RSA Edge Lecture with Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Paradigms

16th Jun 2008; 18:00

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Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson will ask how do we make change happen in education and how do we make it last?

Each of the preceding debates in this series identified areas for change but implementing real change and making it sustainable requires us to tackle strong existing paradigms. Sir Ken argues that unless we address underlying cultures and attitudes, change is likely to be superficial and temporary, but to do this we need to engage with organisational dynamics and with the aspirations and motivations of the individuals who work within those organisations.

This is the final in a series of five lectures with Edge and the RSA exploring the various ways of developing the full potential of every pupil, regardless of ability.

Sir Ken Robinson will be awarded the RSA Benjamin Franklin Medal on Monday 16 June.

The Benjamin Franklin Medal was first awarded in 1956 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Franklin's birth and the 200th anniversary of his membership of the RSA. It is awarded to a global 'big thinker', someone who has shifted public debate in an innovative way and has contributed to furthering public discourse about human progress, as well as enhancing Anglo-American understanding in areas closely linked to the RSA's agenda.


Download full lecture and Q&A session (MP3)

Download the lecture transcript (PDF, 211K)


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Watch Sir Ken Robinson on RSA Vision.

We would like to hear your views on some of the issues discussed in this lecture series.

• What are the practical steps required to really change cultures and attitudes around learning for the better?
• Who are the most important stakeholders in the effort to change culture and attitudes around learning?  Is it parents, young people, teachers, government or all?
• Are you seeing any best practice campaigns/efforts (taking place around the world) that are effectively working to evolve perceptions of vocational learning/practical education?