Society Gets the Individual it Deserves: Engaging Learners for the Flat World

Abstract

Historically the individual and society pendulum has swung back and forth between individuals and conformity and individuals and community. Individuals and society are mutually dependent yet conflicts of interest have shown how one has sometimes flourished at the expense of the other. As the world and society changes, learning must follow so individuals or groups can participate in society. And because participation in society inherently involves learning physical educators and kinesiologists (among others) need to address how we can assist students to be engaged learners who transform experiences into fruitful knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and beliefs and give meaning to their lives. The paper will situate learning and in particular, student engagement, as a vector for the pervasive change and the associated profound challenges that will be presented to individuals and society this century. Student engagement, particularly at a philosophic level, has essentially been ignored within our field.

Keywords:

• learning
• student engagement
• individual and society

Notes

1. Prensky illustrates two earlier iterations of globalization. Globalization 1.0 is allocated to the early exploration of the globe where trade between the Old World and the New World commenced around 1800. Globalization 2.0 spanned 1800 to 2000 interrupted by The Great Depression and World Wars I and II. The driving force of this period was rise and dominance of multinational companies.

2. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the passing of Peter Arnold. Peter was a leading thinker, scholar and physical educationist who made a sizable contribution to our field. I found his work to be both insightful and scholarly. We are all the poorer for his passing.