New Horizons for Learning: Observation Deck, October 1999

My brain is boggled! I have just returned from an amazing forum, from September 25 to 29, 1999, with some of the world's most prominent scientists convened by the Foundation for the Future, based in Bellevue, Washington. As one of several observers, I was privileged to engage in four days of intense listening and reflection, as well as participating in incredibly interesting informal discussions The focus of the Humanity Three Thousand forum was on the next thousand years, and discussions centered around possible threats to the survival of humanity, the opportunities that offset or mitigate these threats, an outline of emergent priorities, and probable scenarios of the year 3000.

The international group included thirty scientists from the fields of sociology, physics, astronomy, geology, neuroscience, anthropology, archeology, chemistry, biology, cosmology, paleontology, psychology, sociology, genetics, engineering, economics, political science, and future studies. The discussions were intense and thought-provoking, as some of the great minds of our time wrangled with the problems and possibilities for the future of humanity.

On the last day, I did an informal survey, asking a number of these scientists the following question: What are the most important qualities that you look for and appreciate in your students? After recognizing the importance of knowing how and being prepared to learn, each person I interviewed placed curiosity at the top of the list. Many also named initiative, determination, motivation, self-discipline, independence, being open-minded, and the ability to see patterns and connections within as well as between disciplines. One scientist noted the importance of honesty and ethics in learning about and using powerful new technologies, and another stressed the importance of courage and boldness to go beyond existing understandings.

Now I have some questions for our readers. How are school systems preparing students to be equipped with these qualities? If you are a teacher at any level, how do you keep curiosity alive in your students? How do you incorporate in your curriculum activities that foster other qualities mentioned above? If you are a parent, what experiences can you include in family life that support the development of such qualities that will equip your children for successful living and learning?

If you are so inclined, please send us your ideas. We will share the responses we get in a future issue of the online journal.