Knowledgebased Society and Liberal Studies

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Knowledge-based Society andLiberal Studies

• By Wing Tai LEUNG
• 14 Jan 2005

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Knowledge-based Society

• A-historical Education Reform?
• Knowledge-based Society as monopole?
• What about post-colonial society, globalization,
  China facing the World, biotechnology,
  migration?
• What about heritage Colonial days, refugee home,
  entreport, cultural industry?

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Knowledge-based Society

• T. S. Elliot What knowledge do we lose in
  information? What wisdom do we lose in knowledge?
• Andrew Grove Only the paranoid survive. The rate
  of change is fastest in industrial inflexion
  point.
• Alvin Toffler The Third Wave.

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Implications of KS

• Change is norm
• Portfolio workers
• Global market
• Mass customization
• Knowledge-based industry beyond manufacturing
• Learning to learn

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New Competences

• Creation of new knowledge
• Connection among disciplines
• Cross discipline team works
• Knowledge as cultural collision
• Knowledge as information, formation,
  transformation
• Knowledge as relationship

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Cultural Creative Industries

• Richard Florida Rise of Creative Class
• Jerome Brunner Culture of Education
• Howard Gardner Discipline of Mind
• R. M Root-Bernstein Sparks of Genius
• Lewis Mumford Culture of Cities
• Sharon Zukin The Cultures of Cities
• David Harvey Future of Space

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Liberal Studies Myths

• Sharing of ignorance
• Content does not matter
• Mixture of all subjects
• News clippings
• General knowledge

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Liberal Studies Truths

• Systemic approach to knowledge
• Broad knowledge base
• Multi-polar design Arts, Science, Social
  Science, Humanities, Religion.
• Integration of Knowledge Lexicon
• Process of knowing
• Presupposition of disciplines

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Liberal Studies Effect

• Integration of knowledge
• Ethics, Affects, Whys, Identities, Purposes
• Broad base for expert and professional
  development
• Critical and creative thinking
• Cultural assessment and creation

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Who is to teach Liberal Studies?

• Common Root of disciplines
• Diversity of teaching styles
• Diversity of educational contexts
• Dialogical communication
• Knowledge as questioning
• Modular approach to issues
• Linking history-future with contemporary society

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Any readings for Liberal Studies?

• Breadth of reading and resources
• Lexiconic approach to knowledge
• Interconnection of disciplines
• Facilitate diversity of learning styles
• Connection with different contexts
• Link with current issues
• Facilitate communication of learners

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How to Assess Liberal Studies

• Portfolio approach
• Experiential approach
• Dialectic approach
• Communicative approach
• Media approach
• Problem-based approach
• Reflexive approach

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Spiritual Roots of Liberal Studies

• Creation and Cultural Mandate in Genesis
• Future of City of Jerusalem
• Psalm 19 of multiple intelligences
• Multiple intelligences of human mind
• Redemption of culture

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Historical Roots of Liberal Studies

• The Six Arts curriculum of Spring-Winter
• The Renaissance of Florence
• Zhen Hes 1421 voyages to discover the world
  (Gavin Menzies)
• Meiji Reformation
• Clash of Civilizations Samuel Huntington
• Creative Destruction Tyler Cowen

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Practical Cases of Liberal Studies

• Fates of Princeton and MIT graduates
• CEO graduates from Liberal Arts schools
• Chicago University and Nobel winners
• Mathematicians are musicians
• Hong Kong curriculum of 5/6 cultivates
• Diversity of Hong Kong post-war people
• Extra-curricula activities