21st Century Ergonomic Education,

Learning by Redesign, Granville, OH 43023, USA,

Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw

(Submitted on 3 Mar 2014)

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1403.0281v1.pdf

Despite intense efforts,
contemporary educational systems
are not enabling individuals
to function optimally in modern society.

The main reason is that reformers
are trying to improve systems
that are not designed to take advantage
of the centuries of history
of the development of today's societies.

Nor do they recognize the implications
of the millions of years of history of life on earth
in which humans are the latest edition of learning organisms.

The contemporary educational paradigm
of "education for all" is based
on a 17th century model of "printing minds"
for passing on static knowledge.

This characterizes most of K-12 education.

In contrast, 21st Century education
demands a new paradigm,
which we call Ergonomic Education.

This is an education system
that is designed to fit the students
of any age instead of forcing the students
to fit the education system.

It takes into account in a fundamental way
what students want to learn
-- the concept "wanting to learn"
refers to the innate ability and desire to learn
that is characteristic of humans.

The Ergonomic Education paradigm
shifts to education based on coaching students
as human beings who are hungry
for productive learning throughout their lives
from their very earliest days.