Escape from the Skills Swamp

The first source, an article by Greg Twemlow titled "How to Escape from the Skills Swamp," examines the current state of education and argues that traditional methods fail to equip students with the necessary skills for success. The author, Greg Twemlow, critiques the lack of focus on essential skills like reading and proposes his own pedagogical model based on nine experiential learning themes. He contrasts his approach with traditional teaching methods, emphasizing the need for experiential learning and highlighting the importance of resilience in navigating the challenges of life. The second source, a lecture by Noel Pearson titled "Transformational School Education," criticizes the failure of Australian schools to adequately teach reading, particularly among Indigenous Australians. Pearson argues that the lack of explicit instruction in phonics leads to a cycle of disadvantage and hopelessness, affecting individuals and impacting society as a whole. He advocates for a shift towards a transformative model of education that equips all students with the foundational skills they need to thrive. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).