Internet Education

I found this paper that provides a picture of what education will look like in the future. I think it paints an accurate picture. Basically, the Internet is finally going to revolutionize our educational system. Right now we are trying to fit computers and the Internet into the traditional educational model. But, this doesn’t get us anywhere. The real power is in using the Internet as a global asynchronous communications platform for constructing a virtual classroom. In this virtual classroom you can find information and mentors that allow you to choose your own method of learning on topics of your choosing so that you can create your own unique transcript. This transcript will follow you for life and will be a record of your unique skill set and knowledge. This transcript will become part of your virtual persona and will also include projects that you have worked on. Rather than performing exercises in a classroom environment, the work that you do in the virtual classroom will actually go toward completing something of value. In essence you will be an apprentice of the particular mentor/teacher whom you are studying under at that time to learn a particular technique. This will increase human learning and productivity tremendously. Also, canned standardized programs will exist that will teach basic concepts on a need-to-know basis. This form of education will move thinking out of the bygone era of the industrial age and into the information age and beyond.