Alan November

Educational Innovators

During a recent webinar tutorial in which we were discussing the use of technology in learning the name of Alan November popped up.  I had never heard of him and so spent some time finding out who we was and found these videos which I immediately identified with:

Who owns learning?

21st Century Learning - a Deep Dive into the Future

I am currently reading Alan November's book, Empowering Students With Technology, and hope to find more time to read through it over the holidays.

The point that technology can be a powerful motivator for some students who do not succeed in traditional classrooms is pertinent and not only relevant to teenagers as the story of Yves with which Alan November opens the book alludes to.  I have found it can be a powerful motivator for many of my adult learners.  

The story of Yves reminds me of a quote often attributed to Einstein which berates state education systems:

(Here's the view of someone who really disagrees with this quote and rightfully questions whether Einstein would take this view.)

Tsunesaburo Makiguchi

Educational Innovators

 

This quote from Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, a forward-thinking educational theorist from Japan, was one that particularly struck a chord.   By educating our learners on how to use the technology available to them we can help them become more autonomous learners.  I liked the idea of a key unlocking the vault of knowledge.  Often when I find a really good website it does feel like a very valuable treasure trove has been unearthed, and when you find something like that, it is best sharing it with friends, colleagues and students.

'The aim of education is not to transfer knowledge; it is to guide the learning process, to equip the learner with the methods of research. It is not the piecemeal merchandizing of information; it is to enable the acquisition of the methods for learning on one's own; it is the provision of keys to unlock the vault of knowledge. Rather than encouraging students to appropriate the intellectual treasures uncovered by others, we should enable them to undertake on their own the process of discovery and invention.'