THEORIES ON THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

As a futurist and teacher, I guess I have a vested interest in the revolution of society technology is bringing about. I find the future exhilarating and exciting, with promises of incredible opportunities, at least for those who adapt. Technology is a machine driving the mechanisms of society...it is not controlled by any person, country or organization. To survive one must adapt to the changes that are occurring daily. And education is where we train the leaders and the change artists of the 21st century. Here then, is my vision of the future with respect to education, as adapted from my presentation at Queen's University June 28 1993...

The Third Wave

The Third Wave (The Information Revolution) has already crashed upon our shores. The world our students face is and will be totally different from ours. We should not be teaching students how to use tools, but how to solve problems with tools. Technologies and tools used now most likely will be out of date in three to five years.

The Digital Nation

The X Gens have been replaced by the Net Generation. The students of today are growing up in a whole new society, one established by interactive communications. Much like TV affected the Boomers generation, the Net will affect the generation coming into the new millenium in ways just becoming evident. Teachers must be aware of this nation without boundaries and create the opportunities for new learning methods.

Convergence

Convergence is totally altering the way we will communicate and do business. POTS (Pretty Old Telephone System) will be replaced by PANS (Pretty Amazing New Stuff). The "arrival" of the Internet is just the beginning of a transformation society will undergo as technology alters the way we communicate. Students will be involved in convergence technology on a daily basis. The power of this technological leap will leave many teachers in the dust, especially those that cannot adapt their teaching strategies. Fear of change is only for those who cannot accept it.

The World of Work

There are more jobs available than people out of work, yet very few people will work for companies, let alone full time by the year 2000. Contract labour requires more dedication, more work, and enhanced skills on the part of the job hunter. Students must be trained to be adaptable, creative and technologically versatile to be successful in the future. Teachers must learn what the world of the student will be like, and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of the citizens of the 21st century.

The Three 'R's

The traditional Three R's of education (Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic), have already been replaced by what I call "The Four S's":

• Problem Solving Skills
• Technological Skills
• Communication Skills
• Group Dynamic Skills

Curriculum must be changed to provide students with life skills that can be adapted to all the challenges and opportunities the future holds. The old industrial model of school, namely teaching academics without providing real world problem solving and intergration, is dead. Long live the Information Age!

Learning in the Future

Learning will involve ubiquitous computing, virtual classrooms, floating facilitators and lifelong learning.

• Ubiquitous Computing: The computer as an acquisition will be replaced as the computer as a commodity. Hardly a career will be available without the use of microprocessor technology.
  
• Virtual Classrooms: The Internet (or what it will evolve to) will become the model for information transfer and research. Student projects will involve researching the source through on line media.
  
• Floating Facilitators: Teachers will "float", they will be part of integrated projects, the day of the math class or science class with teachers teaching their subjects in isolation is over. Students must see how the subject matter applies to solving problems.
  
• Lifelong Learning: Due to the nature of accelerated evolution of technology, learning will be (already is) a continuous, lifelong process. Schools will adapt by being available around the clock and calendar, available to all age and interest groups and may become contract schools driven by special interests or corporations. (Not necessarily a bad thing!)

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Beam me up, Scotty!

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The Agent of Change

As we approach the 21st century, innovative technology has become the leading agent of change in the way our society operates. The fact that you are able to read this from anywhere in the globe has profound implications for communications and the way we will conduct business, play, and learn in the future, and is an example of things to come.

In order to develop ideas and to use the tools technology provides for us, we must learn to use our imaginations, to use our creative instincts. The great designers and engineers of our time were also great artists. They dreamed dreams of what did not exist, and then learned how to make it happen.

Technology is becoming increasingly complex, more complex than any one person can handle. Some people have great computer skills, some are good at building things, some are good at business, some at drawing, etc. The modern way of working requires teamwork, learning how to use each other's best skills to accomplish the goals of the project, whether it be fixing a car engine or designing a skyscraper.

There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction to be gained when you learn how things work, and then learn how to actually build or fix it yourself. Technology is hands on, technology is learning to put theory into practice. It is a never ending process, a new discovery to be made around every corner.

In order to be successful in any field of technology, one must learn to be professional, to always reach for excellence. There is a great amount of satisfaction and pride when you work extra hard to accomplish something, and to know you did your best work on it.

Technology is the science of making do with less, of learning to be creative and make things happen. It's about dreaming of new concepts and ideas, then finding ways to accomplish them. It's about using your best strengths to accomplish your goals.

In order to develop the tools of technology, one must care about life, about community and about the planet. Technology is useless if it does not in some way improve life. And more important in today's world, it must also serve to help improve the chances of survival for all life on this planet.

Design is everything, and teaching design is one of the most important and rewarding tasks in teaching. To learn what design means and how to teach design, see my Design and Teaching Design.

• broad based, project oriented, learning outcome structured, student driven education
• virtual classrooms
• multinational cooperative projects
• certification system
• mandate: integration with other subject areas
• floating facilitators (teachers float between classes)
• commercial partnerships
• apprenticeships/internships in skilled occupations

The following are areas of study in technology that were initiated or investigated in my department. These areas are divided into specific subject categories, even though we would not make such distinctions in a broad based technology class. For example, an electronic design student may be working on an architectural design project. Our biggest initiative is our CS4 project, encompassing the entire program.

• Virtual Classroom: multinational on-line projects, Internet publishing, research
• Corporate Identity and Advertising: community based desk top publishing/graphics, corporate identification graphics, ad campaigns
• Multimedia production: audio and video production/digital art and music, 3D animation
• Theater Technology: technical crews on theater productions

• Biosphere: Development of ecosystem structures (habitats) and systems
• Planetary Ecology: model of artificial ecosystems for Mars, other planets
• Medical Technology: bio-mechanical design, devices for hospital use

• Satellite Communications: weather/TV remote sensing
• Aerodynamics: wind tunnel testing, remote control flight, rocketry
• Aerial Sensing: photography and temperature measurements from kites/balloons
• CS4: Canadian Student Space Station Simulator

• Alternative Materials: material science, testing, design
• Grow/Sprout Residential Architecture: alternative housing
• Industrial Design: products for everyday use
• Electronic Design: A/D converters, computer interfacing, loudspeaker design
• Physics of Structures: material testing, manufacturing processes
• Virtual Simulations: product and architectural design

• Human Powered Transportation: reused bicycle part vehicles
• Alternative Power/Fuels: automotive mechanism design, small engine vehicles
• Electric/Solar Vehicles: battery powered suburban cars/bikes

• "Total Person" Development: nutrition, cosmetology, lifestyle choices
• Future Lifestyles/Fashion Exploration: lifestyles and fashion in the 21st century
• Career Development in the Third Wave: exploring career choices and preparation

• Electronic Monitoring Instrumentation: computer based sensor measurements
• Computer Based Weather Station: full remote site weather station
• Satellite Imagery: low orbit weather satellite image capture
• Building Performance Science: measure temp/humidity/pressure in building envelopes

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Beam me up, Scotty!

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