Grown Up Digital
Last night I had the opportunity to attend a webinar with Dan Tapscott, author of Wikinomics and Grown Up Digital (hosted by Discovery Education). This was the first I had heard of Tapscott and I was intrigued by his message. His latest book, Grown Up Digital, is the result of a $4.5 million dollar study of the Net Generation (those aged 12 – 30). This generation is transforming the way the world works. Through their innovation and collaboration, the world is changing the way things are done (except for education). I firmly believe every administrator and decision maker in education needs to pay heed.
Tapscott states that the traditional broadcast model of education (I teach, you listen and take notes) is no longer working. Education needs to be customized to a more interactive and collaborative model. This makes sense, after all the studies looking at the way people learn, we still teach to the auditory and visual learners. What about those who learn by doing? Students today listen to a lecture, takes notes (maybe) and memorize enough to pass a test. This isn’t truly learning. It is memorization.
Arne Duncan, our new Secretary of Education, proposes “flipping” NCLB – perhaps he should read Tapscotts books first. How about truly revamping education?
