of databases in education. Certainly most of the web 2.0 tools (blogs,
wikis, forums, social networking sites) are all made possible by the
databases of one sort or another that underly their front-end user
interfaces, but this is only part the database use I'm thinking about. The
other part is the use of databases to support greater customization and
individualization of learning.
It seems to me we are getting close- in terms of the information
technology needed at least- to a scenario is which students can move
through web-based subject matter (organized in databases) from the best
and brightest of experts (think TED), be assessed on their learning via
web-based assessments (organized in databases), and have web-based
detailed ongoing elaborate records of their progress (organized in
databases). In other words, an education system in which databases allow
each student to make their educational experience highly customizable to
their individual needs, interests, strengths, learning styles while also
allowing highly accurate tracking of each student's progress.
In a system like this classes would still be necessary for discussions and
other group activities but might need to meet substantially less than they
do now. Teachers would also be just as needed as always, but more for
answering questions, providing motivation and guidance, providing feedback
for open-ended work like writing and projects, and for monitoring
progress.
It seems possible that this approach could provide a way forward out of
the industrial-age model of education that still characterizes so much of
what we do. Ken Robinson compares our current educational approach to
strip-mining. He contends that individual learning styles and interests
are often crushed in order to produce our competitive entries for the next
stage of educational process. Perhaps information technology is making it
possible to no longer perform the educational equivalent of strip mining?
Thoughts?
Fred
-------------------------
Fred Bartels
Head - Computer Department
Rye Country Day School
914-925-4610
[ For info on ISED-L see http://www.gds.org/ISED-L ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
