A Link to the Future

1. A Link to the Future Where is Education Going with Technology?

2. Emerging Technologies • Networking • Visualization • Human-to-Computer Interfaces • Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent CAI • Innovative Equipment

3. Networking • Increased Capability and Use of Home Systems • Higher-speed Connections • Rewiring of Educational Facilities • Wireless Communication • Collaboration at different physical sites • Changing definitions of distance education

4. Innovative Equipment • Wearable systems: small displays that fit over one eye or glasses that provide a “heads-up” similar to military fighter pilots, hip pocket CPU and storage, data gloves, voice recognition and audio feedback • E-books (electronic books): children could connect to libraries from anywhere and the downloaded text could delete itself at the end of the loan period • Handheld devices for GPS (global positioning systems) on clothing could locate a missing child

5. Visualization • Virtual environments & field trips • Use of avatars: An Avatar is any Web3D object, humanoid or not, that is designed to represent a visitor to Web3D multiuser environment. • Models as learning data • Freedom for handicapped learners: can practice skills in private, controlled environments

6. Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent CAI • Expert systems: computerize human expertise into a narrow field of knowledge, then acts like an advisor to offer suggestions to aid user’s decision making • Coaches: used in word-processing & spreadsheets that step you through developing a document; used in tutorials, simulations, and problem-solving packages • Student performance feedback: integrate the accumulated knowledge of a subject area for testing

7. Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent CAI • Intelligent agents: do various jobs for students and learn by observing a user’s actions and noting patterns of behavior to provide articles when searching databases and archives • ICAI: intelligent computer assisted instruction monitors and creates a profile for each student and tailors instruction to it • Personal tutoring systems and critical-thinking skills: helps student develop their own expert systems as a learning experience

8. Human-to-Computer Interfaces • Voice/audio and Voice recognition • Physical Log-in using fingerprints or eye retina scans • Email is more visual and voice-activated

9. Visions of Technology’s Role in Restructuring Education • Replacing teachers versus changing teacher roles: technology tools will empower them to teach better and use their time more productively • The role of distance education: bringing about radical restructuring of learning opportunities at all levels • Knowledge web for distributed online conferences • Virtual communities to complement classroom activities • Sensory immersion in virtual reality environments

10. Teachers’ Vision • Must have a vision of what they are working toward in their classroom and school • Recognize the kind of infrastructure necessary to bring about their vision • Be active in building growth and change • Must adopt an outlook that their pre-service preparation is only a first step in what must be a life-long exploration of ways to use technology and other resources to improve education

11. Future Skills for Teachers • Keep up with change • Learn to adopt effective strategies such as reading technical and educational publications • Attend training sessions • Peruse Internet web sites for new ideas • Keep as current as possible on the new and anticipated technologies

12. Summary • Computer hardware development will continue to outstrip software’s ability to take advantage of them: computer processors are faster, smaller and more capable, but operating systems can’t handle it as fast • Education’s response to new technologies is slower than the military and business...it is a long, slow process to integrate technology into instruction • Lack of access means lack of educational opportunities for many families in this nation.