Pamela McLean - background of a learner August 29, 2010

My thoughts about the education system in the 21st century are from the viewpoint of a life-long-learner and self-directed-student, rather than an academic or a practicing classroom teacher. Before I join in any debate about computers in the education system I'll outline my relevant learning experiences.

I learned about computers, computing and other relevant topics during my studies at undergraduate level with the UK Open University.
 
I started learning about computers in schools, in a practical way, back when the first “microcomputers” began to arrive in the UK - before they were formally brought into primary schools by the government. At that time I was an infant teacher in a small rural school in Cornwall. It was before the National Curriculum and we had enormous freedom to be experimental and innovative - given the permission of the head. I was active in MUSE and MAPE - two organisations set up, by teachers for teachers, to explore practical and theoretical issues around computers and their relevance to schools. (MUSE had a secondary school emphasis, and MAPE was for primary schools.)

I was out of the school system for some time. I was part of it again briefly around the time that the Internet was making an impact on the use of computers in schools. My time out of the school system included work which was relevant to education/training and/or computers/Internet - but was too varied and fragmented to describe in detail here.

For the past ten years I have been using the Internet to study issues related to non-formal education, international development, and the use of ICT in education and development. (During part of that time I did intermittent work as a supply teacher, as one of my "day jobs", so I learned some more about how computers were being used in schools, by teachers and pupils.) This interest in ICT4Education and Development is both theoretical and practical. It came about because (through Nigerian friends) I got involved in some local development projects in Nigeria. Living in the UK I had to keep in touch via the Internet. I also had to use the Internet for my own background learning about development and other contextual issues. Naturally all that I am learning now is connected in my mind with what I have previously learned, way back to the early days of computers in schools.

I am not really interested in the technology, other than the fact that it is the enabler. (I appreciate it, just like I appreciate my kettle and washing machine - to help me do the job in hand - but not to use for the sake of using it.) I am more interested in the social dynamics and information flows related to the use of computers in education.  I am intrigued. for instance, by the changing roles of teachers and learners because of their changing relationships with information and knowledge.

These varied  learning experiences inform the opinions and comments I may make here later about education in the 21st century, in response to Learning to Change-Changing to Learn or other topics.

Pamela McLean
UK-Africa Connections
Dadamac Limited
Email pamela.mclean@dadamac.net
Twitter @Pamela_McLean and #dadamac
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