Evolving Challenges

Over time education has constantly faced two key challenges. First,  how do you bridge the generational gap that separates children (learners) from adults (teachers)? Currently, the first challenge is in many ways exacerbated by pace at which technology is evolving. Second, how do you discern what to teach students when the body of knowledge in the world expands exponentially? This second question is  particularly vexing given that most communities are adamant that something must be passed on to the next generation in order for them to be considered "educated" and prepared to be successful as a citizen. While there are basic skills which students must be taught in order to function: reading, writing and mathematics, beyond that the question becomes more uncertain. For example there is knowledge necessary for citizenship, but what is that body of knowledge. There is knowledge necessary for life skills, but who defines what that entails.

Given the constancy of these key challenges, what has changed over time is the technology. And in particular the technologies through which this body of knowledge is passed on. The days of oral recitation were eventually supplemented by books. Lectures and books were suplemented by textbooks and multi media--photos, film strips, films, etc. Encyclopedia and main frames gave way to PC's which now facilitate the internet.

In many ways the ever evolving technological landscape shifted the locus of control away from teachers and toward empowering learners. Not only does technology now permit pretty much unlimited access to "knowledge" that historically was possessed and controlled by the teacher and disseminated to students as the teacher saw fit, it provides students tools that facilitate their ability to understand and utilize what they learn. The role of the teacher is now serving primarily two functions. One function is teaching students how to access, synthesize, analyze and evaluate information. The second is to teach them how to use technology to organize and leverage that knowledge to their advantage. Our students live in a world infused with technology. To separate them from that world each day when they come to school does not help us close the generational gap that has always existed between learners and teachers.

Consequently I feel we can either continue to try and drive a round peg into a square hole, or we need to seek ways to better engage our students in their learning using the tools of technology that define the world in which they live.