I have seen the future…
21st Century Education, Ed. Tech., learning July 17th, 2008
I’ve long had an idea of what kind of school I’d like my child(ren?) to attend, but I’ve had a hard time articulating it. Fortunately, there are plenty of smart and creative bloggers and academicians out there that help me learn and think. In fact, I still can’t articulate everything fully, so you’ll have to settle for a few links.
So, for me, the future of schooling is approximately:
THIS +THIS + THIS + THIS + THIS
Ubiquitous computing and, therefore, ubiquitous learning. Knowledge as rhizomatic and negotiated. IEPs for every child.
I can dream, right?
For some reason, I don’t think ubiquitous computing will translate into ubiquitous learning.
Maybe I’ve seen too many science fiction movies.
Great list of links, by the way. Don’t let me stop you from dreaming.
Did you read the Cope and Kalantzis article? To me, their point is that ubiquitous computing doesn’t necessarily mean ubiquitous learning (which may be your argument), but that ubiquitous computing provides the affordances to move to ubiquitous learning. It helps make ubiquitous learning possible.
And, for what it’s worth, I don’t watch science fiction and I’ve never read a science fiction book other than Enders Game. So, maybe that allows me to be naive enough?
Ubiquitous computing certainly does make emergent knowledge negotiation easier… and that makes useful learning more likely
Perhaps Dave is right.
When I think of ubiquitous computing, though, I think of ubiquitous ADVERTISING, I see screens on everything including your toaster, and I think of people relying so heavily on machines that they forget to use their brains - and possibly their bodies.
I wonder if WallE doesn’t paint an accurate picture of ubiquitous computing.
I think you have seen one too many sci fi movies. I haven’t seen WallE yet. Darren, I agree that ubiquitous computing has its potential dangers, but it’s the increased likelihood of “useful learning” (I like that language, Dave) that I’m thinking of. Glass half full? Maybe.
Now, If we could just put it all together. Maybe, together, we can make dreams come true.
If I join you in that dream we’ll have a better chance of getting there, won’t we?
Glass half full all the way baby.
Love the optimism, all…except you, Darren (-: Rob, the notion of “drive-by, convenient” schooling works for me and my family. But, how do we deal with the fact that our nation’s economy largely depends on schools to be babysitting services?
Sorry–I have to disagree with some of this, Dr. Becker. School as a fitness center? Well, I just returned form mine–it’s top of the line, effective, affordable–all that. What do I see? People, including me, plugged into their iPods.
Plugged in. What does that mean? To you–the world. Literally, people from everywhere collaboating on anything and opening up worlds. For a child, though, plugged in means plugged in. Don’t ask him to speak, clean his room, come down for dinner. I know my evidence is all anecdotal, but I have a rising first grader reading at a 4th grade level. He’s not a genius. He just thinks computers are for my work. I’ve never bought him a Leapster, DS, Wii–any of that. I’ve told him that TV and computers increase brain rot. It’s kind of a joke we have. The result? He gets bored and starts reading mysteries and historical fiction. Does he WANT his own DS and Wii? Of course! We say no! I just think he needs to be able to speak when spoken to, look me in the eye and say yes ma’am, and do what I ask when I ask him to do it. I know his time will come when he is as wild about social and professional networking as I am–and he’ll be a great at it. For now, though, I’d rather him stare out the window or do what he was just doing when he interrupted me typing–check out the world on a spinning globe he has in his room. In the course of trying to find the rain forest in South America, he ended up asking all sorts of questions about the Amazon river and the Red Sea (vacation bible school, anyone?). Cope acknowledges what I am saying in his document when he writes about the dangers of “grey ecologies”. Just call me June Cleaver as I observe my son spin his globe and watch birds from his window. It may be retro, but it’s pretty cool.
Listen, June Cleaver…
There’s a lot that you’ve written that I disagree with (surprise, surprise), but…
my vision for the school of tomorrow is much murkier for elementary age children. I firmly believe they are capable of constructing knowledge by making meeting of observations within their environment. But, negotiating knowledge? Not so much. I firmly believe they can learn in relation to and with others (that’s the whole Reggio Emilia philosophy), but I know all too well from my little guy that there’s very little room for negotiated knowledge. As for technology, I’m less concerned than you are. I think there are ways to use time away from “the screen” for socialization purposes. Roger Schank’s work comes to mind. You might think about reading some of what he’s written.
More importantly, though, when are you applying to our doctoral program? We need good thinkers and writers like you…even if you are a little old school for my taste (-:
@Betsy
Good to see that “old school” in some of us. Although June may not have had an ipod, I thik sh was pretty happy. Yes, things are different, but I think that our youth still need to be young - not just learning machines. Too often it seems that we want to make sure they are moving forward and forget to look at their needs as people. Let him look out the window and wonder not just how birds fly but also why, to where, and whatever else pleases him in nature. That is just plain cool, and we don’t get enough “just plain cool” in our technology filled lives.
Marshall, Marshall, Marshall!
I just want to make clear that my vision for “schooling” (and I’m not totally committed to that institution, BTW) does NOT begin with technology. Far from it. My vision starts with LEARNING. it recognizes the personal and changing nature of learning. From there, it imagines pedagogy that best facilitates that learning. Where technology-aided means best facilitate that learning, it should be pursued and utilized; only then.
The value of ubiquitous computing is that it affords the possibility of ubiquitous learning. The learners do not just need to go to the learning.
That all being said, Marshall…I wish you knew how much “just plain cool” I experience within my Web-based personal learning network. Go to http://www.thisissand.com . No, it’s not real sand, but I dare you to tell me that’s not “just plain cool.”
Jon,
Your definition of ubiquitous learning is correct and the IEP for each student would be a great dream. I think it is possible and worth working for.
Great article “My Daydream”, makes me see possibilities.
I do like your comment that you realize that where technology-aided learning is best to facilitate that learning we should use it.
I do believe that ubiquitous learning has been going on since the dawn of time and continues today with or with out technology. Technology is great, love it, use it, but when it comes to some things that makes life worth learning I prefer to push my hands through the sand and let it run through my fingers….