Sunday, March 08, 2015

The Big Picture

I've used this slide many times to describe the future. People have begun to grasp Journey 1, the journey from courses to resources, but still struggle with the journey from resources to apps.

Sometimes they say things like 'but that isn't learning anymore' and they are right - it's learning elimination.

Sometimes they get confused by adaptive learning - which is like having a fax machine in your car, sending you little maps as you go.

Imagine a Martian spotting your SatNav and saying 'This is a marvellous learning machine.'
'Actually' you reply 'it means I don't have to learn'.
Learning has become part of the problem.
SatNav for everything, that's what we're working on.
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6 comments:

  1. Mark Berthelemy2:23 AM

    Hi Nick,
    The SatNav analogy is fine, but sometimes you want a map to be able to see the bigger picture.
    Shouldn't we be looking a mixed economy of different types of solutions for different contexts?
    Mark

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    Replies
    1. shackletonjones2:49 PM

      Instinctively I want to agree - of course there will be exceptions - but I struggle to think of any. There will still be times when one needs to develop capability well in advance of encountering a situation. Playing football, for example. Some of the other candidates (e.g. surgery) are prime candidates for automation. I think 'the big picture' is what is intended by the phrase 'data-driven decision-making'. Can you think of any examples, Mark?

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    2. Unknown3:46 AM

      Let's language learning as an example. The SatNav is something like Google Translate, which might help you communicate in a particular context, but won't help you learn the language. For that you need a mixture of structured and unstructured practice, dictionaries and grammar guides, and also a "map" to help you find out what you don't know yet.

      Does that work?

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    3. shackletonjones1:02 AM

      Language is an interesting example: the way we learn a language later in life is radically different to how we acquire our mother tongue (more akin to motor skills and the football example). By comparison, learning a language as an adult is grindingly difficult. Almost certainly translation will be automated - we're almost there today. Learning a language will become like car maintenance - there was a time when the majority of people needed to maintain their cars. Now it is the pursuit of hobbyists and professionals. So if you work as a translator, then you might be a bit better than Google translate for a while. Or you might learn as a luxury. In general I see learning becoming a bit of a leisure pursuit.

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  2. Unknown10:53 PM

    Hi all,

    I've arrived somewhat late to this very interesting discussion. Both analogies are indeed very interesting, especially when one considers the current concern black mini-cab drivers have around uber drivers in the UK. The former spend ages learning roads/routes and preparing to 'qualify' as a BMCD. Whereas the latter... well we all know the latter too well. Ana I can't remember the last time I called/hailed a black mini cab. Though i'm not saying that this is a wonderful state of affairs. K

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown11:44 AM

    Hi all,

    I've arrived somewhat late to this very interesting discussion. Both analogies are indeed very interesting, especially when one considers the current concern black mini-cab drivers have around uber drivers in the UK. The former spend ages learning roads/routes and preparing to 'qualify' as a BMCD. Whereas the latter... well we all know the latter too well. Ana I can't remember the last time I called/hailed a black mini cab. Though i'm not saying that this is a wonderful state of affairs. K

    ReplyDelete