Interactive Education - Breaking the Mold

Widespread use of the Internet and other interactive connectivity technologies for learning are creating an interactive learning environment and robust communication system for our young people today. E-learning in the new century can support instructor-led training where the participants can be hundreds of miles away from each other. E-learning can employ graphical simulations of difficult concepts to enhance understanding using technologies such as flash, streaming audio and video. E-learning can individualize training to a student's desired learning styles. These technologies are making it possible to achieve badly needed changes in the United States educational system, but there is much work to be done. In a thoughtful and progressive work by Jon Wiles and John Lundt, "Leaving School: Finding Education", the authors call for a major paradigm shift in the US public education system.

FAILURE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Schools have become increasingly unsuitable places in which to educate the young. They have failed to keep pace with the economic, social changes or technological progress that has occurred in post-war America. It is also no secret that American students are falling farther and farther behind their international counterparts.

Schools today are better suited for early twentieth century society than for today's Information Age. One factor that has contributed to the poor state of public schooling is the inflexibility of the school calendar. The school calendar evolved primarily to suit the requirements of the early 1,900's farming society, which provided time off during the harvest, but otherwise demanded a rigid schedule. Another factor is the early belief that the brain required exercise. The brain "work out" could be satisfied by a standardized set of learning - learning not well-suited for a large percentage of students.

Social changes have also negatively affected schools in the post-war period such as the increase in dual-income families, the increasing use of day care and after school care, the crumbling of the nuclear family and the deterioration of neighborhood schools.

Meanwhile, schools have become financially and politically entwined with the government. Teachers are improperly incentivized with salaries linked to tenure rather than competence. There is no accountability for student outcomes at either the teacher level or the governmental level. The school system itself can also be faulted for its lack of vision, such as the slow migration to the Internet as a tool to adapt to social change. Of course, there are many vested interests in the current education system, and this makes any change difficult to implement. Logistics of making such a large and necessary change are not insignificant.

CRISIS AT HAND

Unfortunately, the public sector school is now in crisis as an outdated institution, which has become a casualty of constant cuts in state funding and political wrangling. Those concerned with the educational system in the United States understand that the social fabric itself is under serious threat without some dramatic changes. Although change is possible within, the dramatic change required to update the educational system will almost certainly require the support of people outside the education sector. If we can agree that the system is indeed damaged and badly in need of repair, where do we turn next to improve student learning?

THE NEW PARADIGM

School of the future will likely not entail the daily bussing of students across town, but instead will be learning without buildings. Learning would not be anchored to specific teachers, places or schedules. Learning quality would be assessed by its application value - acquisition of knowledge would no longer be enough. Probably the most important change is a refocus on quality learning and student-centered approach to education.

If the public school monopoly on government funding were to end, we would see competition from the private sector help to improve efficiency in the school system, create closer alignment with social changes and introduce emerging technologies. Alternative educational institutions such as the Waldorf School would provide competition to the public school system. Even though private schools have taken a bold step in reforming education, they would need to do much more to radically change the way schooling is done.

CONCLUSION

We see schooling moving from a national system to one that is centered around the child. Students would be allocated funding from the government, rather than schools. Students would be able to shop for the institution that would best serve their needs. Educational institutions would vie for students, creating healthy competition. Children would be required to attend school all year round. Mentors would guide students through personalized curricula that use learning styles best matched for the student.

A significant amount of learning would take place over the Internet. Students would take advantage of the latest technologies for remote mentoring, collaboration, interactive simulation, flash video, streaming audio and video, and the like. Parents would retake a more active role in guiding their students through the curriculum. Learning would be evaluated through testing of skills and knowledge and educational institutions would be monitored and held accountable for the results of their students.

These changes will not be easy. Making the necessary changes to our failed public school system requires intervention by concerned parents and other individuals who see the need for a better educational experience for children. In the end, our kids will be rewarded with the kind of life-long learning that they deserve.