The future of education is learning

Learning wisely

Plato and Aristotle at the Lyceum. Image credit: Wikimedia commons

Education has a long history, extending at least as far back as the first written records recovered from ancient civilizations. Major highpoints include the invention of writing, the expansion of philosophy in the axial age, the emergence of libraries, including the library of Alexandria, schools of Hellenistic philosophy, the evolution of printingtechnologies, including the invention of movable type, the evolution of academic institutions beginning with the Platonic academy, continuing with the Roman academies, and various old universities still operating today such as the University of Oxford, and Harvard University. Apprenticeships began in the later Middle Ages and continue in various forms today. The emergence of state schools has vastly improved the literacy and numeracy of the world population.

Each of these traditional educational institutions rely primarily on lectures and other forms of information broadcast from teacher to student. Recitation, seminars, study groups, and other forms of face-to-face communication are used to varying degrees.

A modern university lecture hall. Image credit: Wikimedia commons.

The evolution of the Internet now allows for many new forms of exchanging information, including educational information. Facts are now at our fingertips, unfortunately reliable information is commingled with misinformation and disinformation, much of which is camouflaged. Information is readily available from Wikipedia, YouTube, social media, news media, blogs, podcasts, and any number of websites.  Some of this information is reliable and important factual knowledge, however much of it is unreliable, disinformation, propaganda, marketing hype, gossip, rumors, fake news, and nonsense. The burden falls on today’s students relying on this explosion of information to determine what is reliable, what is important, and what is useful. Students need to know how they know and work to identify reliable sources of information and dismiss disinformation. Students need to learn how to learn in this new environment.

Education is undergoing a transformation. How might the future of education unfold?

Traditional educational institutions are now being augmented by several more accessible alternatives. These include on-line learning institutions such as Wikiversity, Khan Academy, Coursera, edX, Wondrium, Brilliant, other massive open online course providers (MOOCs), and educational websites. Personal video conferencing applications such as Zoom allow educators to easily connect with students regardless of geographic location. New companies such as Wyzant connect tutors directly with students. The emergence of these novel alternatives poses a puzzle that must be solved. Why do these accessible alternatives struggle to attract students while students rush to pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend traditional universities? What is going on?  Perhaps we need to do some problem finding.

Let’s begin by asking “What do students want?” The answer might be 1) a career (income), 2) reputation (stature), and 3) an education (the answers). How do MOOCs and other accessible forms compare to traditional academic institutions on this basis?

Few credentials are as effective in creating attractive (read high paying) employment opportunities as a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or  Harvard University.[1] Such credentials are also effective in quickly conveying an esteemed reputation.  Unfortunately, credentials from MOOCs are either nonexistent, undervalued, or difficult to evaluate.

A College Diploma Image source, Wikimedia Commons.

Fortunately, because MOOCs and other accessible information sources provide answers, students who value learning above credentials can readily find the answers they seek. We can all readily learn from MOOCs.

Recognizing the distinction between credentials and learning can help us to shape viable and accessible learning opportunities. Motivated students can learn through MOOCs and other accessible sources and then obtain widely recognized and valued credentials by demonstrating what they have learned to credentialing authorities.

Several existing systems provide examples of how this could work.

• In the United States and Canada, the General Education Development tests are a group of four subject tests which, when passed, provide certification that the test taker has United States or Canadian high school-level academic skills. It is an alternative to the US high school diploma.

• In the existing Advanced Placement test system, American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.

• Completion of an apprenticeship program can provide assurances, and sometimes certification, that a certain level of competence has been attained. This can be recognized by the title journeyman.   

• Occupational licensing provides assurance that a person is competent to perform certain types of work. Professions that can have a large negative effect on individuals, like physicians, public accountants, and lawyers, require occupational licenses in most developed countries, but many jurisdictions also require licenses for professions without that possibility, like plumbers, taxi drivers, and electricians.

This credentialling idea can be expanded to recognize what students have learned through various sources including self-study, life experiences, and MOOCs. This would fill a gap missing from the above examples by providing certification that a person has achieved competencies equivalent to a university degree. 

The future of education is learning. Let’s go!

Leland R. Beaumont is an independent wisdom researcher who is developing the applied wisdom curriculum at Wikiversity.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2022/08/30/how-forbes-top-25-colleges-stack-up-on-alumni-salaries/?sh=11620655fff2

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