Passionate about learning - (Gary Stager, Day 3 ACEC 2010)

Seymour Papert - Image via Wikipedia

Gary Stager was the first keynote speaker of day three of the ACEC 2010 conference. A passionate speaker Gary Stager questioned why we are still asking questions around whether technology enhances learning, and asserts that of course it does, and we know how to do it. What Stager has to say pulls no punches, and I could see some of the audience bristling. However, his examples and his conviction are unquestionable. He is well worth listening to if you are keen to reform education and curricula in a way that really puts the student at the centre. One peachy example that I really enjoyed is: "School is the only place where you group people according to levels of incompetance and manufacturing date".

He talks about Seymour Papert who is a strong advocate of using technology in education - and in fact points out that having conferences about computers in education, is like having conferences about pencils in conferences.

Stager goes on to assert that we are using pre-Gutenberg technology which reinforces the dominance of the front of the room - engagement isn't something you do to others, and education is not about delivery. He also suggests, that kids need to have productive contact with adults. We can use the kids to use computers to express themselves in ways that have never been imagined before. We need to be asking questions around what do the kids do with the computers, as knowledge is a consequence of experience.



Gary Stager's ACEC 2010 Video from Gary Stager on Vimeo.


Seymour Papert on Generation YES and Kid Power from Gary Stager on Vimeo.

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