I heard Lord Puttnam speak at the Guardian Innovation Conference a couple of weeks ago. At the time I didn’t get a chance to make many notes (I was finishing my own presentation!) but I have just watched /listened to his keynote speech at the Schools Network Conference from last week.
As always Lord Puttnam raises some important points, is challenging of our current education system and the direction that we seem to be moving in. If you have a chance his speech is worth a listen and also his responses to the lively question and answer session after his talk.
Some key points from Puttnams speech were:
- Thoughts on China including how learning from the past is the key to not making the same mistakes in the future (particularly around internal conflict).
- A recent OEDC report suggests that if the UK could equal the education performance of Finland. Then in one generation it could becomes £4500 billon richer.
- The importance of voice recognition technology in the future and how this links to education. David, also mentions the pedagogical significance of this in the classroom.
- The importance of coding and how this is a fundamental skill needed to understand ICT in the modern age. Computer science is an essential skill in the 21st century. If we ignore this opportunity then the only certainly is that we won’t be able to compete in a global market.
- If all we do with technology is use it to do the digital versions of the same things than it is unlikely that we will get transformational change.
- No education system can be better than the quality of the teachers that it employs.
- Teacher training is a continuous process.
- We must find a better and more consistent ways to engage with parents.
- A world-class education system and only a world-class education system can deliver a world-class health service.
- Lets stop putting things in the ‘too difficult’ draw.
- We need to stop squabbling and start digging ourselves out of the mess we have got ourselves in - education is the key to this.
Alan Novembers speech is also worth a watch.