Stephen Downes proposes an operating system for the mind: take the analogy of a computer. We do not program each and every program into the computer. The more flexible and programmable computer (Apple, Linux), are far more useful than the pre-programmed ones (Windows). The education system should not try pre-program everything that will be needed by people to be useful or to be able to learn skills they might need, because the knowledge (i) facts change, (ii) there is much more knowledge out there that can be useful and wee need to be able to utilize that too in case we come across new facts, (iii) it is impossible to see what skills might be needed in the future, (iv) you need to be able to filter out irrelevant or false facts, (v) you need to be able to create facts (mechanism for agency). "People need such greater capacities in literacy, learning, prioitizing, evaluation, planning and acting." The analogy of the computer system learns us to think of the brain not as a database full of information, but a place where each person develops methodologies or approaches to deal with reality. Facts are necessary, of course, but the learning paradigm should not be to learn facts, but to learn how to deal with facts. Facts are, IMHO, essential but follow from interest/need combined with a learned methodology or approach to deal with these facts.

nice example how old and new media can re-inforce each other. this is like a citizendium partnership.