Within our current education system it is hard to imagine a scenario in which e-learning becomes a viable and preferred option in the K-12 system. I say this not because I can’t imagine the possibilities, nor because I can’t imagine students benefitting, but because of our current system. Our current education system, based on the factory model, and designed to crank students through is not flexible enough to handle the world of e-learning. Throughout the semester in this class, and in my Leadership and Technology course, I have been reading about how our existing learning organizations require a massive transformational shift if we are to meet the needs of our society.
The 2011 Horizon Report for K-12 lists the following as one of it’s key trends: “People expect to be able to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want to” (p. 4). E-learning, according to the Horizon Report is coming for K-12. However, e-learning can not stand on it’s own. The Horizon report talks about social networks accompanying timely access to information when they state:
A faster approach is often perceived as a better approach, and as such people want easy and timely access not only to the information on the network, but to their social networks that can help them to interpret it and maximize its value (pp. 4-5).
The collaborative atmosphere needed to make sense of online learning needs refining. It does not exist to the extent that is necessary in the corporate world. For the most part, our corporate brochures our class worked on focused on a module based program where adult students read content, and answered questions. In some cases the use of webinars helped to make the e-learning sessions more collaborative. However, students in K-12 require a deeper understanding of content, and that requires a deeper level of collaboration. The Horizon Report, in my mind, is bang on in recognizing that the use of social networks will allow students to make sense of content. This goes hand in hand with another key trend by the Horizon Report which states: “ The abundance of resources and relationships made easily accessible via the internet is increasingly challenging us to revisit our roles as educators” (p. 4). If we are to achieve a collaborative atmosphere within an e-learning environment, then the K-12 teacher needs to shift and refocus. They need to adjust how they see their role in education in the following ways (2011 Horizon Report for K-12, p. 4):
- · Must consider the unique value that each resource adds to a world in which information is everywhere.
- · In such a world, sense-making and the ability to assess the credibility of information are paramount.
- · Mentoring and preparing students for the world they will live is at the forefront
What is getting in the way of this key trend taking hold? According to the Horizon Report, it is the education system itself that is in the way. The Horizon Report states “As long as maintaining the basic elements of the existing system remains the focus of efforts to support education, there will be resistance to any profound change in practice” (p. 5). As we all know all too well, change is difficult in education. Society is demanding more of our students, and that includes the future locations our students will work. If students are expected to learn whenever and wherever they want, then we must re-imagine our education system. Teachers must no longer be the barrier between old practice and a new implementation of technology and ideas. It seems overwhelming, but I believe that societal pressures will force the issue, and make it happen.
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