The world is in a constant state of change. The changes are profoundly affecting every
part of the fabric of our society.
Education is particularly is affected by change, with a
direct impact on the cultures of our schools and universities, and also by projection –
with implications for all our futures.
It is likely that the students we now teach will leave school to enter a world of work
that is radically different to the world with which we are currently familiar.
The evolution of digital media has brought us to an unprecedented point in history
where we are able to connect, create and collaborate in new ways on a global basis.
Knowledge production is burgeoning, to the extent that any fact or statistic is now
openly searchable and available on the Web. Such cultural shifts necessitate new
modes of thinking, new ways of communication and new rules of engagement with
people, content and organisations.
Mobile technologies, handheld devices and social media have combined to create
fertile, anytime-anyplace learning opportunities that are unprecedented. Teachers and
learners are adapting to these new untethered and ubiquitous modes of education,
and in so doing, are discovering an entirely new array of skills which we shall call the
‘digital literacies’. These include the ability to learn across and between multiple and
diverse platforms, the ability to self broadcast to large audiences and the discernment
to select and filter out good and bad content, all achievable within ever changing mediated environments.
What will be the new skills and literacies that teachers and students will need, to
survive and thrive in the digital age? How will assessment of learning change? What
will be the expectations of young learners, and will these differ from what the
institutions can offer? Ultimately, how will teachers prepare students for a world of
work we can no longer clearly describe?
I
n this presentation he will explore these concepts and discuss the future of learning
and teaching in the digital age.
Learning and teaching in the digital age (By Steve Wheeler)
1. Learning and teaching in the digital age Steve Wheeler @timbuckteeth Plymouth University, UK 8th International Teacher Training Seminar, Barcelona, Spain: October 6th, 2011
2. Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward.And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
3. Our SharedProblem... “For the first time we are preparing students for a future we cannot clearly describe.” –David Warlick Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/podcasts/
4. Introducing technology into education Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://aproposofnothing.files.wordpress.com
5. New and emerging technologies... Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 ...are often met with opposition. http://www.weirdthings.org.uk
6. I P D Innovation Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Prevention Department
7. Introducing computers into schools “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://aproposofnothing.files.wordpress.com
8. We are battling against a common enemy.... ignorance Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
9. If you think education is expensive... Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 ...try ignorance. http://www.dailymail.co.uk
11. “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” – Albert Einstein Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://gradeproud.com
12. Does education need transformation? "In large states public education will always be mediocre, for the same reason that in large kitchens the cooking is usually bad." -Nietzsche Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://thescholasticdiary.wordpress.com Source: Chambers English Dictionary
13. Young people’s out-of-school experiences with technology can mean that students find the presentation of school curriculum less challenging, less relevant and less engaging. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://encefalus.com/ Source: http://community.learningobjects.com
14. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://flickr.com/photos/thomcochrane/416206133/ Education is changing for young people as they experience self-directed learning, (mostly outside school) about things that interest them. Source: http://community.learningobjects.com
15. “Education must begin with the solution of the teacher-student contradiction, by reconciling the poles of the contradiction so that both are simultaneously teachers and students.” - Paulo Friere Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://arts.anu.edu.au
16. Does education need reform? Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 “The wish to preserve the past rather than the hope of creating the future dominates the minds of those who control the teaching of the young" - Bertrand Russell http://flickr.com/photos/shu1/6065783/
17. The School Computer Suite... Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 http://www.hseb.utah.edu
18. Objections from educators Mobile phones are banned in most schools because... ...they are distracting and disruptive. The phone becomes the focus of attention, inappropriate images/videos can be taken and sent, leading to invasion of privacy and loss of teacher control! Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 http://i.dailymail.co.uk
19. Mobile phones are the natural communication tool of choice for younger users. Are we preparing this generation for the future or for the past? Half of teens send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month, and one in three send more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month. (2009 statistics) Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 Source: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones.aspx http://blog.roadandtravel.com
20. What are the needs of today’s learners? Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
21. The Net Generation? Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Digital Natives? Homo Zappiens? http://www.flickr.com/photos/56155476@N08/5667863948/
22. Learners will need new ‘literacies’ Social networking Privacy maintenance Identity management Creating content Organising content Reusing and repurposing Filtering and selecting Self presenting Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://www.mopocket.com/
24. Trends in Education Just for me Apprenticeship model Just in case Standard Curriculum Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Just in time Bespoke Curriculum Just for me Personalised Learning Personal Learning Environment
25. Personal Learning Environment Asystem that helps learners take control of and manage their own learning. This includes providing support for learners to cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2010 set their own learning goals manage their learning communicate with others User Generated Content
26. What does a personal learning environment look like? Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
27. Personalised Learning Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. - Dr Suess Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://images.fanpop.com/images
28. Personalisation of learning means ensuring that individual differences are acknowledged Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
29. Personal Web Tools Generating Content Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Sharing Content Organising Content
30. Personal Web Tools Generating Content Blog Mashup Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 E-portfolio Wiki Tagging Sharing Content Organising Content
31. Personal Learning Environments PLEs are not only personal web tools and personal learning networks. PLEs are much wider than this, taking in experiences and realia, as well as learning through TV, music, paper based materials, radio & more formal contexts. Personal Learning Network Personal Learning Environment Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Learning content is not as important now as where (or who) to connect to, to find it. Personal Web Tools PWTs are any web tools, (usually Web 2.0) chosen by learners to support their lifelong learning. Source: http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2010/07/anatomy-of-ple.html
32. Learning to learn Critical thinking Collaboration Creativity Reflection Evaluation Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://socialenterpriseambassadors.org.uk
34. Social media use 2011 >750 Million >200Million 95 million tweets/day Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 >125 Million >100 Million >17 million articles (in English) >5 Billion images 3000 images/minute 2 Billion views/day 24 hours/minute Source: http://www.browsermedia.co.uk
35. The global context... There are 5 billion mobile phone connections. 3 times as many mobile phones as computers on the planet. Social media use is on the rise with over 750 million users on Facebook and 24 hours of video uploaded every minute on Youtube. Data consumed in 2010 for mobiles 2.8 exabytes Data consumed in 2009 1.1 exabytes Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2011 Source: BBC News 2010
36. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 With access to Social Media everyone has a voice http://www.uksmallbusinesswebsites.co.uk
37. What are the new pedagogies? Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
38. Education Educere (latin) = to draw out what is within = to bring out potential Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
39. Education Educere (latin) = to draw out what is within = to bring out potential Socratic discourse is based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Image source: http://laescueladeateanas.files.wordpress.com
40. Self Organised Learning We cannot ‘manage’ self-organised learning for our students. We can only create conducive environments within which students will organise their own learning. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
41. Formal and Informal learning Formal Learning Informal Learning Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 20% 80% Source: Cofer, D. (2000). Informal Workplace Learning.
42. Networked learning “Understanding how networks work is one of the most important literacies of the 21st Century.” - Howard Rheingold cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2010 http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu
43. Making Connections In connectivism, learning involves creating connections and developing a network. It is a theory for the digital age drawing upon chaos, emergent properties, and self organised learning. (It’s not what you know but who you know) cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2010 Source: Wikipedia http://www.pestproducts.com
44. Social Networks... Redefine community, friendship, identity, presence, privacy, geography, power relationships Enable learning, connections, collaboration, sharing, exploration http://www.guardian.co.uk Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://strategicdc.com Adapted from Couros, A. (2010)
45. Social Networks... Redefine community, friendship, identity, presence, privacy, geography, power relationships Enable learning, connections, collaboration, sharing, exploration Networks form around shared interests, ideas and objects http://www.guardian.co.uk Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://strategicdc.com Adapted from Couros, A. (2010)
46. Rhizomes Deleuze & Guattari Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 ‘Anarchy’ of the Web
47. Rhizomatic learning Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://archbold-station.org “...multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation.”
50. The kinds of learner support These are often provided by peers Social support Technical support Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Academic support Traditionally the domain of the teacher/tutor Reference: (Carnwell, 2000)
51. Image source: http://businessinnovationfactory.com Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 “We are seeing peer-based learning networks where students are learning as much from each other as they are from their mentors and tutors.” – John Seely-Brown
53. “Any teacher who can be replaced by a computer.... .... should be”. - Arthur C. Clarke Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://aproposofnothing.files.wordpress.com
54. “A computer once beat me at chess... Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 ...but was no match for me at kickboxing.” http://woodforthetrees.files.wordpress.com
55. Content curation Collaboration Co-learning Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Facilitation Learning support Inspiration! http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldbank/2760560588/
56. Doctors save lives. Teachers make lives. http://www.taranakicareers.co.nz Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
58. “We need to trust the innate ability of learners to self assess.” - Derek Robertson E-Assessment Scotland, 2010 Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011
59. Ipsative assessment... Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 ...where a student’s learning is measured against previous attainment. This is observed in games where players are constantly trying to better their own previous top scores.
60. Triadic assessment Self Assessment Peer Assessment Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 Tutor Assessment Triadic Assessment (Gale et al, 2002)
61. Multimedia brought the world into the classroom... Smart technologies will take the classroom out into the world. Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 www.canada.com
62. The future? “All too often today we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.” -John W Gardner Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 http://www.newcastle.edu.au http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/image/s_flowers-lost-gardens-of-heligan.jpg
63. Thank you! Steve Wheeler, Plymouth University, 2011 W: steve-wheeler.net E: swheeler@plymouth.ac.uk B: steve-wheeler.blogspot.com T: @timbuckteeth Picture by Helen Keegan
64. Steve Wheeler swheeler@plymouth.ac.uk University of Plymouth, United Kingdom This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: International Licence.