Andy Petroski on the Future of Education

OurBlook interview with Andy Petroski, director and assistant professor of learning technologies at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Technology means techniques. Are techniques supplanting content as the most important determinant of a student's education?

AP: Content is still important, but technology enables a variety of ways to experience that content. So, yes techniques are important for taking advantage of the variety ways we can now deliver, collaborate, practice, receive feedback and reflect. A balance of content and techniques is important.

Instructor techniques are important, but so are student techniques. Students must adapt to interactive, collaborative and applied environments combined with content and be able to manage learning as an ongoing event ... not just a short time in class.

What are the pluses and minuses of having term papers and tests done by the latest technology as opposed to the old handwritten or typewritten method?

AP: In my mind, there are no pluses to handwriting or typing (on a typewriter) a term paper or test ... unless the class is a handwriting or typing class. Those skills are not very transferrable to today’s expectations in education or the workforce.

New technology enables more efficient work to be done and more creative work to be done. We don’t have to worry about typing a paragraph of “gibberish” to “flesh out” some ideas ... it’s quickly edited or deleted for more coherent work. That is very difficult to do with handwriting or typewriting. Work can now also be collaborative. People no longer need to gather around to evaluate and add to a piece of work. Collaboration can be virtual.

There are challenges with plagiarism and copyright infringement, but those were challenges that existed without current technology. It is much easier to plagiarize or violate copyright today, but technology also enables easy ways of checking works for originality.

Is direct human contact ... between professor and student, and between students among themselves ... still viewed as important?

AP: It depends who you talk to ... but, I think it is. I don’t think it’s a 100 percent must, though. Effective learning can happen completely virtually if it’s the right content, the right student and the right teacher. We do not currently offer any completely online course at Harrisburg University. We believe that direct contact is an important part of building a learning community and of the learning process. And, even if we do begin offering courses online, I suspect that there will be some element of direct contact ... whether synchronous online or face-to-face, even if it is a small portion of the experience.

Have there been any recent research advances that might make a significant difference for U.S. education?

AP: I’m not quite sure what you’re asking here, but there have been studies that show online learning to be just as effective (or more so) than face-to-face classroom. And, there continues to be work in the study of games and simulations as vehicles for learning. At Harrisburg University we’re beginning to consider systemic approaches to integrating games and simulations to support education, vs. individual efforts of single games and simulations. We explore the approach of games, simulations and virtual worlds at our yearly Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum (LEEF –www.leef2010.net) where practitioners from throughout the U.S. come to demonstrate their techniques for games and simulations for learning through case studies of projects they’ve implemented. LEEF 2010 is June 17 & 18.

How might social media and ever-changing technology improve classrooms and the learning environment for teachers and students? How might they be impeding the educational process?

AP: Technology is enabling us to connect and communicate with students like never before. The classroom no longer needs to be the hub of activity around content delivery, exploration or student questions/reflection. There is opportunity to use the classroom as a space for clarification, application and collaboration. There are now options for how students experience content, application/feedback and practice. This is good for teachers and students but also requires an adjustment of attitudes and expectations. In many cases, everyone is working harder ... but the outcomes are much more robust as well.

If there’s any impeding the process, it’s the technology itself (does it always work) and the transition from more traditional approaches to new ones. As teachers and students we need to adjust our self-expectations and the expectations of how learning unfolds ... in the classroom and online.

What do you see as the future of education in the U.S. ... will it get better or worse?

AP: I have confidence that students and teachers/professors will make an impact on improving education ... but it will not create the impact that’s needed. For true impact there needs to be a cultural, economical and legislative change. I don’t have confidence in parents, administrators, school boards and legislators to make the necessary adjustments to truly make an impact.

(Andy is director and assistant professor of learning technologies at Harrisburg University. He leads the annual Learning and Entertainment Evolution Forum (national conference on blending of games, simulations and impact learning) and the Educators’ Technology Clinics (attracts about 150 educators throughout the summer). He has more 13 years of e-learning design and development experience in multimedia production firms, independent consulting, corporate learning and education.)