heavy textbooks, e- books are much lighter. Enough of memorization, there are new methods that can make students retain information longer. Today, more and more educators are challenging traditional education.
The country’s public and private education systems still rely heavily on traditional learning, which might be effective for some subjects but not for all. When it comes to real life topics, traditional is out of the question. Poet and spoken word artist Kooky Tua
son has always wanted to put up a school. But her concept is far from traditional. Last month, she launched an education concept that aims to change the way students learn. She, along with some friends, put up Thinking Man’s Classroom, an innovative online channel that features experts discussing various topics, which young and adults alike can learn from.
“Thinking Man’s Classroom will give everyone free access to alternative education,” Kooky explains, “the same way that exposure to art and words breathed life into me. We’re reinventing education through creativity.”
The classroom runs like a television show that has seasons and episodes. The first season features four different topics: “Principals of Principle,” “Random Fandom,” “The Museum of Randomly Perfected Broken Bodies,” and “For Word and By Word.” Don’t expect Mathematics or Science in this class because experts discuss real-life topics seldom taught in schools.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.—
Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Principals of Principles,” for instance, is a philosophical talk show that discusses topics like suicide, the effects of technology on our society, procreation, and masturbation. Hosts include journalist Alma Anonas-Carpio, teacher Nii Foronda, poet critic Vince Dioquino, VJpresenter Angel Jones, lay pastoral minister Kim Tengco, and photographer Niccolo Cosme.
“Random Fandom,” on the other hand, features every geeky interest, from comics to video games. Episodes, hosted by bar owner and geek extraordinaire Jon Sideño, include Cinematic Universe of Comic Books, Secret Agent Man, Time and Space Adventures with Doctor Who, and The Mind of a Gamer.
“The Museum of Randomly Perfected Broken Bodies,” hosted by theater actor Manu Respall, is a dark storytelling show that tackles life’s little secrets and untold stories.
The last show of the season, “For Word and By Word,” showcases the spoken and written word and features different guests per week. It is hosted by Kooky herself.
“This method teaches people the value of independence. It allows us to choose which principles are suitable and efficient for us,” says Kooky. She conceptualized and created the shows with creative partner/ director August Lyle Espino. The goal is to let the audience think, get inspired, and create intelligent discussions among themselves based on what they learned. The shows are free.
“You can learn anytime, at your own pace, at your most convenient time. Our aim is to teach individuals to think for themselves, to understand, and to reason. We teach beyond what we get from textbooks. We teach beyond what instructors, who want us to conform, teach,” Kooky says.
While it is true that students today learn in different ways, The Thinking Man’s Classroom aims to encourage a healthy exchange of ideas and ideals. They plan to do a school tour and translate these shows into workshops.
“The tried- and- tested practices of the past work, too, depending on the learner. But as we continue to evolve as a species, absorbing knowledge faster, we need to adapt to changes in our society. Consider openness. Consider flexibility,” Kooky ends.
www.thinkingmansclassroom.com