Reality on a Stick

Here is a thought-provoking video I came across over at think:lab:

From the creator, Michael Wesch:

a short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today - how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime. Created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.

Among others, the video makes a point that’s been reiterated over and again at recent conferences ’round the globe: the world is changing more rapidly and distinctly than our best predictions can accommodate, and yet most of our educational environments assume 20th century models of filing and controlling information. Something’s got to give, and it certainly ain’t gonna be the rate of change.

As a parent/educator, I have to confront the following: If I can’t possibly know what the world or job market will look like when my kids/students graduate university, in what sense am I qualified to teach them? Incidentally, I happen to think the job title teacher is miserably outdated and ought to be replaced with something more appropriate like coach or advisor or guide.

I also think that the old world academic hierarchies have all but lost their credibility. Universities are beginning to defy the old (largely financially weighted) ranking systems. Departments are beginning to ignore the pay for knowledge paradigm upon which most universities were founded–E.g. MIT’s/Princeton’s/Stanford’s lectures now online as free podcasts. The most precious academic rites of passage are giving way to a new world order. Gone are the days in which the best advice for academic success was specialize early, earn your chops through research and publication, and then scurry away to your untouchable ivory tower (pining away for retirement).

How can we let this happen? Don’t we have to protect our most sacred institutions? Answers: A) We have no choice, and B) No, packaging and controlling knowledge is not an endeavor worth saving. Quite simply, there are now more direct routes to research funding, book contracts, speaking opportunities, and consulting gigs, and this shift has provoked a marked change in the behavior of technology-embracing academics–many of whom haven’t even earned their ivory stripes yet. The portability of digital media has made experts and stars out of a substantial number of charismatic personalities with revolutionary ideas. And guess what? Nobody gives a rat’s ass what their credentials are.

And yet, I’m sad to say that despite all this dynamic movement, no real takers have come forward to slay the anachronistic beast before us. So let’s see it, all you creative educators. Who’s going to step up and create the kick-ass life coaching app(roach) that will enable us to catapult young minds in the ever-shifting direction of success. Ah, come on! It’s sure to bring you web traffic and stardom and opportunities galore;-)

Here. I’ll even give you a hint: I’m pretty sure the new approach we’re looking for starts out by recognizing the parallels between educational environments and causal conditions…… but I’ll leave that for another post–one that I’ve been working on for months, but haven’t quite polished yet!

All the best,
Steven