Autocomplicated

I didn't have an easy time thinking up what to write about this week. So instead of poring through my notes like I usually do, I decided to see what the rest of the world thought about some common topics. So in order to gauge common perception, I did what anyone else would do and used the autocomplete feature for Google searches. For my first search, I tried, “Why is school...” and, to be honest, the results weren't totally surprising.

Auto-complete search results when you search for why is school:

• Why is school important?
• Why is school so hard?
• Why is school so boring?
• Why is school so expensive?
• Why is school so long?

The next I tried was on a much more personal note. I tried, “Why are teachers...” and, save for the last results, the results were once again unsurprising.

Auto-complete search results when you search for why are teachers:

• Why are teachers important?
• Why are teachers striking in BC?
• Why are teachers so stupid?
• Why are teachers so boring?
• Why are teachers mandated reporters?

I decided to go a different route, and gave “Why is education...” a shot instead. And the results were eye-opening.

Auto-complete search results when you search for why is education:

• Why is education important?
• Why is education so important?
• Why is education important in life?
• Why is education important in developing countries?
• Why is education so expensive?

Meanwhile, all of the results for “learning should...” are variations of either be fun, or be enjoyable.

You better brace yourselves, because we're strapped in for a crash landing on a ship piloted by Captain Obvious. There is a monumental image problem that we're facing, and something as simple as search terms already illustrates this clearly.

There is a big difference between school, education, and learning. They are not supposed to be exclusive to one another, but that's what the trend seems to imply. School should be an environment, not a punishment. Education and learning should be fun and enjoyable, but apparently it isn't. I think we're really fortunate to be at such a self-reflexive point in education history. We're at a point in the midst of the technology boom and we've only recently become glaringly aware of problems apparent in school systems. Schools have existed since before the common era, and I think it's insane that it's taken this long to really get a good handle on it. We're at a point where we can talk to people on the other side of the world instantaneously. I can literally pull a phone out of my pocket, dial a number, have a signal go to outer space, meet up with a satellite, and shoot back down onto the earth, and into the ear of my compatriot. Unless I'm in Market, there are some things that those signals just can't get past.

But back to the trends. We have so many opportunities at our fingertips that I'm finding it hard to imagine that the current state of schooling will last much longer. And I think that's something very positive. I foresee a positive trend in autocomplete forms where instead of “so long,” people will ask why school is “so short.” Or maybe ask how it's so exciting.

But at the same time, I also have some hesitations. I can give someone the best hammer in the world. One with a carbon-fibre handle that conforms to your palm. A screen just above your thumb that states your velocity. Maybe have a little target at the top so you can set your sights, and a cast iron head that can smash through anything. But even with the best hammer in the world, you're never going to put anything together if you don't have any nails.

We are incredibly lucky to live at a time where technology is evolving quickly, but as teachers we're never going to improve if we don't evolve with it. Saying that something worked when you were a student is not an excuse to keep your teaching method static. Spending a day in an antique classroom was great when we were studying pioneer days, but that's not a conducive atmosphere for a 21^st century learner. Although I wouldn't object to bringing back stilts at recess, those were the bomb.

So what I'm trying to say is that we have an image problem. A public perception problem. And it's not going to go away unless we do something about it. We need to start harnessing technology and use it to its full potential. It's not enough to just use it, it's a matter of using it well.