IT in Education 2002 and beyond Alan Dix Lancaster University .

IT in Education2002 and beyond

Alan Dix

Lancaster University

www.hcibook.com/alan

this talk …

• where we are now– using IT in education

• what has happened– changes in IT

• what will happen– the long vision

+ digressions

this talk …

• where you are now – using IT in education• what has happened – changes in IT• what will happen - the long vision

follows the T model

what we teach

breadth

depth

what students learn?

breadth

depth

extension

T model

breadth

depth

grounding

why T ?

• texture• more engaging!

• grounding• more rigorous

• mastery• more motivating

division

what does it mean?

multiplication

3 x 4 = 12

4 x 3 = 12

division

12 / 3 = ?

? ? ?

?

12 / 3 = ?

building a house

• length of roof = 5 metres• beams in 2 metre sections• can cut and join• how many sections do I need?

5m2m

3

transporting the beams

• length of trailer = 5 metres• beams in 2 metre sections• how many sections can I carry

5m2m2

lifting the beam

• length of roof = 5 metres• each 2m section weighs 1 tonne• can cut and join• what does the full beam weigh?

5m2m

21/2

1 tonne

division?

• number of beams to buy?5 / 2 3

• number of beams in trailer?5 / 2 2

• weight of beams?5 / 2 21/2

Reflection

where we are now

using IT in education

Reflection at 2002

• IT Master Plan …

… lots of computers

• what to do with them?

golden rule of design

understand your materials

computerscontentpupilsyourself

physical things

• directness of effect– push and it moves

• locality of effect– here and now

• visibility of state– small number of relevant parameters

what’s special about computers?

• complexity of effect– computation

• non locality of effect– in space – networks– in time – memory

• hidden state– large number of invisible variables

driving lesson

what happened

• removed external judgement– I didn’t know intention

• allowed personal feedback– she did know

• enabled “play” and experiment– not goal directed

repeat 3[forward 50 right 60]

LOGO and Papert

• simple programming language• plus turtle

http://el.www.media.mit.edu/groups/logo-foundation/

draw a triangle?

Montessori

• self correcting materials• instant feedback• no judgement

http://www.montessori-ami.org/http://www.modern-montessori.com/

computers

• rapid feedback– before bad habits form– e.g. spelling checkers

… but not correctors!

• low judgement …

computer personality

• work at Dundee– questionnaires and interviews– personal questions (medical)

• electronic versions– simple questionnaires – keyword based (like Elisa)– the more human-like the better– but better than real human

Changing Face of Technology

what has happened since 1996

changes in IT

Changing Face of Technology?

• in 1996– still mainly the locally networked PC

• in 2002– computing is the Internet– mobile, wearable,

internet appliances, …

• in 2008?

the Net

• WWW– wonderful resource … but …– affordances and authority?

the Net

• WWW– resource … but … affordances, authority?

• mobile devices– the global everywhere … – and local information

the Net

• WWW– resource … but … affordances, authority?

• mobile devices– global everywhere … local information

• communication– global community – culture & values?– local community – through global net!

how many computers?

• in your classroom

IT MasterPlan – 1 for 2 pupils– 30% curriculum

how many computers?

• in your classroom

• in your home

TV, video, DVD,washing machine,air conditioning,microwave, …

how many computers?

• in your classroom

• in your home

• on your person

PDA, phone,car keys, smart cards,camera, walkman, …

Challenges Lying Ahead

what will happen

the long vision

Challenges Lying Ahead

• technology– has changed society– is changing society

• education– to accommodate change– to use change– to affect change

four ages of information

• Age of Proximity– control and information by physical

contact

four ages of information

• Age of Proximity• Age of Bureaucracy

– long-distance remote contact– physical messages– early cyberspace

four ages of information

• Age of Proximity• Age of Bureaucracy• Age of Money

– freemarket economies:– exchange of value– exchange of information

four ages of information

• Age of Proximity• Age of Bureaucracy• Age of Money• Age of Information

– electronic messages– information objects– challenges power structures– remolds economics

digression

a brief history of learning

a lightning tour through evolutionary time …

Genestimescale: 1000s of generations

individual learningtimescale: within a lifetime

depends on memory and imagination

parents and packstimescale: across generations

depends on co-experience and learning

gesture and languagetimescale: across generations

imagination and vicarious experience

playtimescale: within and across generations

imagination and virtual experience

last words …

• technology is changing• but people are the same

• understand technology• understand learning