Cavemen, Farmers, and Educators: How the Right Tools Make a Difference
Our schools are facing a revolution today. We have the tools we need to help sustain and enhance collaboration and student learning, but some of our schools aren’t using them. In fact, I would say that most of them aren’t. Keep in mind that:
- Some cavemen discovered the tools needed to make fire. Some didn’t.
- Some farmers in the Agricultural Revolution saw vast increases in production and diminished costs with new farming equipment. Unfortunately, some didn’t.
- Some organizations in the Industrial Revolution prospered by integrating assembly lines and steam-based machinery. Once again, some didn’t.
- Some businesses chose the Internet to provide a sales outlet for their clients… Guess what? Some haven’t.
What happened to the “some that didn’t”?
- Cavemen froze.
- Farmers lost sales, land, and their careers.
- Organizations failed.
- Businesses lack clients and potential sales.
Today, some companies and educational institutions are embracing 21st-century tools and new ways of thinking to help sustain and grow business. Similarly, some aren’t. Do we really need further proof that history is destined to repeat itself unless there is intervention? I guess some do.
If we continued to study the history of humanity and our advancements, we’d discover that every major shift were marked by the use of new tools and new ways of processing information. Major reformation is achieved by leveraging the use of tools that bring about efficiency and increased returns. As illustrated above, those who embrace new methods prosper, and those who don’t either fail or are seriously lacking relative to their potential.
What tools do schools need to leverage that will contribute towards education reform?
Just as knowledge is only power through organization and use, tools are only useful if they are properly integrated. Most schools have yet to embrace, adopt, and put to use the following tools. I believe these are the tools that are going to drive learning and business in the 21st century.
But be warned – just like the farmer that literally bought the hype of new farm equipment without first understanding its purpose, the tools will be ineffective without proper implementation. An engine without steam is pretty useless.
In education, it’s the blending of these tools that allow us opportunities to collaborate in ways that we have never had before. As a result, more students become a part of the learning process rather than an object of it.
I’ve been reading Clay Shirky’s Cognitive Surplus, and even though I’m only abut 20% of the way through it, the principles he’s uncovered so far have me considering the implications this will have in education. As I write this, I’m also eating some excellent peach cobbler my wife made for me yesterday… hence, my writing makes several references to food and cooking. : )
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