W06 Blog: Individualism vs. Collectivism.



There are two ways of dealing with an environment in countries: individualism and collectivism. Collectivism is representative of Eastern cultures, which mostly show this type of behavior in their society. While individualism is predominant in Western cultures. The United States is the best example of a culture oriented towards collectivism. Perhaps its history of being a nation of migrants,  and a greatest representative of capitalism, made it a nation of competitive citizens. Giving rise to individualism.

 

Reading about the educational level of the United States, versus the Chinese model. It gives us a look at the competitiveness between those nations. Today they are the first and second economic powers. China will be the first in 2030 . It is important to note that education is the basis of your system. The American model has failed in recent years to increase the educational level of its students, higher than in non-developed nations, but lower compared to other developed nations.

 


The Chinese model has cut the creativity of its students, while the American model has increased competitiveness, but its students have low performance. In the near future, China may collapse due to not having an accurate scientific development, perhaps unable to evolve further. On the other hand, the United States will lag further behind the other developed nations. It is a very delicate subject, the two economic powers with an uncertain future according to the revisions of the article. But experience marks that those who know how to survive, will be the last to fall. Only time will tell.

 

In the classroom, we as teachers should promote collective development for the common good? Or establish individualism to encourage high performance? If it were the latter, where is the human quality and the right to a decent education?

 

Sensitive topics that require an accurate approach, but with human warmth.

Comentarios

  1. Tonya28 de mayo de 2022 a las 10:50 a.m.

    I loved your questions about what a teacher should promote. That made me stop and think of what I think is best. I guess my answer would always be BOTH. I think that's why I love differentiated learning because people are individuals. We each possess our own individual worth and are vastly the same and different in so many ways. That means teaching should reach all people in the ways they can learn and that is probably accomplished best by using both forms. :)

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  2. Tatiana Cevallos28 de mayo de 2022 a las 1:18 p.m.

    As teachers we must seek balance within the classroom. We cannot focus on just students with a collectivist tendency or those with a tendency towards individualism. We have to look for activities that manage to involve both groups. Very good publication, very good analysis.

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