In a culture dominated by Google Search on our iPhones and research papers referencing Wikipedia, education, training, and learning are changing and developing in new ways, taking on new models to meet the needs of students spanning from a quick how-to lesson to a formal, certified degree. President John F. Kennedy said, “All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.” Today’s digital world allows us easy access to opportunities to develop our talents and wisdom by connecting to various online services that allows us to skim the surface or dive as deep as we would like into our chosen topic of discovery.
Quick, Simple Training
I made it through most of my college years avoiding one very simple lesson, one rite of passage into manhood: learning how to tie a tie. I never felt the need to fully “suit up” on a regular basis, nor did I have many ties, so I found a very simple cheat: have my friends (or, until I went to college, my father) tie the tie for me. Then, when I took it off, I would leave it tied and place it on a hanger. So when it came time to wear a tie to a big interview, I was missing the simple skill of tying a tie. Where would I turn for the knowledge that would keep me from being embarrassed on the job interview?
There is a great website whose express function is to provide video tutorials on everything from how to grill asparagus to how to swim using the breaststroke to, of course, how to tie a tie. By checking out eHow.com (formerly ExpertVillage.com), I was able to learn how to tie a tie in just a few short minutes. (OK, so I had to watch the video a few times … at least I was learning!). Sometimes, in today’s world, we simply need a quick answer on how to do something. We don’t need the full depth of knowledge that formal education can bring, nor do we need any verification that the lesson is even being taught by an expert—we just need an accurate answer on the spot.
The simplest tools for answering requests for simple training are sites such as Ask.com or Bing.com (both are designed natively to answer questions). Other sites, such as eHow.com and its competitors HowCast.com, VideoJug.com, and 5min.com, all offer quick, free access to simple lessons and training that can answer your most pressing questions immediately.
Formal Education, Informal Price
One of the key components for a formal education is access to the scholarly works of great minds that have come before us. While it is possible to communicate an idea or tutorial in a short video, interfacing with a rich text can bring a much deeper understanding of a topic. As they continue to adapt to the learning styles and open connectivity of the digital world, some schools of higher education have opened up their libraries and classrooms to the outside world, allowing us to learn from their assets and faculty members without having to pay a dime.
The Harvard University Library has begun a project called the Open Collections Program (available free at ocp.hul.harvard.edu). Sidney Verba, founder of the Open Collections Program, states, “The experience of working with this university’s historical materials has long been an irreplaceable part of a Harvard education. Now, by developing subject-based digital collections on topics of contemporary concern, Harvard is making that experience available to students and teachers everywhere.” The Harvard Open Collections Program currently has four collections available, including collections on immigration to the U.S. and the science of the spreading of epidemics and disease.
Fuller Theological Seminary, a multidenominational seminary, is one of many colleges and universities participating in iTunes U. Schools participating in iTunes U make various audio recordings available as free downloads from iTunes, including the actual recording of classroom lectures. This allows literally anyone to sample the education offerings at various schools—including Yale, Duke, and others—and hear the words of the professors without paying to attend the classes (and without receiving course credit, obviously). Fuller makes entire courses on Biblical Hermeneutics, the Pentateuch, and other subjects readily available to consumption by hungry minds. Simply click on “iTunes U” in the iTunes Music Store to dive in.
A Formal Education (from Your Desk)
One of the leading institutions for online education is Liberty University, the third largest online university in the world (according to www. luonline.com). Liberty University, with more than 40 different Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs, is able to cater to all kinds of students wishing to further their education. One of Liberty’s strengths is its history as a brick and mortar school that is now expanding out to the online world.
Chris Johnson, Liberty University’s VP of Enrollment Management, earned his Master’s degree through Liberty and now teaches online courses at the school in order to better stay in touch with students and their needs. “In an online course the professor can be more interactive with the students in a more personal way because everyone is involved in the discussion and learning,” Johnson said. “The connectivity that happens online allows for the students to actually get more personable with one another, even praying for each other through the discussion boards.”
Liberty University uses the Blackboard education software (www.blackboard.com) to facilitate their online courses, allowing for extensive engagement and natural discussion to happen online.
Maria Montessori, the Italian educator whose ideas have been crafted into the education style that bears her name, once said, “If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man’s future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual’s total development lags behind?”
Leonard Sweet, faith futurist and prolific author, has been experimenting with online education through his courses at both George Fox University and Drew University. Sweet believes that in today’s “Google-world” technology has made everything more connective, but the technology cannot fulfill it’s promise—the technology is deeply relational, but it can’t create true, authentic, and real connection. As such, Sweet adds two key components to his online courses: a weekly virtual face-to-face meeting and, once a semester, a two-day intensive meeting for which physical presence is a requirement.
Sweet purchased an island in the virtual world Second Life and—though he sees its flaws—finds Second Life to be a great place to hold virtual face-to-face meetings. His classes can meet in the learning place he had built in Second Life, and he can teach from a virtual boat or relax on the virtual grass enjoying the view. This allows his group, normally interacting on a discussion board through asynchronous chat, to partake in synchronous, real-time, organic chat.
Once a semester, Sweet’s classes gather together in real life for two days, where they work together from breakfast until 10pm. Sweet finds these intensives to be one of the most important part of his courses. “Every online class I have taught has left the end of the semester asking about a reunion. I have never had a traditional class ask for a reunion, ever,” he said. The two days give the students more face-to-face time than a traditional course with 26 hours of class time.
The Future of Education
“The educational world has been built on access,” said Sweet. “Because of Google, everyone has access to all kinds of information. We need to concentrate on helping the learning process and helping [students] to assess the information they access.” The digital worlds of training and education have changed the rules, and are creating even more unique opportunities for educators. In providing simple tutorials, giving unprecedented access to scholastic resources, and guiding a community through the learning process, the digital world allows educators and life-long learners to work together to customize their knowledge. Now, the question is: How will you learn today?
Aaron Linne is a Digital Media Producer for LifeWay Christian Resources. He and his wife are small group leaders at their church, Mosaic Nashville. Aaron writes regularly on his blog at www.aaronlinne.com.