WS 10
Expanding Virtually
(IT support for learning)
Facilitators: David Istance, senior analyst at the OECD's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI), Jörg Hofstätter, OVOS, www.ovos.at
We have been waiting for the virtual world to transform education for more than a decade. In reality, in most schools computers and digital white boards have been added to the existing infrastructure but what evidence have we seen of change? Has ICT been integrated into our existing styles of teaching and learning? Or are we still at the beginning of a revolution? What will the influence of new patterns of social interaction through ICT be on the program and layout of the buildings we use for education? Might we end up in a world without schools?
Challenging scenario
In the near future, all learning will be virtual. Students can access their educational programs anywhere, anytime, forming ad-hoc groups of learners where neces¬sary.
Educational activities take place at home, in learning cafés or in open-air learning parks.
Possible directions of discussion
Objections/alternatives to the scenario
a) Film was expected to radically change education in the 1930s; TV was expected to do the same in the 1960s. We must not overestimate technology.
b) The school building will remain a central hub for education, but its typology will change dramatically.
General issue(s)
a) What sort of ICT fluency does the knowledge society expect from students? Could this lead to new requirements for school design?
b) Could ICT lead to global learning communities? Would these occupy physical spaces, too, at least for some periods of time, thus creating new educational facilities?
Specific issue(s)
a) What are the concrete influences of ICT on the typologies of schools?
b) Can ICT help to cut costs of school buildings by reducing the square meters necessary per child?