The future of education in Africa: Lessons from Star Trek?
It hurts to think we, the living in South Africa, have to wait until 14 June to watch the new 3D Star Trek Into Darkness.
I for one grew up on the legendary series. I remember thinking, actually wishing, I could be on board the USS Starship Enterprise exploring for new life and new civilizations... to boldly go where no man has gone before. I get goosebumps just thinking about that time and the envisioned possibilities.
It was a time of thinking 'BIG,' being innovative and creative, and even imagining. "Imagination is more important than knowledge," a crazy white man with big grey hair once said.
I don't know what has happened, but it appears many amongst the African youth don't share this same mindset.
As I recently watched another trailer for the new Star Trek on YouTube, it got me thinking creatively. Our educational systems need to be more focused on the major themes of Star Trek.
"Dr Firsing, I have been researching for days now and I cannot find the answer to number three," one of my students recently said in terms of their assignment for a foreign policy course.
"That is because you won't find it by doing research on the internet. You actually have to think," I responded to the young ambitious gentleman.
The Star Trek brand was and still is masterful at showing how both individuals and groups collectively deal with complex problems. Whether it was Scotty trying to get more power out the engine, giving it all she's got, or Mr Spock calculating the odds for his Captain Kirk. Kirk himself is a leader who almost always bases his actions on his experience, personal judgments and intuition, but usually only after consulting with Dr. McCoy, the intellect and advice provider, and his Vulcan friend Spock.
Rewind from the 2200s to 2013, and we are not teaching the African youth the critical and analytical thinking skills they require to survive in this rather difficult 21st century, let alone the 23rd century. We also not teaching the leadership skills that the likes of Captain James Tiberius Kirk possess.
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