Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a guest at the program organized by the Nevşehir Provincial Directorate of National Education. Tarhan made important evaluations to educators on the topic of “New Truths in Education and 21st Century Skills.” Stating that innovation and entrepreneurship begin in the mind, Tarhan emphasized that these concepts are learned through experience.
“The weakest point of the chain is its strongest link”
Stating that we are in a crisis accelerated by the pandemic, Tarhan said; “There was a crisis, the world was experiencing a civilization crisis. The pandemic is accelerating the civilization crisis. Crises have a characteristic. Think of crises like a chain. When the chain is stretched, most breaks occur at the weakest point. The weakest point of the chain is its strongest link. It is always strong, that is its strongest point. It holds up to that point. If the family is broken, the break occurs in the family; if the social fabric is broken, the break occurs there; if the economy is broken, it occurs there; if the education system is broken, it occurs there. In other words, fractures occur wherever it is weak. When we look at it in this framework, how will these fractures and breaks happen in us and in the world? For example, in the Western world, freedom is more prominent, while in the East, there is a culture of fear. In China, for example, no one goes out. Chinese culture is a tremendous culture of fear, a culture of obedience. We are a Western culture of freedom, a transitional culture actually. How are we affected in such a situation? As Anatolia, we are like the genetic pool of the erudite world.”
“Logical intelligence alone is not enough in life”
Stating that the first of the new truths in education are 21st-century skills, Tarhan said; “If we do not teach children social and emotional skills, the child cannot catch up with this era. That's why logical intelligence alone is not enough in life. Emotional intelligence and social intelligence are also needed. Otherwise, only their mathematical intelligence, which is their sole interest in front of the computer, develops. No social, emotional, or sensory intelligence develops. Another important 21st-century skill is connectivism, that is, interconnectedness. When the internet was first discovered, Bill Gates said, 'It's a very expensive toy.' He wrote a book saying that accessibility became important after the internet, but he missed the internet, meaning accessibility itself. Even the smartest people cannot see it. Interconnectedness is very important. It's like saying 'I produce the best computer, that's enough,' but it's not.”
“Entrepreneurship, innovation are learned through experience”
Speaking about brain-based learning, Tarhan said; “To activate the areas of the human brain related to learning, emotions need to be activated; thought alone is not enough. If emotions are activated, thought combines with emotion, and emotion becomes a belief. If repeated, it becomes a habit. If repeated for 6 months, it becomes a personality. That's why thought alone is definitely not enough. This is the teaching neuroscience offers us. The other is innovation and entrepreneurship. This is also always stated. But innovation and entrepreneurship start in the mind. After minds are closed to innovation, you can innovate as much as you want. Innovation is not learned through PR, entrepreneurship is not learned. Entrepreneurship and innovation are learned through experience. This happens in project schools. There is a saying by some enthusiasts of authoritarian, autocratic rule: 'Democracy is a luxury for us, first education then democracy.' Democracy education, education in democratic culture, is not acquired in schools; it is acquired through experience. This education occurs where there is free thought. It occurs where there is a free market of ideas.”
“Because the Western world has overdone it, it has started to mistake freedom for irresponsibility”
Stating that “The Western world is overdoing freedom,” Tarhan continued:
“Because the Western world has overdone it, it has started to mistake freedom for irresponsibility. As a result, for creative activity to emerge in humans, one needs to be selfish, infinitely free, and infinitely self-serving. Existentialist philosophy became the midwife of savage capitalism. As a result of this philosophy, atheist humanism, deist humanism, nihilist humanism emerged, and all values were abandoned. Human types who recognized no authority began to proliferate. Another topic is mental flexibility. These always complement each other. There is a need for objectivism, that is, justice. Justice is balance and measure. To change an ant's path unfairly is injustice, oppression. This is known as the doctrine of fairness. In summary, it is to give everything exactly what it deserves, no more and no less.”