Perhaps the best part of my job is working for an institution that hates standing still. The education landscape is changing in dramatic ways. IBM’s Future of Learning report states succinctly;
Five signposts of educational trends (technology immersion, personalized learning paths, knowledge skills, global integration, and economic alignment), can be perceived as challenges to traditional institutions – or – as opportunities for meaningful and long-lasting systemic transformation to systems of education.
How an educational system responds to these trends will determine not only its value to its students but ultimately, its long-term value to society.
Will education stakeholders wake up and smell the winds of demographic shifts, technological advances and globalization or will they bury their heads just like automotive industry did? That is the $64,000 question.
Among the amazing people I work alongside is Kent MacDonald, Algonquin’s VP Academic. As part of the College’s Strategic Program and Services Planning Project, one of the most comprehensive planning exercises ever attempted in higher education, we have hosted a speaker series to raise awareness across the College of the meaty issues facing the post-secondary sector. For those worried that colleges and universities are not taking note of the storm clouds on the higher-ed horizon take heart and watch Kent’s address to faculty and staff on the future of learning at Algonquin College.
I wasn’t able to attend the presentation but I was thrilled to be able to watch it last night on my laptop while my daughter was in her dance class (thanks to Capital City Dance for having wifi). That worked for me and I appreciate the fact that the information was available and adapted to my needs. The piece that was missing was the ability to share and discuss. Thanks for providing that Doug.
It looks like the problem has been identified and intent and direction is being laid. The big question that kept creeping up for me was ‘How’. It’s so important to start showing the ‘How’ so staff and faculty will start experimenting and playing.
I’d like to point out the importance of those two words; experimenting and playing. In order to learn, we all have to be given the ok to fail, share and move forward.
Looking forward to launching our Innovation wiki, our Twitter account and blog in the near future.