The education system really has to change so Roger Schank tells us. He has a very strong quote on his website to underline this: There are only two things wrong with our education system: 1. What we teach; 2. How we teach it. Actually, many people say that the education system should change radically. Bill Gates is convinced that people do not only learn at school and that they should be rewarded for what they learn elsewhere. Of course he himself is a convincing proof of that; he dropped university to start his own business and he is rewarded with being the second richest man on the planet. Now, what he means is that people should be rewarded with certificates and diploma’s for what they are able to, instead of receiving a certificate or diploma for having passed all the exams. I agree.

And I think now is the time for change. For several reasons. Technology is perhaps the most visible reason: every year we are flooded with yet again new gadgets that demand for being applied. Teaching becomes more and more independent from time and place. Consequently, also learning becomes more independent from time and place. Teaching becomes less and less an “art for art’s sake”. Teaching is developing into an “applied art”. Learning becomes less and less something that you must spend time on, and is developing into something that you want to spend time on. Information is everywhere. Teaching is accessible everywhere. Education is not for the elite, it is a commodity.

Another reason why now is the time for change is demography. Baby boomers quit teaching in vast numbers between now and the next few years. They are replaced by younger and often much younger lecturers. Lecturers who have never known a world without internet. If they are replaced at all. Again technology can play a role here, because this might make it possible to teach without a teacher. At the Amsterdam Free University (VU) for example a senior professor was going to retire and his legacy was saved by making weblectures of his last series of lectures.

With this new generation of lecturers taking power new things can happen. Things that go beyond technology. On a more dramatic scale we can see what happens in the Arab world when a new generation is becoming more dominant. They do not just replace the jobs of the old generation, they bring new ideas and want to bring these ideas into practice. These are no longer ideas for the ideas sake, but ideas to apply.

So, we have two drivers of change: technology and demography. Where will this lead to? The hierarchical distance between lecturer and student will become smaller and learning will be possible wherever and whenever a student wishes. Being a student will become just one of the roles that someone has during a week. He can have a work placement or a regular job next to school. Why should this be limited to a few years before he starts working? This will be the era of Life Long Learning.

Sounds good? This can also be very chaotic and difficult to handle. Borders between school, work and private life can become even more diffuse than they already are. Roles of employee, student and even lecturer can be mixed (students can bring valuable knowledge and experience, and they can teach that to each other; school ‘only’ has to facilitate this).  People will need more guidance in what to learn and what not throughout their life. They will have to develop a personal learning path, and school can coach this.

Traditionally a school is centered around industrial logistics: producing as many diploma’s as quick as possible, with a minimum of resources. In the new era a school can develop into a director who stages learning experiences. It is no longer necessary to offer all the courses from the schools own shelves, also courses from elsewhere can be offered. Virtual courses and trainings can be offered, but also specialized freelancers can play a role in offering the total learning experience.

Matthijs Leendertse conducts research about the future of learning and he concludes that education institutes will develop into learning spaces. Characteristics of ideal learning spaces are:

1.     Learner centered

2.     Make it possible to learn everywhere and are part of several activities in the life of the learner.

3.     Contain virtual elements

4.     Continuously monitor progress and needs of the learner.

5.     Also exist in the physical world.

Therefore learning spaces should be a combination of physical and virtual learning environments (this is what Crossmedialab would call blended learning environments). The role of ICT can be summarized as:

1.     ICT as means, not as goal

2.     ICT will always and everywhere be present, often at the background

3.     ICT makes it possible to personalize education

4.     Technology becomes more intelligent

5.     Immersive Technology (experiencing by means of simulation)

tagged with: blended learning environment, learning space, future of learning

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