Source of Learning: Experiencing Life Together
A transformational approach reimagining education
Introduction
A group of 11 international researchers with diverse media backgrounds came together in the 2023 Salzburg Academy of Media and Global Change to deliberate about the systematic educational/academic inequalities affecting children’s lives globally. We explored problems surrounding inflexible educational programs, lack of mental health programs, discrimination, safety, extreme competitiveness, no accommodation to disabilities, absence of creativity, insufficient classes for “real” life issues, poverty, war, bullying, and terrorism.
We discussed that each region has vastly different ways of interpreting justice in education. We hypothesized that all the issues traced back to how communities connected; if we could essentialize personal connections using technological advancements, children could gain emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive intelligence, which would help them self-learn and remain resilient through challenging circumstances. Our research led us to conclude that the foundation of education begins in the communities. Through collaboration with experts in media, film, journalism, and fugitivity to advance our aforementioned research, we imagined eliminating the current system and refocusing education to emphasize human connectivity.
We developed a 50-year plan with ten-year intervals of new innovative ways to bring educational learning to community peacebuilding, encouraging self-learning, adaptability, resistance, connectivity, and socio-emotional comprehension. We imagine this through a combined system of brainwave technology and a reimagined education. Our imaginative future of education does not include classrooms, teachers, students, or generalized classes but a rebuilt commonality and connectivity globally that embraces culture, communication, and peacemaking.
Brainwave Technology
Using an innovative program called Source of Learning (S.O.L), children are implanted with a brain chip, SERFER, at birth. The chip integrates A.I. with brain waves to process where each person is developmentally. As they reach developmental milestones, SERFER transmits appropriate knowledge to the Learners, including all fact-based information, such as math, science, language, and more.
Reimagined Education
Learners can now focus on connectivity with others versus generalized factual knowledge. With SERFER eliminating obstacles to obtaining information, children can now concentrate on relationship and community building. This will create a society of trust, resilience, collaborativeness, understanding, and peace.
Educational workshops, such as Shame/Violence Intervention (S.V.I.), Informational Storytelling, Documentary Creating, Creative Innovation, and Intergenerational Community Sessions, help to combat societal injustices. Additionally, interactive filmmaking and web designs will bring voice to inequitable conditions and reconciliation to marginalized groups.
Rather than spending mandatory hours in a classroom, burdened by grades, competitiveness, and other challenges of the current educational system, Learners can spend their days at a Community Learning Center guided by Mentors who help them to shape their experiences.
A typical day for a Learner is personalized to them; they may spend time assisting elderly community members with household tasks while sharing stories, focusing on a Storytelling workshop, or applying themselves to practicing the arts and humanities. The Mentors are vital to helping each Learner unlock their full potential and build a community around them.
If we bring back personal connections by using technological advancements, learners could gain emotional, mental, physical, and cognitive intelligence, which would help them self-learn and remain resilient. Our imaginative future of education is to rebuild the community globally through an individually collaborative educational system that brings individuals together.
Timeline
As with any new system, it will be a process to transition the world into S.O.L In collaboration with the Academy’s researchers and faculty, the Salzburg team created a plan to move the world from graded classrooms to brainwave therapy and customizable learning plans.
Starting in 2023, a global summit of educators, researchers, world leaders, and critical stakeholders will meet to discuss the future of education. Plans are created to restructure education and envision a new, equitable future. Over the next ten years, these plans are shaped and finalized, and initial ideas regarding brain wave technology begin.
In 2033, the world will reach a finalization of brain wave technology agreements that include equity and safety safeguards. Agreements with countries are made, and the brainwave technology is programmed. Based heavily on research, new ideas are shaped regarding education’s replacement. Called Source of Learning (S.O.L), these ideas include experiential learning, community building, and peacebuilding workshops. Additionally, a Risk Matrix is calculated, showing where different oppositions to S.O.L will be, and efforts are made to move public opinion favorably in support of S.O.L.
Moving forward to 2024, small-scale human testing trials begin. A few chips are implanted into humans. As these tests commence, the A.I. integration is continually enhanced and tweaked. Additionally, teachers have started implementing elements of S.O.L into classrooms worldwide.
Wide-scale human testing begins in 2053. As people test SERFER, the trials prove no health risks are associated with it. Additionally, humans with SERFER still are competent; having this knowledge leaves space for reimagined learning methods without causing harm.
By 2063, it is acknowledged worldwide that human trials will be successful. Implementing SERFER leads children to adapt to this new way of life and learning. They are beginning to explore creatively and learn based on curiosity.
By 2073, the motto of S.O.L.- Experiencing Life Together- is deemed successful! Worldwide implementation is complete, and all children aged ten and under now have SERFER in their brains. Additionally, the theory of S.O.L creating an equitable and inclusive society is a reality that will only grow richer and more connected with time.
Documentation
We created a website pulling to showcase our work, as well as our Mission and Values.
Collaborators: Abigail Nash, Junaid Kajee, Yiru Chen, Belén Liotti, Yau Ming Suet Michelle, Lauren Madden, Daughn Greening, Violet Chenoweth, Madison Maronge, Mai Mitsuhashi, Aya Abdallah
