Schools of the future `based on interests not age`

Anne Gilleran, an expert in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, was on a visit to Malta last week. Ms Gilleran is the coordinator of the School Managers Centre website forming part of the European Schoolnet, which is a partnership of more than 20 European ministries of education. The centre provides resources and a virtual meeting place for school managers from all over Europe, and seeks to promote an understanding of the role of ICT in education. A former school principal, Ms Gilleran gave a lecture to teachers at the open day held at the Swatar IT training centre, and took time to answer questions from Mark Wood.

In which aspects of the student`s learning experience is information and communication technology in schools having the biggest impact?

I think that ICT is impacting in many ways on students` learning experience.

For me however, the biggest change is this: with ICT the student moves from being a receiver of knowledge to a more active role where they must actively take part in searching for knowledge, and it is in this role that teachers report that their students are most engaged. Students have to seek out information, source it and present it in their own chosen way, either as a website, or as a project using PowerPoint etc.

In my experience students very quickly become sophisticated users of ICT at every level and once they are it is very difficult for them to revert back to more traditional approaches to learning.

The future school-leaver will have used ICT extensively throughout his or her school years. Besides, of course, having the ICT skills, how will that make him or her different to school- leavers of the past?

The students of the future will be very sophisticated in visual material and will be able to absorb visual imagery very quickly.

They will not necessarily have to rely on a small base of knowledge; rather they will know where to go for the knowledge to solve problems.

They also will not necessarily think that learning is ended once they come to age 18+. Rather they will accept that they will have to learn all through their lives.

In your position you have contact with a lot of schools and school heads around Europe. What are the major trends in the use of ICT in teaching?

It depends on the level of school. It appears that ICT is integrated into teaching far more widely at primary school level than at secondary school level. This is not that surprising given the fact that in most European schools the primary level curriculum usually works on a broader base with a high degree of cross-curricular work.

In a recent study carried out by the European Schoolnet (EUN), of 50 innovative schools across Europe, teachers reported that they view ICT as a new form of expression in which pupils learn to express themselves not only in the written word, but also using images, sounds and in some cases moving images as well. A big advantage for the teachers and pupils of course is the fact that in most primary schools the computers are present in the classrooms.

At secondary level, ICT is very integrated in those subjects that rely heavily on ICT anyway as part of their basic curriculum, for example technical subjects and to a lesser degree the science subjects. The integration of ICT within other subjects tends to depend to a large extent on the curriculum approach and in particular the examination structure of the country involved.

I feel that there are two factors that will impact in a major way on second level integration; one is the advent of wireless technology and the other a rethinking of curricula and, in particular, assessment models that will take into account many of the skills and approaches using ICT that are not currently taken into account today. For example, team working skills, presentation skills, and information searching skills to name but a few.

What will the ideal school of the future look like?

Will it be a building at all? I am only joking of course. My vision is of a learning space, which students of all ages will enter. Classes will be based on interests rather than age, and teachers will act as facilitators and guides as well as providing core knowledge.

It is of course a wireless environment probably making use of small, compact, handheld devices for more everyday tasks, and reserving the streamline slim wall-based monitors for more heavy duty tasks such as video viewing, editing and so on.

Older students may not have to attend every day, but can of course log in from other areas. They may even choose to take a global course, that is, choose classes that are being conducted in various spots around the globe.

I see these places as wide open spaces full of light and greenery with a quiet relaxed atmosphere.

What are the major obstacles to achieving this vision?

Traditional thinking about education and models of school. Education is notoriously slow to adopt change, and the current model has changed very little since the industrial revolution. I think people are still thinking that schooling is something that takes place within four walls from age four to 18+ with a jump then to third level or to work.

From your brief stay in Malta, are there any issues which you might wish to highlight in relation to our use of ICT in education?

I was very impressed by the services offered to educational institutions. The laptop provided to primary school teachers and the four computers in primary school classrooms reflect the obvious commitment that your government has to eLearning.

Also the broadband connection available throughout the island means that your schools can participate in advanced technological projects involving video conferencing with other schools in Europe.

I also liked your model of training peripatetic teachers to act as animators for using ICT in schools. This is a very good use of resources and also means that innovative ideas and approaches are quickly spread.

I know there is the controversial question of the strong filters on internet sites in schools. This is a difficult problem for many countries and each country has to find its own satisfactory answers, which satisfy the need for protection on one hand with the need for knowledge on the other.

Finally I really enjoyed my visit to your beautiful island, and I leave with an impression of a set of educationalists who are very committed to both teaching and learning. I felt that they were very open to the new opportunities that ICT can offer to broadening educational horizons in a world that will be more and more predominated by eLearning.