The Mantle of the Expert

The Mantle of the Expert (MOE) is an innovative, hands-on approach to learning, which permits teachers at all educational levels to use a holistic approach, offering a solution to removing barriers between subjects, one of Robinson (2006) and Gatto's (2012) main concerns.  Invented by Dorothy Heathcote, MOE allows children to use their imaginations, as they adopt a role and pretend to be experts in a real life scenario, which makes learning relevant (Mantle of the Expert 2014). The dramatic approach allows children to have autonomy over their learning and engages them in many curriculum subjects, often without them realising (Edulink 2014). Importantly, this approach allows them to develop their language skills through an imaginative, emotive scenario (Egan 2001), which links well with Wenger's (1998) idea of how children learn best. Children absorb themselves in the active learning experience (Heathcote 2002), to the extent that they forget what is happening around them.  It is the perfect example of what Csikszentmihalyi calls flow learning (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi 2002) and Aronica and Robinson (2009) refers to as being in your element, as even hunger cannot take the learner away from their work.   

Film in Education

Computer games, television and film all consume a large part of children's lives, so it is important this is reflected in their education and media literacy is encouraged (Parry 2010).   Incorporating media into the curriculum helps children to understand the context of a subject and its personal relevance to them and gives them an interactive experience cementing their learning (Parry 2014).  As we have learnt from Aronica and Robinson (2009), it is now recognised that not all children learn in the same way and as Parry (2014) suggests, film is a great way to engage a child in a visual, audio and kinaesthetic experience.  Many adults can relate to this multi-method approach to learning, as they find it easier to remember a visual experience than something they have read in a book.  If this works for adults, then it is ridiculous to expect children to exclude this approach from their learning because it is not traditional.  

Being a Global Citizen

Ringo and the Rules

It is difficult to go about our daily business without considering how our actions are affecting the rest of the world.  With energy resources dwindling, the Government has realised the importance of respecting our world and appreciate people need to be educated to change their ways and what better place to start than with children. 

The International Dimension of Education (IDE) helps children explore the world and discuss global issues (Global Dimension 2014).  It is used as a tool to underpin key areas involved in the curriculum such as Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC), Personal and Social Education (PSE), the Welsh Baccalaureate and other curriculum subjects.  Children investigate such themes as poverty, climate change, conflict and how their actions, as a global citizen, impact on their community and the rest of the world (Welsh Government 2008).  A holistic approach, it allows children to think critically and take part in thought provoking debates, in some cases taking learning out of the classroom for a hands-on experience.

Creativity in Education

Never before had I considered myself creative, as my drawing skills are lacking and my painting skills are nothing to be desired.  That, however, was before I was introduced to, the inspirational, Sir Ken Robinson, in an extremely creative RSA animated video (2010).  Although Robinson focuses on the American system, these issues are also present in Britain. Robinson (2010) argues that the current education system does not allow for freedom and creativity and instead herds children through the system, grouping them into academic or non-academic and preparing them to fail, in an economy that is fast changing.