The latest developments in online learning are having a profound effect on the world of education. Indeed change has been so rapid that a schism has developed between two philosophical groupings namely ‘Humanists’ and ‘Scientists’. The latter advocate a rational computer driven basis to education, while the former fear the supplanting of traditional curricula with more cognitively based systems. C. P. Snow (1959) for example, warned of the dangers of such educational disparities; “it is dangerous to have two cultures which can’t or don’t communicate”, (C.E.R.I.,1986).
Keizenbaum (1976) also warned: “the computer can become part of a person and alter his way of comprehending reality” (ibid).Scientists, however, insist that educational advantages will offset any such disadvantages. Echoing the ideas of Maria Montessori they state that drill and practice will be replaced by the concept of learning as 'personal discovery'.
The startling fact today is that children as young as eight years old today may know more about the new information technologies than their parents. This certainly marks a ‘paradigm shift’ on previous models of learning but is it a good thing?
I think this is definitely a good thing. The world and technology are evolving and so are the world's inhabitants. Learning as 'personal discovery' seems to just be another way of describing the positive constructivist approach to learning which is at the forefront of educational research. I have no doubt that in twenty years my children will know much more about technology than me but I suppose there is only so much information that one brain can process and that is life and we have to get on with it....
ReplyDeleteCould be the basis of a sci-fi movie sherona mutant techno-heads versus 'dis-computerites' or something like that.Luckily our MA will put us on top of the heap but which heap is the question ;-)
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