Journal #7

Envisioning the Future of Education
By Mark Van ‘T Hooft
March 2008

This article looks at the importance of technology in education and its role in changing the way students learn on a daily basis. According to the author, Mark Van ‘T Hooft, “… learning and formal education are increasingly at odds, as more and different types of learning are happening outside of the classroom than in it. (p.13)” Hooft also points to the importance of learning while mobile.
Learning while mobile, according to Hooft, allows for the learner to be more connected with the teacher and involve conversation and more interactions than would otherwise happen in the classroom. Learning while mobile also allows the learner, or student in most cases, to be connected with environments they would otherwise not have access to without technology. For example, the Internet allows students to access websites with valuable new information on current events as well as historic events. They can learn about developing sciences and emerging art forms all with the click of a button. How else could students learn about all of this without the Internet, a mobile technology?
Although the concept of learning while mobile sounds great, it does have a few bumps that need smoothing over. Hooft points to the fact that several factors hinder the concept of learning while mobile from being truly exceptional. These factors include the “participation gap”, “transparency problem”, “ethics challenge”, and “fear factor” (p.16). Hooft claims that the way to combat these negative aspects of learning while mobile is for schools to teach, “creative thinking and problem solving” skills to their students (p.16).

1) How do you see the future of technology changing education?

I see the future of technology drastically changing education. In a few more years I believe that more and more students will be opting for online education classes verses traditional in-school classes. Already many universities are offering online classes to their students and in the future I see high schools and possibly middle schools offering the same type of classes online. Students respond well to technology and could benefit hugely from online classes. Only time will tell if my predication will come true.

2) Do you believe that there is really more learning happening outside the classroom than in it as Hooft claims?

I believe there is more learning happening outside of the classroom for some students but not all students. I think that some students who have no respect for their teachers may learn more from technology and the Internet than they do in a classroom. However, I still believe that many students benefit from the learning that occurs in a classroom.