Educational Discourse

As I get ready for another great day at school, I’ve been pondering a few events from the past few days. First, I’ve taken the leap and am doing a presentation to grade 12’s on the flattening world and what it might mean to them. As I’ve been thinking about this, it struck me that this type of information needs to be put into the hands of parents and other community members who will be affected by decisions made by these young people. Maybe by introducing some of these ideas to people who will be affected, the momentum for change within our schools will grow.

As I take part in George Siemen’s online connectivism conference, I am amazed at the interaction that is taking place and the number of different topics that are emerging from the presentations. Now, this is a conference where the main discussion involves connectivism and whether it is a new theory of learning or something else. With about 180 people taking part from every continent, it is an international gathering with such people as Bill Kerr, Will Richardson, Diana Oblinger, Stephen Downes and Terry Anderson presenting around this theme of Connectivism. However, it just isn’t the presenters who are forwarding this conversation. The participants include Vicki Davis, Sharon Peters,  Miguel Guhlin, Tim Hawes, David Truss and Christopher Sessums to name only a few. The discussions are wide ranging and very engaging although I’m having trouble fitting them into my busy day. Would have been nice if it was next week during our break!!

Now, as these conversations take place, I wonder how this type of forum, still in its infancy, will impact the generation of students I will be speaking with next month. Will we see a change in the offering of university classes or will we see an aligning of class expectations as universities begin to become more global in nature? Will classes, especially the first and second year general classes be less restricted to site and open to whomever has a spot in a global learning environment? Will we begin to see an emergence of a general concensus globally of a minimum standard? Will there be more transparency at all levels of learning?

Or, will the academics begin to wall their own gardens? Will popularity, similar to what we have seen with some of the blogosphere comments, become more important than understanding? Instead of seeing advantages to this ability to share and build, will the human tendencies of greed, envy and lust get in the way?

As I ponder what I will present to these youth, I am both excited and apprehensive about what the future might have in store for them and, having had many conversations with them, they are apprehensive about what will happen even next year – not that some of that isn’t unusual as a person leaves the protectiveness of the home. But, these strong students with an array of gifts and talents they have just begun to develop. What are we doing that leaves them feeling this way? I’ve asked and they are not able to put it into words,…. yet. By listening more to them, we may be able to really help students develop so that they are less apprehensive about what the future holds because they know they have the basic knowledge and understanding that will allow them to be successful no matter what they decide to do and, with the way things change, they have the necessary skills to continue learning and growing as the society around them changes and grows.

What have I gotten myself into?

Kelly