PewInternet.org

The new education ecology

Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet Project11.9.11 – Sloan ConsortiumOrlandoEmail: Lrainie@pewinternet.orgTwitter: @Lrainie

Anti-executive summary

• Which textbook company stocks to buy or dump? (Who’ll do the e-books thing best?)

• Are students’ attention spans shorter now?• Are students more narcissistic and more

indifferent to privacy?• “Bye, Bye Birdie” questions ????

(Or… Questions I cannot answer)

Broadband facilitates networked information

Social media aids peer-to-peer learning by doing

Mobile connectivity alters learning venues and expectations

New kinds of learners emerge

Digital Revolution 1Internet (95% teens/78% adults)

Broadband at home (82% teens/62% adults)

Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, April 26-May 22, 2011 Tracking Survey. N=2,277 adults 18 and older, including 755 reached via cell phone.

Networked creators among internet users• 65% are social networking site users• 55% share photos• 37% contribute rankings and ratings• 33% create content tags • 30% share personal creations • 26% post comments on sites and blogs• 15% have personal website• 15% are content remixers • 14% are bloggers• 13% use Twitter• 6% location services – 9% allow location awareness

from social media – 23% mapping services

Broadband facilitates networked information

Links and multimedia

Self-paced learning

Analytics

Pervasivemedia

Digital Revolution 2Social networking – 50% of all adults

Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, April 26-May 22, 2011 Tracking Survey. N=2,277 adults 18 and older, including 755 reached via cell phone.

Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, October 20-November 28, 2010 Social Networking survey.

Social media aids peer-to-peer learning by doing

Elevates DIY learning in soc.nets

Increases the role of social networks in learning

Facilitates rise of amateur experts

Changes character of soc.nets

Digital Revolution 3Mobile – 77% of teens

327.6Total U.S. population:315.5 million

35% of adults own “smartphones”

Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, April 26-May 22, 2011 Tracking Survey. N=2,277 adults 18 and older, including 755 reached via cell phone.

Digital devices Millennials

(18-34)Gen X

(35-46)

Younger Boomers

(47-56)

Older Boomers

(57-65)

Silent Generation

(66-74)

G.I. Generation

(75+)

All adults (18+)

Cell phone 94% 92% 86% 80% 69% 1% 84%Laptop computer 71% 67% 56% 46% 34% 16% 57%Desktop computer 52% 64% 62% 55% 49% 33% 55%iPod or MP3 player 69% 57% 36% 24% 10% 5% 44%Game console 63% 63% 38% 19% 8% 3% 42%e-book reader 12% 14% 14% 12% 6% 5% 12%Tablet, like iPad 14% 15% 8% 4% 3% 3% 11%

Mobile internet connectors – 63% adults

Source: Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, April 26-May 22, 2011 Tracking Survey. N=2,277 adults 18 and older, including 755 reached via cell phone.

Mobile connectivity alters learning venues and expectations

New access points to knowledge (AAA)

Real-time sharing, just-in-time searching

Augmented reality

Pervasive, perpetual awareness of soc.nets

Attention zones morph

In the midst of all this, what’s

happening with online learning?

Good newsPresidents Predict the Future of Online Learning% saying more than half of their undergraduate students have taken/will be taking an online class

Not-so-good newsPublic Views on Learning Online vs. in the Classroom

In general, do you think a course taken only online provides an equal educational value compared with a course taken in person in a classroom, or not? (%)

College presidents weigh inPresidents’ Views on Learning Online vs. in the Classroom

Generally speaking, do you believe a course taken online provides an equal educational value compared with a course taken in person in a classroom, or not? (%)

New kinds of learners emerge

More self-directedBetter arrayed to capture new info

More reliant on feedback and response

More inclined to collaboration

More oriented towards being nodes of production

What is the future of learning/knowledge?-- Shana Ratner (1997) “Emerging Issues in Learning Communities”

New: Learning as a process

Knowledge is objective and

certain

Old: Learning as transaction

Knowledge is subjective and

provisional

New: Learning as a process

Learners receive knowledge

Old: Learning as transaction

Learners create knowledge

What is the future of learning/knowledge?-- Shana Ratner (1997) “Emerging Issues in Learning Communities”

New: Learning as a process

Knowledge is organized in stable, hierarchical

structures that can be treated

independently of one another

Old: Learning as transaction

Knowledge is organized “ecologically”-disciplines are integrative and

interactive

What is the future of learning/knowledge?-- Shana Ratner (1997) “Emerging Issues in Learning Communities”

New: Learning as a process

Our “intelligence” is based on our

individual abilities

Old: Learning as transaction

Our “intelligence” is based on our

learning communities

What is the future of learning/knowledge?-- Shana Ratner (1997) “Emerging Issues in Learning Communities”

31

The future of universities?Agree or disagree? In 2020, higher education will not be much different from the way it is today. While people will be accessing more resources in classrooms through the use of large screens, teleconferencing, and personal wireless smart devices, most universities will mostly require in-person, on-campus attendance of students most of the time at courses featuring traditional lectures. Most universities’ assessment of learning and their requirements for graduation will be about the same as they are now.

…. or big change is coming?Agree or disagree? By 2020, higher education will be quite different from the way it is today. There will be mass adoption of teleconferencing and distance learning to leverage expert resources. Significant numbers of learning activities will move to individualized, just-in-time learning approaches. There will be a transition to “hybrid” classes that combine online learning components with less-frequent on-campus, in-person class meetings. Most universities’ assessment of learning will take into account more individually-oriented outcomes and capacities that are relevant to subject mastery. Requirements for graduation will be significantly shifted to customized outcomes.

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Thank you!Questions?