The title asks, where do we find the learning frontier? Well, on average, not in the classroom. In the spirit of discovery, I picked up the recent NMC report on learning down under in Australia and New Zealand. What I found echoes the approach I've used for predicting the next generation of learning technology: the tools for learning in the future are those that people use to work, play, and communicate, in the present.
The rise of social networking is an example. People are increasingly finding the Web as a communication tool (facebook, linkedin, myspace) and if we believe that the social element is an important part of learning (see social constructionism or the theories of Vygostky), then informal learning is definitely on the rise. Communities of Practice are also built on the foundation of good communication. Another blog entry in TLF begins to look at facebook in particular and another social site, Ning in Education, looks at the use of the Ning platform for supporting or actually organizing learning (and is one itself for those who want to learn more).
To the extent that learning should concern itself with employability (ask any undergrad how important this is), using the tools in the learning environment that are used at work to create valuable work products (see PLM), looking at the work and play frontier is especially useful.
One of my goals in writing this blog is to discover that frontier collectively with you all. Please post in the comments your blogs or thoughts on examples that you believe predict learning innovations to come.
Also, as the NMC reports (and reported earlier in Mindstorms by Seymour Papert), schools are remarkably resistant to adoption of technology in meaningful ways, so examples of successful adoption strategies are needed.
Keep pushing the frontier!
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David - while your were investigating the learning frontier in New Zealand did you see the ways in which they are changing the actual landscape by moving from standards to competencies. These process based skills such as ability to work in groups, critical thinking, etc drive those focused on assessment nuts - but after years of extenuous research into what children will need in the future this is their answer. All their pre-research is up on line as well.
ReplyDeleteNow Michael Young, an oldtimer from The Oxbridge universities or there about, spoke of this new way of thinking about education as a travesty - not his fronteir at all - he is proliferating the established status quo in developing worlds - what are your thoughts - let them leapfrog or keep doing it the same old way? Perhaps a mixture of both?
Alana