Crystal Smit on LinkedIn: Crystal Smit: a true ambassador for impact-driven education at EUR (2024)

My deeper thoughts on what is disastrously wrong with Higher Education.The educational system used to serve the students. Now, students serve the system. Universities mass-produce diplomas by organizing and optimizing a complex system of learning outcomes: a long and detailed sequence of demands students must satisfy to deserve a diploma. Students learn to obey the arbitrary demands of an opaque system. They truly serve the system.Obeying arbitrary demands is the opposite of learning to take control of your own life. Being in control of one’s life is themark of adulthood while doing what you are told to do is a mark of childhood. Adolescence is supposed to be the transition period. Recently, universities stopped facilitating this transition. The natural outcome of modern education is a child's mind in an adult body: subadults trained to "willingly" serve and comply rather than fully self-direct their lives. But subadults are mentally unfit to negotiate a complex multi-viewpoint society and instead do what they are trained to do: turn to authorities that tell them what to believe and how to behave. And they actively exclude whatever feels too complex to handle. This is why:- democracy erodes and totalitarianism takes over without much resistance,- mental health among young (sub)adults declines rapidly,- the public debate is extremely polarized,- the arguments of ‘the other’ are dismissed and ignored,- well-supported opinions are censored if they contradict official narratives,- bureaucracy and unaccountability grow,- deep and nuanced thinkers are canceled and their arguments ignored,- women in Western countries have children (if at all) at ever higher ages,- the institutionalized victimhood of wokeism is attractive, and- Western leadership in the world degrades rapidly. These are all manifestations of adults acting immaturely: subadults unable to take responsibilities that were taken for granted just a few generations ago. In a world where responsible adult behavior is increasingly rare, we need to create environments where adolescents can self-develop toward healthy adulthood. Places where the hallmarks of mental adulthood – respect for the knowledge and skills of others, self-direction, continuous self-development, evidence, and argumentation trumping source reputation, the search for ever-better explanations, and entrepreneurial activities – are normal among the staff and are actively promoted among the students. Nova Academia (https://novacad.org) aims to become this learning environment. A place where students can question their knowledge and replace weak formulations with stronger ones. A place where they are expected to take progressively more responsibility for their self-development and where they can fail and learn. It is also a place where they can acquire and improve their knowledge and skill foundation as a basis for responsible adulthood. Nothing new.

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If you're dedicated to enriching educational experiences through qualitative inquiry, I extend a warm invitation to connect.In a recent interview, my colleague – Louise Smink – and I discussed the concept of impact-driven education as a promising frontier in our field. The conversation highlighted the need for further exploration and deeper investigations into this approach. Let's transcend the engineered and standardised approach to higher education and usher in a new era of dynamic and creative teaching practices.Share your thoughts, ideas, and insights in the comments below! #QualitativeResearch #ImpactDrivenEducation #InnovationInTeaching #Creativity #ImpactattheCore Impact at the Core

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My deeper thoughts on what is disastrously wrong with Higher Education.The educational system used to serve the students. Now, students serve the system. Universities mass-produce diplomas by organizing and optimizing a complex system of learning outcomes: a long and detailed sequence of demands students must satisfy to deserve a diploma. Students learn to obey the arbitrary demands of an opaque system. They truly serve the system.Obeying arbitrary demands is the opposite of learning to take control of your own life. Being in control of one’s life is the mark of adulthood, while doing what you are told to do is a mark of childhood. Adolescence is supposed to be the transition period. Recently, universities stopped facilitating this transition. Now, the natural outcome of modern education is a child's mind in an adult body: subadults that have been trained to "willingly" serve and serve and comply rather than to fully self-direct their lives. But subadults are mentally unfit to negotiate a complex multi-viewpoint society and instead do what they are trained to do: turn to authorities that tell them what to believe and how to behave. And they actively exclude whatever feels too complex to handle. This is why:- democracy erodes and totalitarianism takes over without much resistance,- mental health among young (sub)adults declines rapidly,- the public debate is extremely polarized,- the arguments of ‘the other’ are dismissed and ignored,- well-supported opinions are censored if they contradict official narratives,- bureaucracy and unaccountability grow,- deep and nuanced thinkers are canceled and their arguments ignored,- women in Western countries have children (if at all) at ever higher ages,- the institutionalized victimhood of wokeism is attractive, and- Western leadership in the world degrades rapidly. These are all manifestations of adults acting immaturely: subadults unable to take responsibilities that were taken for granted just a few generations ago. In a world where responsible adult behavior is increasingly rare, we need to create environments where adolescents can self-develop toward healthy adulthood. Places where the hallmarks of mental adulthood – respect for the knowledge and skills of others, self-direction, continuous self-development, evidence, and argumentation trumping source reputation, the search for ever-better explanations, and entrepreneurial activities – are normal among the staff and are actively promoted among the students. Nova Academia (https://novacad.org) aims to become this learning environment. A place where students can question their knowledge and replace weak formulations with stronger ones. A place where they are expected to take progressively more responsibility for their self-development and where they can fail and learn. It is also a place where they can acquire and improve their knowledge and skill foundation as a basis for responsible adulthood. Not new.

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Check out our collective piece on understanding digital inequality in education through a theoretical kaleidoscope in 'The Academic':https://lnkd.in/eirPKC-R"Academics worldwide shifted to online teaching due to COVID-19 in March 2020. This sudden change exposed stark inequalities indigital education. The transition highlighted issues like unequal access to technology and support. As a response, a study titled “Understanding Digital Inequality: A Theoretical Kaleidoscope” was prompted. This research aims to explore and address these disparities comprehensively."The original piece can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gRrnMM6T - written by an extended team.Reference:Abegglen, S., Burns, T., Czerniewicz, L., Khoo, S.-M., Kuhn, C., & Sinfield, S. (2024). Understanding digital inequality in education through a theoretical kaleidoscope. The Academic. https://lnkd.in/eirPKC-RSandra Abegglen | Tom Burns | Laura Czerniewicz | Su-ming Khoo | Caroline Kühn Hildebrandt | Sandra Sinfield

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Inspiration, Motivation, & Vision is a requirement for cultivating a Beloved Community - Consider reading the weekly wave of water droplets of wisdom: https://lnkd.in/gVBGWnbt

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Interested in providing holistic developmental spaces for Global Students on your campus? Check out my recent qualitative research which delineates the importance of providing Global Students with an intercultural community of practice where they can experience both belonging and cultivate self-awareness.https://lnkd.in/gvDRxUzN

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In a world driven by immediate results and quantifiable metrics, the realm of education stands as a distinctive realm that requires a broader lens of assessment. Education is a long-term project, an endeavor that transcends the boundaries of short-term assessments and grades. Its true worth lies not in the immediate accolades of students, but rather in the profound impact it has on shaping individuals and society as a whole. #students #project #society #education https://lnkd.in/gbqN4_eX

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As education continues to evolve, the focus on fostering holistic student competencies has become more critical than ever. Join us on Tuesday, February 13, as Maria van der Harst and other CEL (Community Engaged Learning) experts delve into the ways in which CEL education can contribute to the further development of student competencies.🚀 Event Details: 📅 Date: February 13, 2024 🕒 Time: 12:00 📍 Location: Gasthuis Leeuwenbergh, UtrechtIn an era where universities and colleges are increasingly dedicated to their social mission, shaping students into socially engaged citizens and professionals is at the forefront. CEL, along with other forms of transdisciplinary education, has gained prominence in both policy and practice. To ensure this evolution is well-informed by research, Utrecht University is hosting a special meeting where we will explore the competencies we aim for students to acquire through CEL education.🔍 Topics of Discussion:Defining key competencies in CEL educationResearch-informed approaches to shaping student developmentBridging the gap between theory and practice in community engagement🤝 Why Attend? This gathering serves as a unique opportunity for the exchange of ideas between research and practice. By addressing relevant research questions and methods, we aim to formulate a joint research agenda and identify opportunities for collaboration.Let's come together to explore innovative ways to enhance student learning experiences and contribute to the broader social impact. Your insights and expertise will play a crucial role in shaping the future of CEL education.📌 Save the Date: February 13, 2024 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehEeFzNdWe look forward to your participation in this collaborative effort to advance Community Engaged Learning and empower the next generation of socially conscious leaders. See you there!#CommunityEngagedLearning #EducationInnovation #ResearchCollaboration #UtrechtUniversity #CELDevelopment 🌍📚

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“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela DavisAs the current education system, an offshoot of the Industrial Revolution becomes increasingly obsolete, we often wonder, question, and explore the path that humanity will take to redefine education. Education is a vital dimension of human existence, and we need to build a new social contract for education.Redefining education in these changing times is a double-edged sword. The Paris Universal Exhibition (1900) placed education at the top of the pyramid of human activity, yet rigid pedagogical and curricular institutions have stifled the creativity and natural curiosity of the learner for long. There is no doubt that the rigid walls of our educational system must become permeable.However, we also need to be very careful about redefining and reconstructing education as a commercial and consumer product driven by the digital world, which may eliminate the human element from the teaching-learning process. This has been eloquently discussed in the book: Advaita of the Unsung Teachers by RIEDU.https://lnkd.in/gb_Fp2QEThe question arises: What sort of education do we need in the twenty-first century? We are in an era of quick change. In the ever-changing job market, we need to build an ever-changing mindset among today’s students so that they evolve to be learners for life. Therefore, education, along with its five central aspects of the educational social contract - cooperation, convergence, collaboration, conviviality, and capillarity - must foster curiosity and neuroplasticity among its learners. #redefiningeducation #education #change vandana saxena Dr.Neeti dutta Subhash Chander Nidhi Singal sandeep berwal Charu Saini

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As part of my current research project, I would like to bring together a diverse group of educators (that’s you!) to apply utopia as method (the focus of my current research) in reimaging schooling. All that is required is that you know a thing or two about education, have a critical perspective on schooling and are ready to think beyond the current state of affairs. There is no need to prepare anything!Utopia as method, which is drawn from the work of sociologist Ruth Levitas, can guide the practices of education researchers and practitioners in going beyond critical scholarship through engaging in ontological inquiry and direct action. I am continuing to develop and expand utopia as method conceptually as well as practically by drawing on speculative and utopian thinking as well as anarchist (organizational) principles. During a 2,5 hours online synchronous group session, I will first briefly walk you through the theoretical context of utopia as method. Then, in smaller groups, you get the opportunity to apply utopia as method to the concept of schooling. This will involve reflection, discussion, negotiation and speculation. I would like to bring together your insights, ideas and suggestions in a research paper on reimagining schooling through the application of utopia as method. Your ideas will be presented in this paper as coming from the field, thereby making no distinction between individuals, their levels of experience or the context they come from. All voices are equal. This research paper will be part of a larger set of texts that all aim to explore and apply the radical imagination in education, and to make possible what the late David Graeber called ‘insurrectionary moments’ in times of challenge and increasing inequality, oppression and control, in education as well as society at large.In this form: https://lnkd.in/gWuqzJh7 you can indicate which date and time you would be available, without any obligation to participate, of course. I would appreciate it if you could indicate your availability by 12 December. You will receive an online meeting link shortly thereafter and a reminder closer to your chosen meeting date. The form also requires you to give consent to participate in this project and lists your rights as collaborator, as well as my responsibilities as researcher. Feel free to forward this invitation!#utopiaasmethod #reimaginingschooling #educationresearch

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