Ru Zi Ke Jiao

“Many communities and educators seem too comfortable with an Industrial Age model of mass production learning and an Agricultural Age calendar that bind educators and students in time, place, and purpose.”

From the book Embracing the Information Age (2001) Source: http://www.stemedcoalition.org/

The Greeks gave names to four of mankind’s ages: the Golden Age; the Silver Age; the Bronze Age; and the Iron Age. You’ve surely heard of the Space Age and most likely have also heard the term, the Stone Age (think The Flintstones.) NASH: Or course, we’re now ensconced in the information age, and some of us are already departing for the next age. [Note: As we develop, like our world, time appears to be moving faster, and thus, the "ages" are evolving more quickly. The Ice Age lasted a long, long time; the Industrial Age, not so much.] I digress.

Back on topic, does any of this sound familiar to you? It should, because if you are someone who knows me personally, then I know that this is how you’ve been educated – industrially (the assembly line part, anyway.)

Remember, at the end of the day, YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible for your education. “Teachers open the door, but students enter of their own volition.” You can’t (actually you can, but you shouldn’t) just sit back and passively learn the things you’re told to learn WITHOUT thinking – without even ASKING if you should be learning these things.

TODAY’S QUESTIONS: What do you think that the next age will be? Which age are you currently in?