Blog #4: Responding to Changes

As I've mentioned before, the times are changing. When my parents were in high school, computers were in the process of becoming the next big thing. Now, laptops are often considered too big, and our kiddos have their own personal devices that can do a thousand different tasks, yet are small enough to fit in their pocket. So, what is education beginning to look like in these changing technological times? What is my personal response to those changes?

Free Online Instructional Videos (K-12)
We've looked at the flipped classroom before, but these free videos takes it one step further. Thanks to Sal Khan's creation of an online site where children can watch lessons and lectures free of charge, many teachers are turning to this method of teaching. They give the students an assignment of a video to watch outside of class on a particular topic (such as math or biology), then when they return to class, they are given a problem set based on the video assigned the previous night. It's called Khan Academy and it has revolutionized the way students are learning and the way they are taught. As a teacher, I can not wait to try out this flipped classroom idea. I think it causes learning to be more fun, free of textbooks, and more engaging. Using this method, material can actually be learned, rather than just memorized.

Free Online University Classes and MOOCs
In an episode of Ted Talks, Daphne Koller, Ph.D. points out that as medical care, gas, and consumer goods costs increase, so does the cost of education. Actually, the cost of a formal education has risen so much in the past few decades, that it is now at a 559% increase from 1985. This poses a huge problem for those of who could not have afforded it in the first place. Education is a key factor that bridges the gap between low socioeconomic status and high socioeconomic status. But how can anyone afford to build that bridge? That is where free online college classes come in to play. Several places are starting to offer classes online that are free of charge. They are called MOOCs. They range anywhere from The Art of Photography to Entrepreneurship and Family Business. I have high hopes for these classes and I hope the idea of offering them for free creates a spark that other schools ignite into a wildfire, causing education to be more than a dream, but a reality in thousands of lives.

Plans for Free Online Degrees
Sometimes simply taking a couple free college courses are not enough; sometimes a job will not hire without a certificate or a degree in a certain field. This is where Daphne Koller, with the same Ted Talks as mentioned above, steps in and explains how these classes can be turned into a degree. To this I say, "Hear, hear!" If only I had known about this before going into massive amounts of debt for my educational investment! Although the idea is grand, it is new. And thus, a lot of processing, tinkering, and most of all researching must be done to be sure it is a wise move and runs smooth. However, it is worth it!

New Writers/Sources of Textbooks
Do you remember how much money you had to pay for your textbooks in college or even high school? Did that not frustrate you, since you were already paying a large fee for your education? Well, due to advances in technology, those days may thankfully be nearing an end. iTunes U provides software that gives teachers the ability to create their own lessons, reading material, and assignments all on your personal iPad. Then you can give your students access to these lessons on their own devices. This cuts out the textbook middle man--which causes teachers and students alike to cheer. As a teacher, I agree that charging extra money for a book that the students will neither enjoy or even read, is a monumental waste. OpenStax also engages in free online textbooks, called iBooks. This advance into the future is exciting to see. Although I have always been a fan of feeling the paper under my fingertips, and breathing in the smell of books, I see the efficiency of ebooks and I applaud the makers of these ideas.

All of these new phases of technology and education have pros and cons. However, we must move forward with the times, and see the positive in every advance, or else be swallowed alive by the rushing course of history.

Resources:

• Sal Khan Report--http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/khan-academy-the-future-of-education-50121400/
• Khan Academy Website--https://www.khanacademy.org
• Ted Talks--http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_koller_what_we_re_learning_from_online_education#t-600733
• MOOCs--http://www.mooc-list.com
• iTunes U--http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/
• OpenStax--https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/12/04/openstax-announces-first-ipad-version-its-free-online-textbooks