With more freedom comes more responsibility. What would happen if children could choose when and/or how they want to learn? What would happen if children had the freedom to choose what they want to learn? Looking back at the types of pedagogies: didactic, authentic, transformative, I have begun to wonder which of these pedagogies could be the most effective in the future.

Studies have shown that there are different types of learners, that each one has a preferred style of learning, and that they even have multiple areas of intelligence; however, although educational systems and schools are striving for academic excellence where active and autonomous learning occurs, ironically, they are still limiting the full potential of teachers and learners by having to follow standards and grade levels.

For the past decade or so, we have been seeing some changes in how students are learning and what classrooms look like. Flexibility in the classroom to decide where or how to sit, what to do or who to work with, or deciding what to study could seem to be disfunctional, but as a K-12 ESL teacher I have witnessed how students become more responsible and accountable of their learning process.

Allowing students to freely interact, consult or discuss topics with their peers, as in the new learning spaces created in Harbord Public School (Vukovic, 2017) is one example of how students are able to develop critical thinking skills, inter and intrapersonal skills and even apply all three types of pedagogies. These skills are what is needed at present in any profession or job, but is it what the children of the future really need? 

It is known that the future is uncertain and that we don't know what professions, careers or job will be needed in the future, so how can we prepare our students for this uncertainty? Could it be possible to eliminate educational systems all together and instead have autonomous learning environments where we are all responsible for learning and teaching each other? Could that be the key to a new and transformative pedagogy?

Reference:

Vukovic, R. (2017). Settling into New Learning Spaces. Teacher magazine. Australia. Available at: https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/settling-into-new-learning-spaces