Education 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award, in Dubai as an Artist and Educator
Some takeaways from the conference:
9 Practical Questions to Answer for Better Learning Experiences (Education 2.0 Conference in Dubai)
Hello all. As promised, here are a few selected practical points/questions, which, among others, were discussed at the Education 2.0 Conference in Dubai last weekend from an international, multi-disciplinary, and inter-generational perspective.
How would you answer?
- If learners (including learners with special conditions) do not understand how we teach, then we should make ourselves understood. Do you agree that communication is the sender’s responsibility (not the receiver’s)?
- Peer-to-peer learning is about students teaching each other. Do you see ways to use this approach more at our organization?
- The cell phone offers a (low-threshold) possibility to report difficult topics in person, if necessary. Could we use the cell phone constructively and even more in our education work? Perhaps there would be a fun way to reward more regular contact, even during absences? Perhaps we could also use apps for tele-counseling/supervision more often?
- To promote creativity and the required openness, it is important to prevent judgments as much as possible for the time being in the process. Are we (at any time) sufficiently judgment-free to make this possible?
- Often ideas and solutions are judged based on our educational and cultural background. Do we always ask “why” to be aware of this?
- For example, autistic people may stand out at school/work but be “normal” at home/recreation and learn more successfully there. Do we ask this environment enough about how learning happens otherwise?
- The Institute for the Future predicts that about 80 percent of technology jobs in 2030 are unknown today. So how/what needs to be learned to keep up with the reality of work? Is there still a need for school/education in its current form?
- The people concerned (e.g., people with ASD) are always the real experts of their condition. Are we using their expertise enough?
- Psychological services/approaches in everyday life can help clients. Should/could we promote even more mindfulness training, meditation, and similar methods?
Some topics from the panel discussion I wanted to highlight:
1 What is the most important learning from the pandemic for you (as an artist)? -> Strength and (artistic) authenticity through discomfort and nature
2 How does your art/education help with handling isolation (in the pandemic)? -> Courage to be solitary (versus lonely) and do the important (versus the urgent)
3 What are your outlooks on art and art education for the future (regardless of a pandemic or not)? -> Imagination and service for a bigger purpose and the common good
Biography
Mathias Sager was born in Zurich in 1975 and grew up in Switzerland. For many years he lived in Tokyo and Pune/India. Mathias is passionate about personal development, which is an overarching theme throughout all his work that is based on independent research and supported by intuition and art. Through teaching, coaching, counseling, and leading individuals and teams around the world, and with a background in education sciences, an EMBA in information and communication technology, as well as an MSc in Psychology, Mathias’ goal is to inspire with interdisciplinary, innovative, and cross-cultural approaches to personal and professional development for individual well-being and the common good alike. For him, psychology and art belong together, which is why his paintings appear together with texts and poetry of psycho-philosophical research and wisdom.
As the inventor of the concept of ‘Awareness Intelligence,’ which is the ability to expand and systematically use one’s thinking in the full scope of time and social relationships in a triadic constellation, Mathias regularly takes up the number 3 in his works. Self-reflection, love of social connections, and care for the next generation are his motives to create a fitter, kinder, and wiser world.