G'day Paul and all,
Technology is not the only thing emerging.
I see problems with the whole system of education using technology.
Problem 1. Cost and quality, the Rudd Government's promises of a tech revolution in schools is already under serious doubt with even the intro of laptops for each high schooler falling behind. How will the costs of bandwidth, vandalism and theft, storage and tech support be funded as they increase? I have seen a high school whose intranet is at breaking point two years after a major upgrade and one teacher in charge and overwhelmed. In the end government spending will always be lower than needed and ICT's are high cost and quickly obsolete.
Problem 2. Over-site, if you need to open up the parameters of search and access then the job of over-site becomes that much harder. Again I have tried to physically tried oversee a wall of laptop covers in a typical classroom and it was impossible. I know this is a physical problem with students facing a teacher in rows but even in groups or plenty of room to spread out calls for major changes. Then there is technical over-site requiring more software and personnel. Systematic overhaul!
Problem 3. Equity, even if we can provide high quality ICT's and support to every child a fair amount are not engaged by computers so a whole set of resources need to be provided for them.
I am not being a Luddite or a doomsayer, all I am saying is that with the hyper-pace of change the classroom model is already obsolete and economic rationalism will not help it's revival. The trend already started with IT courses at TAFE and even university with the saying being "If you are studying IT, you are already to far behind!"
Homeschooling like the home office will be the prerogative of the affluent and (tech) literate.
What do you think?
Cheers
Stuart
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Re: Emerging Technologies
Hi All,
Stuart, you describe some but not all of the issues that can and do cause problems with delivering 21 st century learning to 21st century students. I'm sure we all agree that change brings with it risks, immense costs, fear and discomfort for those of us that are not conversant with the new ways, however would any of us consider that kids should be prevented from learning by using technologies that many are already safely using away from school?
I agree with Scott's proposal that access be scaled up according to student progress, with serious penalties for those that break the rules. Children need to be taught how to identify risks in their everyday lives. Just as we teach children to cross the road alone safely, we must also teach them to access knowledge safely. As students mature, we need to trust them to make informed decisions, based on how well we have taught them to think critically. Internet safety and issues of access are really up to us as teachers of the future to guide students to take risks without compromising their safety.
All the best, Sharon
Stuart, you describe some but not all of the issues that can and do cause problems with delivering 21 st century learning to 21st century students. I'm sure we all agree that change brings with it risks, immense costs, fear and discomfort for those of us that are not conversant with the new ways, however would any of us consider that kids should be prevented from learning by using technologies that many are already safely using away from school?
I agree with Scott's proposal that access be scaled up according to student progress, with serious penalties for those that break the rules. Children need to be taught how to identify risks in their everyday lives. Just as we teach children to cross the road alone safely, we must also teach them to access knowledge safely. As students mature, we need to trust them to make informed decisions, based on how well we have taught them to think critically. Internet safety and issues of access are really up to us as teachers of the future to guide students to take risks without compromising their safety.
All the best, Sharon
Re: Emerging Technologies
Hi everyone,
These points that have been raised are very interesting. ICTs are so important in the emerging technology age. There are many issues involved in creating equitable opportunities for all learners. It's our job as learning managers to work around problems like funding to provide learners with authentic learning experiences. There are so many different ways in which technology can be incorporated into the curriculum and I am very excited to move onto specific Delivery Technologies!
Cheers,
Kira.
These points that have been raised are very interesting. ICTs are so important in the emerging technology age. There are many issues involved in creating equitable opportunities for all learners. It's our job as learning managers to work around problems like funding to provide learners with authentic learning experiences. There are so many different ways in which technology can be incorporated into the curriculum and I am very excited to move onto specific Delivery Technologies!
Cheers,
Kira.
Microsoft's simulation for education
Hi,
Is an interactive 3D virtual world the future of teaching?
For years I have heard teachers say jokingly, "if only students could just sit still in class". Well with an interactive 3D virtual world students won't have to.
We use blogs and wiki's but imagine if they were all 3D and all interactive.
Microsoft has already begun a science 3D interactive virtual world (Gibson and Grasso, 2008) and as it expands a new question evolves, do we need schools and teachers anymore once it has developed to cover all curriculum areas?
Yes it is still a long way off and must constantly change to suit our new future but this could be an affordable and possible future for teachers, parents and students alike.
It is only a matter of time until we have so many word based websites that they must be drawn into a fewer number of definitive sites and virtual reality may be it.
But what happens when the cyber bullying and possible illegal activity becomes interactive and virtual? Well the more sites that are drawn together the easier it is to store information and if all users know all their virtual activity is being stored and can be used as evidence, the less likely bullying and other illegal activity will occur.
What about the personal real life interaction between students and real professionals? Well if learning becomes interactive and virtual and students have this type of learning with real teachers do we need the current system of learning?
Yes it is an out there possible future, so tell me what you think.
Feel free to agree or disagree.
Paul Jak.
http://www.microsoft.com/education/highered/whitepapers/simulation/SimulationPlatform.aspx
Is an interactive 3D virtual world the future of teaching?
For years I have heard teachers say jokingly, "if only students could just sit still in class". Well with an interactive 3D virtual world students won't have to.
We use blogs and wiki's but imagine if they were all 3D and all interactive.
Microsoft has already begun a science 3D interactive virtual world (Gibson and Grasso, 2008) and as it expands a new question evolves, do we need schools and teachers anymore once it has developed to cover all curriculum areas?
Yes it is still a long way off and must constantly change to suit our new future but this could be an affordable and possible future for teachers, parents and students alike.
It is only a matter of time until we have so many word based websites that they must be drawn into a fewer number of definitive sites and virtual reality may be it.
But what happens when the cyber bullying and possible illegal activity becomes interactive and virtual? Well the more sites that are drawn together the easier it is to store information and if all users know all their virtual activity is being stored and can be used as evidence, the less likely bullying and other illegal activity will occur.
What about the personal real life interaction between students and real professionals? Well if learning becomes interactive and virtual and students have this type of learning with real teachers do we need the current system of learning?
Yes it is an out there possible future, so tell me what you think.
Feel free to agree or disagree.
Paul Jak.
Reference List
Gibson, D., & Grasso, S. (2008). An enterprise simulation platform for education: Building a world game for pre-college students with Microsoft ESP. Retrieved July 31, 2009, from http://www.microsoft.com/education/highered/whitepapers/simulation/SimulationPlatform.aspx
Re: Microsoft's simulation for education
Hi Paul,
The question of still needing teachers seems to come up each time I run a course like this, although rarely is the case stared so eloquently and objectively.
Virtual reality environments are very engaging for some students, while other students just don't get it. Game playing is virtual environments is very engaging and seems to engage many more students, particularly where the game involves teamwork as in Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming.
Artificial intelligence has also come a long way as the processing power of PCs has increased. Once computer storage and processing power approaches that of the human brain it is possible that computers could think for themselves and learn. When this happens it's possible that to some extent the teacher could be replaced, to a degree, by the technology. This is still some way off yet I hasten to add.
My own view is that the role of the teacher is changing from the expert in discipline knowledge and skills to a guide, mentor and learning designer. I'm not sure that a computer will ever be able to understand a students' fears, concerns or aspirations the way a good teacher can. There are also particular skills that are best taught in person.
I think that we teachers will always be required, but our roles will change as the technology evolves.
Thanks for the question, and I hope our colleagues venture their own opinions as well.
Best,
Scot.
The question of still needing teachers seems to come up each time I run a course like this, although rarely is the case stared so eloquently and objectively.
Virtual reality environments are very engaging for some students, while other students just don't get it. Game playing is virtual environments is very engaging and seems to engage many more students, particularly where the game involves teamwork as in Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming.
Artificial intelligence has also come a long way as the processing power of PCs has increased. Once computer storage and processing power approaches that of the human brain it is possible that computers could think for themselves and learn. When this happens it's possible that to some extent the teacher could be replaced, to a degree, by the technology. This is still some way off yet I hasten to add.
My own view is that the role of the teacher is changing from the expert in discipline knowledge and skills to a guide, mentor and learning designer. I'm not sure that a computer will ever be able to understand a students' fears, concerns or aspirations the way a good teacher can. There are also particular skills that are best taught in person.
I think that we teachers will always be required, but our roles will change as the technology evolves.
Thanks for the question, and I hope our colleagues venture their own opinions as well.
Best,
Scot.
Lesson using the Engagement Theory
Hi,
Just posting an example of a learning activity that I could design using the 'Relate, Create and Donate collaboration engagement theory' by Kearsley and Shneiderman (1999).
Creating a PowerPoint on the Local Area
Relate: Students begin by discussion the criteria for the task in small groups and changing the criteria so the class can come together and agree on it as a whole class.
Engage: Students go on an excursion, walking around their local area taking photos and notes and having organised interviews with locals that can be used for their PowerPoint. Students come back together in their groups and research the local area online, putting together the information they need, creating their PowerPoint and evaluating their PowerPoint in terms of the agreed criteria.
Donate: Students post their PowerPoint online and perform a group presentation in front of the class of their groups PowerPoint.
So what do you think? I am only a beginner when it comes to online type lessons, so critique all you want.
From Paul Jak.
Just posting an example of a learning activity that I could design using the 'Relate, Create and Donate collaboration engagement theory' by Kearsley and Shneiderman (1999).
Creating a PowerPoint on the Local Area
Relate: Students begin by discussion the criteria for the task in small groups and changing the criteria so the class can come together and agree on it as a whole class.
Engage: Students go on an excursion, walking around their local area taking photos and notes and having organised interviews with locals that can be used for their PowerPoint. Students come back together in their groups and research the local area online, putting together the information they need, creating their PowerPoint and evaluating their PowerPoint in terms of the agreed criteria.
Donate: Students post their PowerPoint online and perform a group presentation in front of the class of their groups PowerPoint.
So what do you think? I am only a beginner when it comes to online type lessons, so critique all you want.
From Paul Jak.
Re: Lesson using the Engagement Theory
Hi Paul,
Yes this is a good start. Just remember you will need an authentic real-world trigger scenario to kick off this activity and to anchor to all the way through the learning process.
Best,
Scot.
Yes this is a good start. Just remember you will need an authentic real-world trigger scenario to kick off this activity and to anchor to all the way through the learning process.
Best,
Scot.
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