Never mind the technology, where’s the learning?

In a recent Teacher’s TV programme, Steve O’Hear called himself a ‘digital evangelist’, which set me thinking at to what ‘tag’ I could give myself that would adequately describe the life of an independent educational ICT consultant. I was pretty sure that ‘evangelist’ was not the word to use. While enthusiastic and committed, I hope I’m not evangelical about the use of ICT in education.

Then this morning, I was thinking that is was about 25 years since I first used a computer in the classroom and about the journey from there to here. Over the years it’s been a journey in understanding how ICT (as we call it now) might improve learning, ideas and concepts have come and gone, many never fulfilling their potential, but the basic premise that this technology can provide better experiences for learners has always been there. Of course, the journey is never ending and the modes of transport to ‘hitch a ride’ with become sleeker and easy to drive for some, while for others harder to climb aboard. Sometimes you are the expert, but not for very long, but one thing’s for sure, you’re always learning from other travellers. With this thought in mind, I likened myself to an American hobo. Like the men who rode on the railroad seeking work following the industrialisation of America, they too were the products of a revolution. The hobo laid and repaired railroad track, harvested wheat, cut down trees, mined for gold, herded cattle, built bridges and then moved on. Riding the train became an art form and a matter of survival. A hobo’s life depended upon knowing how to correctly board a train and ride on it, in it, or under it. Most of all, as Steam Train Maury, a 19th century hobo was often quoted as saying:

“A hobo is a man of the world, who travels to see and observe and then shares those views with others.”

I count myself so lucky to be a ‘digital hobo’.