A trend that has captivated my attention is
Technological Innovation Accelerates
Progress but Leads to Discontinuities
The reason for this is that technological innovation is always evolving - changing at a great rate. Also it is interesting to see how fast technological innovation has been adapted by some in education. This is very relevant to my practice as the pressure to use, integrate and implement technological innovations in to my learning environment increases. This pressure has been felt from many different parties, parents, colleagues, the Ministry of Education and myself. Myself being the direct pressure as I feel that there is a need to integrate technology and innovation as the way we teach children now is different. We are teaching skills, inquiry thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and the list goes on. Always in the back of my mind is the following question; How can I better prepare these children for their lives outside of the education system?
The National Intelligence Council (2017) states that
technology empowers a range of people, from children, to adults, to small groups, to organisations and countries. The speed at which change is happening produces new "complex challenges, discontinuities, and tensions" (National Intelligence Council, 2017, p. 15). These challenges being the use of how robotics will turn to automation, advancement in biotechnology and unconventional energy sources will have a huge impact on health, energy, transportation and more importantly, it will alter the way we see ourselves (National Intelligence Council, 2017).
How do or would the identified trend influence the education system?
Education related
National Intelligence Council (2017) states that ICT are poised to transform work place practices and the way people live and
communicate. These technologies will increase efficiencies and alter employment in
transportation, engineering, manufacturing,
health care and other services.
Thus having a direct impact on education, how education is delivered, what in education is delivered and how are we educating our children for the future. With such changes how as teachers are we prepared to change to an innovative learning system to educate children and prepare them for lies ahead.
National Intelligence Council (2017) iterates that with the internet we are more and more interconnected, creating digital currencies, AI and bio-technologies readily available for everyone, but these technologies come at a cost. Not everyone will have access to these technologies due to the cost and location of where they have been developed.
"The global market
for nanotechnology has more than doubled
in recent years, with applications constantly" (National Intelligence Council, 2017, p. 116)
I think that New Zealand and its education system need to prepare all children for the 21st century. I feel this is a world wide necessity. This is our school's vision. Dunwill (2016) states technology will certainly be a major factor in how education in the future differs from education today. Educators need to understand that the model of education has to be redesigned it so that it is more student-centered. This means adopting new technologies, but it also means giving up on archaic attitudes about what constitutes educational success and recognizing that educational competition is a reality.
How will be move in to the future to educate our children? Will educators be needed?
Dunwill, Ethan. (2016). 4 Changes that will shape the classroom of the future: Making Education Fully Technological. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/4-changes-will-shape-classroom-of-the-future-making-education-fully-technological
National Intelligence Council. (2017). Global trends: The Paradox of Progress. National Intelligence Council: US. Retrieved from https://www.dni.gov/files/images/globalTrends/documents/GT-Main-Report.pdf
Thanks for posting this. Yes we have pressure to evolve and change, it could be digital learning, but this pressure comes in so many ways. I coach a football team, their is pressure to ensure my training techniques are up-to-date and catering for the different abilities of each player.
ReplyDeleteI feel the pressure of technology and I'm a bit sceptical at times having been teaching for twenty years, however, I see some of the students who 'light up' when they experience something wonderful in their learning using digital technology. It is the way of the future and we must be part of the way. Hence we are taking part in this MindLab journey.
Cheers