<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSg2r2YRrpsPT8eKRLwVRLeJhYdpA1fQUTxhbq1bwyNis/image.png)</center>

I built this some time back on my own. It was done for a friend, you know how guys bond over doing stuff together. This became our bonding project. My wife suspected that I was having an affair and we she found out what it was, she rolled her eyes. What makes this amazing in many cases is because this is completely out of my element. I believe that I am born with many talents. However, building and fixing things is not one of them. I have the touch of death as my wife calls it. If I try to fix anything, it breaks even more. Thus, the handyman of the house is not me but my wife. Hey, everyone's different.

In many cases, I find that this is one of the few things missing in how we design our curriculum and the way we teach. I am sure many have similar experiences. For mine, my education experience reminded me of a game we use to play at camp. The game starts off with the player stuffing his mouth full of grapes and running to the other side of the room and 'regurgitate' all the grapes from the mouth, into the bowl. Disgusting as it may sound, this analogy perfectly sums up how I was taught to learn. 

First, we take a book, cram our mind full of its content, head to the exam and write down whatever that is remembered. While such a method of education does show that the students know the knowledge from the book, it can be difficult to prove if the child can apply it. From my observation as an educator, I find that there are a few key elements lacking in our education system. 

### <center>**Challenging the Students**</center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUZ7nEsEKHxW1jWmGtjtFeuYe14UjNB9MC45fiXcWaKSv/image.png)
[Image source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwia6OqyseTYAhVCqI8KHXJxABwQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthedailyquotes.com%2Fif-you-dont-challenge-yourself%2F&psig=AOvVaw3R9TUX-xPddDwP6aSP40qP&ust=1516463614175959)</center>

Remember the picture of the rig from earlier? I built most of it and it was done via Google and Youtube. It was daunting. There were times where I thought that I would break something. Everything looked so...flimsy. Before I switched on my rig, there was a part of me that thought it was going to blow up or at least fry something. Nothing happened and IT WAS ALIVE! 

The joy of doing something that I am unfamiliar with and actually succeeding at it was great! The best part is that I have managed to learn so much from this experience. I normally would buy my computers, but after this experience, I will be building my own. 

Unfortunately, a lot of students are deprived of such an opportunity. Imagine if homework was replaced with projects such as the building a mining rig. A project where students were required to build/create/organize by themselves with only some support and facilitation from the teacher. I am sure that they will be able to learn not only practical skills, but it will help them in building their creativity, problem-solving skills and confidence.  

Learning to do something out of the students' comfort zone is conventionally done as a 'side-lesson'. It is not given as much focus as exams nor homework. It is as if the system hopes that students will somehow 'acquire' problem solving skills and creativity. However, I feel that the curriculum must constantly challenge the students, pushing them to do things out of what they are normally used to. After that experience, the teacher can help the students see important lessons that can only be experienced and not taught from textbooks. 

### <center>**Playing it Safe**</center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTFFV66DMWQ2b7gchdznWbokaiZ49PiFS3wKQQkqXwT81/image.png)
[Image source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjhw-KQsuTYAhXKQo8KHVEsAbgQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F327566572871094514%2F&psig=AOvVaw21Ini8iX3Gb29QHz0wSK8h&ust=1516463826091387)</center>

I feel that the reason why the curriculum does not challenge the students enough is because no one wants to challenge the norm. If something is done and it works, sort of, why change it? I remember trying to push for online forms to be implemented, but most still preferred to print out stacks of paper instead if going green. Not because it was more practical, it was just, safe. 

The other issue came when grades in exams were to be replaced by constructive feedback. Many parents were resistant towards the change. The reason being that the lack of grades such as 'A, B or C' made them uncomfortable. Personally, I would go with the feedback. I would much rather know HOW my child is performing in school instead of knowing WHAT grade my child is. Calling students grade A students make them sound like livestock or some product. Everyone is unique and assigning grades may not be the best way to gauge learning. 

### <center>**Final Thoughts**</center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYyAL9kgRswo3a472QWwd56LYYnNiTaXJf55dQZNufaBm/image.png)
[Image source](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjrgavosuTYAhUKL48KHW1vAJIQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fthe-digital-reader.com%2F2013%2F11%2F08%2Fintel-acquires-kno%2F&psig=AOvVaw1X5hlVrRhTfcw5gXPTyT8T&ust=1516463986725259)</center>

The generation that has adopted the use of Blockchain and social media will be the same generation who will demand for change. Change in education that will likely be unrecognizable by the previous generation. That is because we are on a path where education will become more student centered instead of exam centered. It is likely that students will have more freedom to choose what they want to learn, more importantly, they will also be able to dictate how they learn. 

Not all students are capable of staring down a book and remembering everything. Some learn by teaching, some learn by practicing. The future of education on the Blockchain and the cloud will allow that. As teachers, we need to be prepared and equip ourselves for that time. 

I hope you have found this helpful, thank you for dropping by, Steem on!

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