Trees that don’t bend won’t last the storm. Let’s face it. We’re living through a paradigm shift. The singularity is approaching and there’s no turning back. Really the only logical thing we can do at this point in time is embrace it. Traditional methods of teaching and learning are changing. Hell, the internet is changing our the wiring of our brains. Whether it’s ultimately good or bad doesn’t matter anymore, just that it is.
Just a few short years ago you would have seen me digging my heels in, while decrying all things digital for raising up the lowest common denominator. Now, now it seems so futile. Instead I’ve learned that we have to bend and adjust. The digital realm isn’t going to disappear (if it does questions of pedagogy will be the least of our worries.) We have to work with it and incorporate it into our lives in anyway we can. This just seems like a logical step. We should be tearing down the barriers between the broader spectrum of society and academia. Perhaps then we will be able to offer the lowest common denonminator something on their own terms and help them to better themselves.
It only makes sense that the traditional pen/paper/books/essays format of education must change to reflect society. That's not to say that the traditional methods aren't very good, or that digital methods are inherently better. What's important is that the rest of society isn't holding on to traditional methods. Just look at the role mobile phones play in society compared to less than a decade ago. As much as we like to think that the ivory tower is insular, and in some ways it is, it is still a part of society. The students coming into and leaving university are all a part of society. I can validly say 'in my day' and I'm not even old! Things are just changing too fast. The longer we adhere to traditional teaching methods the more will are going to have to play catch up when it does come time to reflect society. It seems naive to me to think otherwise.
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