Thing 1

I just finished re-reading a sci-fi that came out when I was in college, Enders Game written in 1977 by Orson Scottt Card. The students desks in this futuristic war novel are described as digital, portable, connected to both instructors and students as a touch screen type all-in-one learning center. This appealed to me because it seems simple, like the slate and chalk of 100 years ago.

But now, after viewing and reading about digital learners in 2010 (Thing 1), I wonder how the back to school student supplies list will read in the near future years. Seems like traditional pencils and notebooks will be replaced by a variety of digital tools plus all those accessories. Not that I object; they are all wonderful in their own way, but I do not yet find them to be cohesive, integrated and easy to use in an educational setting.

I believe that education should be an equalizer not a separator of social class. I can't assume that students of the future will be less likely to lose, drop or forget their digital supplies. I'm concerned that the personal cost to student, parent, teacher as well as costs to public educational budgets will now really create a social gap between the haves and have nots.

I think the technology will become less complex but that it will be some time before digital learning is streamlined to a simple and affordable all-in-one system for both learner and teacher. I wonder, will it happen in my teaching lifetime?