Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:1398] #203 want vs. need
From: Dr. Doris Sweeney (doris6@bellsouth.net)
Date: Fri 16 Mar 2001 - 22:20:34 MET
From: "Dr. Doris Sweeney" <doris6@bellsouth.net> Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:1398] #203 want vs. need Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 10:20:34 +1300
I feel I must agree with you that school systems must change to meet the needs of
students in the information age. However, the mission remains the same: to provide
a forum or format that prepares students to fully participate in the needs of society.
The paradigm shift from factory skills to managing information hasn't occurred for many
reasons. As I see it, lack of functional literacy in reading, math, and writing will
be the culprit to not having a society that can shape it's destiny.
Now as to want vs. need. I think the original concept of need: that what is necessary
for daily living still holds today. Want becomes anything that is not a need for daily
living. The list of necessities under each category will be both vast and varying
depending upon the individual.
Want vs. need within educational circles is harder to nail down. Students need to be
educated within a system of values that will prepare them to be functioning members of
society. Agreement must occur on what qualities individuals need to possess to be
functioning members of society.
Need within educational circles most likely should include access to courses in
multipresentational methods that contain adequate content--being relevant.
I think students can focus their learning and address the need for what it is if given
the opportunity to do so. This, however, returns to the role of the traditional vs.
nontraditional educational setting. Those students who truly want to be in "control"
of what they learn, when they learn it most likely will seek out those institutions of
high education that are non-traditional.
Dr. Doris Sweeney
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