After watching Karl Fisch's video, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7281108124087435381, I found myself wondering how accurate some of his predictions might be. It would be quite exciting to be a part of such global changes in education and technology.
As Mr. Fisch points out, technology alone will grow at an exponential rate. Hopefully all children around the world will own their own computer and the most successful technology companies will continue to be philanthropic. I do believe we will be getting better at how we record and store what's important to us and products like the Gcam (Google combination of audio and video) to create "Gcasts" are inevitable.
Using technology advancements for the education of our world's children will have to be a priority for the global leaders. Connecting all children through a global "learning exhibition system", creating free online high school/university content and schools where rigid schedules and bells are obsolete would be a huge jump for our educational systems. We can't rely on the status quo to prepare our students for what they will face when they graduate. If we do, it will be a great disservice to them.
Certainly our environment will affect major changes in the next decade or two. Mr. Fisch believes solar power will be the answer to our energy dilemma and I'm not sure if that will be the case. Whatever the solution, our energy sources will drive new technologies and all of our students will need to learn about them as we progress into the 21st century.
I believe my classroom is already leaning toward the classroom of the future. Using a content management system has already given students 24-hour access to courses and exposure to technologies they may use after graduation. I hope to continue to add new technologies and tools to my courses that allow for improved collaboration and to eventually incorporate "sister" classrooms from other continents to form a global learning community.
Being a teacher in the next few decades will change considerably. As courses become paperless and content is shared among fellow teachers, a collaborative environment will be the norm. Teachers will take on more of a facilitator role and observe their students develop a higher level of inquiry. Also, teachers will be held to a higher standard as the years progress and will need to demonstrate their desire for lifelong learning through continued professional development and technology training. Only the best and brightest will become teachers in this ever-changing world of education for the complacent types will just not suffice anymore.
2 comments:
I do wonder if companies will continue to be philanthropic. Or are the freebies just a lure for awhile and then once you are hooked, the fees will come? I believe government will play a larger role due to the war on terrorism. With any war, we see great strides in technology that trickle down into the private sector.
Becky, you have given me many things to think about. The first point I want to focus on is in your last paragraph.
"Also, teachers will be held to a higher standard as the years progress and will need to demonstrate their desire for lifelong learning through continued professional development and technology training. Only the best and brightest will become teachers in this ever-changing world of education for the complacent types will just not suffice anymore."
What an intriging prediction. Really. It use to be only the best and the brightest became teachers. Remeber the idea of a college professor being revered? Not so much any more! And, please, I'm not saying that most educators aren't the best and the brightest. But, yes, there is a complacency issue in education right now. Maybe it got too easy to get an edu degree. Maybe education has become more about compassion and empathy than content and intellect or a natural blend of them all.
As you have commented, I agree that the role of the teacher and the demands of a teacher are going to change dramatically in the next 10 years. I, like any human being, am not sure how, but you made some predictions that have me thinking!
The other point I want to focus on is this:
"We can't rely on the status quo to prepare our students for what they will face when they graduate. If we do, it will be a great disservice to them."
Oh my gosh! What an important insight. Everything is changing so quickly that, at best, helping them learn how to learn is what we can do - or so it seems . . . .
Lee Anne
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