Education is eternally confusing, like Biden on mushrooms and one of the most recent brain ‘trips’ is the introduction of Learning Journeys. These overcomplicated project overviews meant to guide students through their educational ‘path’, are akin to LCD hallucinogenics, have become a ketamine, k-hole, time-fuck for teachers AND are a disservice to students (like, errrr….opiods???). Learning Journeys are supposed to show students where they have been, where they are, and where they are going, but instead, they’ve become caricatures, showing only how not to use clipart.
Problem
The issue with Learning Journeys (even the fucking phrase makes me taste puke) is multifaceted. Firstly, they’ve become nothing more than a point of hubris for teachers, serving to stroke egos and showcase one-upmanship. Teachers compete to create increasingly complex and visually elaborate ‘Journeys’, turning them into garish ‘Powerpoint Porn’ for leadership to stroke their ‘egos’ to, rather than functional educational tools. These visual atrocities, crafted by individuals with the visual communication skills of a brick, confuse the intended message, turning what should be clear guidance into a chaotic distraction from actual learning.
Moreover, Learning Journeys have become figurative measuring sticks, used to beat teachers. If a teacher doesn’t produce an adequate ‘journey’, they are judged deficient, regardless of their teaching acumen. These ‘journeys’ aren’t for students; they’re for other adults within the school to admire, completely missing the point of education. In addition, the time spent on creating these ‘orgies of clipart’ is time taken away from planning meaningful lessons. This entire charade distracts from the real goal: student engagement and learning.
Causes
Probably facefuck; all shit ideas within teaching lead to FaceFuck! Some twat for whom teaching is their lifestyle posted their brainfart and some member of SLT got hard and decided that could be their performance measure for the year. We can all picture it: “oooh I could make all teachers do learning journeys…Fuck yeah, I’m so hard…where is the lube?”.
The point is, instead of focusing on what truly benefits students, there’s an emphasis on superficial displays of effort. Teachers are pressured to create Learning Journeys not for educational purposes but to impress ‘superiors’. This misplaced focus leads to a neglect of actual teaching and learning.
The lack of visual communication skills among many educators results in Learning Journeys that are more confusing than enlightening. Instead of guiding students, these convoluted displays serve only to distract and overwhelm. The irony is palpable: a tool designed to simplify and clarify learning has become confusing and distracting.
Effects
Instead of benefiting from a clear and concise overview of their learning, students are bombarded with confusing and visually overwhelming charts. This distracts and can lead to frustration and disengagement. The time teachers spend on creating these Learning Journeys is time not spent on crafting engaging and effective lessons, directly affecting the quality of education.
Similarly, the focus on impressing other adults within the school system means that students’ needs and perspectives are sidelined. The very people these Learning Journeys are supposed to benefit are the ones most harmed by their existence. This misalignment of priorities results in an education system that values appearance over substance, leaving students to suffer the consequences.
Arguably one of the most engaging mediums available, computer games, do not utilise anything like a Learning Journey. Video games manage to captivate and educate players through immersive and interactive experiences without the need for complex visual roadmaps. This highlights that true engagement and effective learning can occur without the crutch of Learning Journeys, proving they are not a requirement for successful education. Of course, I’m sure some study of five kids in a fucking private school setting where the question “And did you like the pretty map at the beginning” had an affirmative response, proves otherwise.
Solution
Firstly, schools should eliminate the requirement for Learning Journeys or at least drastically simplify them–and ffs, lose the bullshit name. Any visual aids used should be clear, concise, and directly tied to enhancing students’ understanding. This could also be articulated rather than visualised “Hey kids, what did we do last week?”
Secondly, if you want people to be effective visual communicators, train them, and give them professional development in effective visual communication, ensuring that any necessary visual aids are helpful rather than harmful (no more comic sans or text to the edge of the page). Teachers should also be free to focus on planning and delivering high-quality lessons, rather than spending excessive time creating Learning Journeys. If you want graphic design elements within powerpoints – hire a fucking graphic designer!
Lastly, the education system needs to realign its priorities, valuing substance over appearance. This means recognising and rewarding teachers for their actual teaching effectiveness, not their ability to produce elaborate visual displays. By putting students’ needs first and ensuring that all efforts are genuinely aimed at enhancing their learning experience, we can create a more effective and meaningful education system.
Conclusion
The current use of Learning Journeys in education is a misguided and detrimental practice that needs urgent reevaluation. These tools, intended to aid students, have instead become burdensome displays of hubris that distract from real learning and undermine the quality of education. what truly matters is engaging and effective teaching that prioritises students’ needs and fosters genuine learning. We must call on policymakers to abandon the fallacy of Learning Journeys and embrace a more student-centred approach to education.
