Change in education: much more than just computers in the classroom
A combination of private and public initiatives in the United States focused on the importance of providing children with a high-quality education in technology is producing some interesting outcomes. On the one hand, demand for degree programs in computer sciences has sky-rocketed. Say what you will about the professional expectations of graduates in such programs, but we know that the United States “imports” more programmers and computer engineers than it does for any other job sector, filling all visa quotas in these categories; what’s more, wages in these areas of the economy are high. Obviously, there’s a lot of value to be unlocked there.
At the same time, awareness of the importance of computer sciences within pre-university education is growing, and is now being taught in schools; at the same time, this has brought about changes in the way teachers teach. The model based on the teacher who stands in front of a class of children has not changed much over the centuries, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of developments in the way subjects are taught.
With this in mind, why not turn our students into hackers? A hacker is not, contrary to the way the word is used in the media, an evildoer intent on bringing down computer systems, but simply somebody who is motivated by curiosity, and cannot see a closed door without wanting to open it, and who is driven to understand how things work, qualities that are an advantage when it come to learning. I can think of many ways to improve our education systems by applying methodologies and ethics related to the world of hacking, taking inspiration and using many of the many positive models that emanate from that culture.
Thinking along similar lines: how about beginning to use teaching methods based on active learning? In many areas of education, active learning models have improved students’ motivation, their grades, and reduced drop out levels. These are teaching methods that work well with new technologies: in other words, doing things rather than simply listening to what the teacher says, even going so far as the flipped classroom. The idea is a no brainer, but few countries are still prepared to introduce changes to their teaching methods.
We’re talking about the need for something much more radical than simply putting computers into the classroom or teaching children programming—not that learning to program is easy. What we need to do with education is change it from the top down: we need to change the role of the teacher, educational processes, get rid of the text book once and for all, and introduce technology as a natural part of the learning process, as simply another objective in the pupil’s adaptation to the environment he or she is going to live in, and then extend those changes to other, non-technological subjects.
In short, what is required is a radical change at all levels, marginalizing in the process the skeptics and non-believers who run our education systems. In countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and others, the revolution is already underway. We will soon see the consequences.
(En español, aquí)
