next to nothing is spent on education research. "That's partly because of the
problem of who would do it. Who thinks of it as their business? The 50 states
don't think of it that way, and schools of education are not about research.
Gates says his foundation is currently focusing on using private funds to inform and redirect how public education dollars are spent, specifically in the form of research.- my note "agreeable findings" concern as "research" can then rapidly influence policy.
Openness proponents contend that distance education often isolates students behind password-protected gates. By unlatching those barriers, professors like Mr. Couros are inventing a way of learning online that feels less like a digital copy of face-to-face classes and more like the open, social, connected Web of blogs, wikis, and Twitter. It can expose students to a far broader network than they would encounter discussing their lessons with a small group of graduate students.
key points (see also my bookmark to the BLC '07 keynote by Professor McFarlane)
- technology is not helping learning (1:30)
- american high schools are counterproductive to success in knowledge society (Bill Gates) (2:30)
- have a model where kids produce their own digital representation of how they see the world (4:00)
- make learning deeper rather than try to cover a lot of content but shallow learning (5:00)
- one suggestion is teaching people to be able to recognise an evidence-based argument and not be susceptible to incorrect information (6:00)
- model for assessment based on this sort of change to curriculum (7:30) - meaningful coursework - mainly in school - not allowing homework to restrict their self learning
- treat school like work in a way with emphasis on quality not quantity (10:00)
- need to connect with parents who see school as different than their schooling and unsure about its benefits (11:00)
- access to technology (12:00) - benefit based on having the access first bit also that their environment but also their culture at home helps them benefit
- top 15% (from BLC keynote) are getting most benefit from access and their culture
- but these normally high achievers can't see school as relevant to them based on what they experience at home and are failing at school (13:30)
- community knowledge and learning capacity building in technology (14:00)
- "digital challenge" program in Bristol (14:40)
- community mentors that learn something then teach to others in the community
- giving more people access and that means they can have choices on what they can do