Change
is hard. That is what I am feeling after
watching Clay Shirky’s TED talk on institutions vs. collaborations. Being part of an institution, it is difficult
to imagine (or at least, it is difficult to WANT to imagine) a future where
institutions have changed so drastically.
However, if I am honest, my job role is already undergoing this change…library
media specialists must embrace their changing role or say goodbye to their
jobs. The institution of the school
library no longer looks the same as it did as recently as five years ago;
librarians who are embracing more collaborative environments and technologies
are not only revitalizing their library spaces and programs, but also leading
the change to this collaborative model for their schools.
The
institution of school is also already changing, as evidenced by virtual schools
and blended learning models. Although I
don’t believe the institution of school could ever completely go away, some of
the constructs and constraints of the current model could definitely evolve by
using a more collaborative model. For instance,
by using online and blended learning models, the four walls of the classroom
can disappear or be used more infrequently.
This could mean significant cost savings. Also, the model of the traditional school
year and of same-age classrooms could become more flexible. Another example could be the informational
resources used: traditional textbooks could be replaced with free or low-cost
internet-based resources. With the
abundance of quality primary and secondary sources available online and the collaborative
efforts of educator and field professionals sharing knowledge, information, and
best practices, traditional textbooks would become obsolete.
Tools
like Flickr, Twitter, and Wikipedia prove how powerful the volunteer effort of
collaboration can be, overcoming many institutional constraints. It is difficult to imagine the institutions
going away, but it is definitely exciting to see the possibilities that a more
collaborative model can bring. I can
only hope that I (and other educators) have the energy to keep up with the
changes that this model might mean for our classrooms, our schools, and our
careers.
2 comments:
I like the idea of not having kids all the same age in the different grades. Right now it causes conflict if you need to hold a child back a grade. If the ages aren't so important, maybe parents wouldn't mind so much. Kids should be able to go at their own pace. It worked rather well in a school I went to in the Philippines. My sister and I were tested to see where we should be place. I ended up placing ahead of her in one subject, but she was ahead in the rest. The biggest problem with it is what to do if you are finishing 3 subjects at high school level, but are still in middle school level for the other 3. Even so, I think that can be overcome. It will be interesting to see if we go that direction as the schools/institutions change.
I enjoy the idea of technological advances in textbooks, but in reality, would like to keep the libraries engrained in our students. I have always enjoyed looking, reading and smelling books in libraries, bookstores and on shelves, which, obviously can't be done on a Nook! The convenience of reading on the internet is not for everyone, however convenient, nor should it replace our great buildings of books.
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