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From the The Educational Technology: ICT in Education website Articles on e-learning and information & communication technology containing practical advice News & Views
My original intention was to get around as many people as possible collecting soundbites. But in the event, people gave much more in-depth responses, and we had some good discussions. I think it is interesting to listen to the general issues discussed rather than to get bogged down in the particulars of local issues. I have a feeling that they are pretty similar everywhere. Taking issue with Ewan One of the people I spoke to was Ewan McIntosh. He makes a lot of sense, but I also happen to disagree with a great deal of what he says. Or, at least, I don't just accept it without question. For example, he says that we should get it right first time, and that the expression "a step in the right direction" serves only to make us feel better about our failure to do so. But that is to deny the possibilities and restrictions which exist at any point in time. It is, indeed, almost to deny the role of historical development. But also, what is "right"? A little later in the discussion I expressed misgivings about the lack of research into the long-term benefits of using Web 2.0 etc, and Ewan changed the goal posts by talking about the abundance of research into assessment for learning. I have absolutely no problem with assessment for learning, which is why I was using AfL techniques before the term had even been thought of, but it is by no means axiomatic, despite being seemingly obvious, that using Web 2.0 approaches is synonymous with AfL. Perhaps this is just quibbling. I think a more important issue is the danger of being "right". As I was reminded in a discussion over breakfast with consultant Colin Watkins, the history of education in England is littered with the corpses of approaches which were unequivocally "right" at the time:
Each of these, in its time, was deemed to be "right", and in some cases I
really believe that some children's education was damaged in the process. So to
assert, as Ewan seems to, that Web 2.0 approaches are absolutely right is a
complete denial of educational history. There is, of course, the possibility that Ewan is, and will be seen to be, correct: I certainly hope so, as I share his enthusiasm. But I think we need to exercise a degree of wariness, and although Dave Warlick is right when he states that we won't really know if the approach has been successful until today's schoolchildren are adults, there is something about that which makes all the educational experimenting we do (not just us, but Governments too) a bit of a moral issue. One more thing (I hope Ewan doesn't think I'm picking on him!). Ewan thinks that change can happen instantly, and that it doesn't, or needn't, take time. My own view is that change is effected in layers, or stages. You can bring instant change, then further changes within a few days, then a few weeks, and then a few months. Sometimes it actually takes years to change a culture. I'd have said all this at the time, but I had to rush off to a presentation. The "digital holidaymaker" Literacy David Warlick talks about redefining literacy rather than trying to get ICT embedded into traditional literacy schemes of work. He also discusses the concept of teaching children to have a "literacy lifestyle". Once it's been stated, it seems pretty obvious. Other issues The discussions took in other issues too. For example, although blogging and wi-fi facilities were available, technology was noticeable by its absence in the discussion groups. Initiative overload, funding, and their effects on our efforts to transform schools through technology was another topic, as was the business language of regarding learners and their parents as "customers". (Neither Ewan nor Sandra Crapper cared much for the term, and I have some sympathy with their views.) Ian Usher said that he thought Niel McLean has a difficult job to do, but he does it well. I agree. The "difficult job" is representing "the establishment" whilst still presenting interesting new ideas. I always find his talks intellectually stimulating, and not merely informative. Over to you Anyway, I am standing between you and this veritable feast of ideas. Listen to all the discussions in this podcast, I think you will find them very interesting. A cast of thousands, well, almost... The people who appear on the podcast, in order of appearance, are:
The music The music featured is by George Wood, and is podsafe. The intor and the outro is from "High Five". The bit after my intro is from "Nice'n'Sleazy". You can download these and other tracks from here. Acknowledgements Thanks to everyone who took part in this podcast, and for giving me permission to publish their contributions. & © Terry Freedman Tue, 11 Mar 2008 |
