Goodbye 2008…

What an interesting year this proved to be!  An historic election, a financial crisis, and yet technology just kept speeding down the track!  If you look at the “big ticket” items of 2008 from a consumer, technology standpoint, you have to look at items like the Wii, iPhone, and YouTube. 

How interesting that we have finally bridged virtual reality and common space.  Nintendo and Apple proved that you don’t have to wear the funny headset or strap on the body touch points to immerse yourself in a new reality.  And as for common publishing…YouTube did to 2008 what blogging did to 2004.  Everyone can be a star if they want to be. 

So what does all this mean for education?  What will technology do in 2009 that will help us be better teachers?  Well, it’s first important to realize that most schools and teachers are still pre-2000 in their technological evolution, so for many it will (hopefully) bring more computers to the classroom!  But, for those who try to keep up with the times, just as our students and culture are, 2009 could bring about some interesting crosses of technology and education. 

Obviously Web 2.0 should finally start to get some nice, practical, assessable examples and use cases.  I’m hopeful that conferences will now include application as much as theory when it comes to Web 2.0 resources and tools that should go well beyond blogs & wikis.

Accountability should increase as administrations start to realize the power of data as it applies to technology driven education.  The ability to tie course outcomes to pieces of content and then report as to the proficiency of a student, class, teacher, etc., are possible.  I believe that 2009 will see Accrediting agencies start to realize this potentially powerful aspect of online education and begin to think about how to make use of it.

Students will become more empowered to use more tools and resources as they become more readily available.  There are websites that tell you what the moon looked like on December 9, 1945 from Earth, there are applications on phones that convert feet to meters, and there are programs that help you learn Spanish in ½ the traditional timeframe.  As we better understand learning and as technology intersects with assessment, tasks, and anything else that matters, 2009 could see more effective students.

It’s also worthy to note that during times of financial duress, almost every industrialized nation in the world looks to education for hope and answers.  I believe this year will prove to be an opportunity for education to meet the needs of a financially burdened culture to provide optimism and qualification to workers in new fields.  The challenge before us is great, but out of every challenge come those who pioneer answers and solutions to meet need.  Education can once again show how important and helpful we can be.  Technology only gives education more potential, when used properly and effectively.

With fondness and excitement, let’s bid farewell to 2008 and look forward to the potential of 2009!  Cheers!

Jeff D Borden, M.A.
Senior Director of Teaching and Learning
eCollege - a Pearson Company