Text: The wording of anything written or printed; the structure formed by the words in their order; the very words, phrases, and sentences as written (OED)
Institute: A society or organization instituted to promote some literary, scientific, artistic, professional, or educational object; also, the building in which the work of such a society is carried on (OED)
Digital (later use): Of signals, information, or data: represented by a series of discrete values (commonly the numbers 0 and 1), typically for electronic storage or processing, ex: a digital program (OED)
Goal: Educational institutions should be treated like a digital text that is to be read for its informative, interactive value. Such spaces promote open learning, creative communication, and innovative engineering. In such environments, students will be encouraged to share information, including the lessons and knowledge they are currently being taught. So, for instance, in such environments the mathematics department will blend its research with other departments effortlessly, seeing purpose to developing cross-disciplinary research. ‘”Majors,” or individual, pre-structured programs will work with other disciplines to connect their interests in meaningful ways. Ideally, technology simplifies logistics, improving the costs of time, material, and space, and allows projects to be carried out without many difficulties. Educational institutes that allow for digital technology to structure their environments will benefit from the ease of reading (interacting) with these environments.
Here are some benefits:
- Lowing the cost of education by improving logistics using digital technology (the long-term costs would balance out the short-term costs)
- *Promotion of interdisciplinary learning environment; cross-discipline collaboration; a heterogeneous educational space
- Providing goods and services effortlessly (the software is already there; the platform is ready to be used; washing our hands of logistic problems)
- Training students to use digital technology with ease. Not punishing them for it (such as lowering their grade if they cannot use such a program. Some universities punish students for not using the technology correctly. Allowing students to develop a meaningful relationship with digital technology at their own speed is crucial. Accessibility is crucial.
- *Promoting open educational environments everywhere. Access to education is not limited to a physical space. Students learn on and off campus. The breakdown of such structures, with all their social codes, rules, and regulations, allows for students from different countries, education levels, and educational styles to maximize the benefit of their education.
- Promotes distance education (not limiting, once again, students access, despite their age, capabilities, or financial situation)
- Creating new jobs for students, professors, educators, and academic staff alike. Digital education creates new jobs.
- Allowing more meaningful interaction between students and educators
- Can be applied to all disciplines, from the humanities, sciences, engineering, and other types of professions
- Developing new ways to strategize a solution to a problem or project
- *Students can ‘engineer’ or ‘design’ their education to fit their immediate needs
- Students can re-design their education to fit their needs
- Promotes both individual and group education
- Promotes creative thought
*key point
As a digital text, the educational institute can flourish from its open access to knowledge.
Three main benefits to keep in mind:
1) Improving logistics
2) Inspiring Innovation
3) Attending to everyone’s particular needs
The Frontier of Education
Works Cited:
“institute, n.1”. OED Online. June 2012. Oxford University Press. 15 July 2012
<http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/97104?rskey=zVn6fX&result=1&isAdvanced=false>.
“digital, n. and adj.”. OED Online. June 2012. Oxford University Press. 15 July 2012
<http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/52611?redirectedFrom=digital>.
“text, n.1”. OED Online. June 2012. Oxford University Press. 15 July 2012
<http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/200002?rskey=Ag1QFU&result=1&isAdvanced=false>.