Augmented workers but effective?

Jay Cross discusses how quickley technology is changing the rules of learning in his article on The augmented worker.

One aspect of that change is that students are allowed much more freedom to consult external resources duringthe course of evaluation as opposed to the rote memorization required in the past.

"The real-world strengths of intelligent surfing and analysis, some educators argue, are now just as important as rote memorization. The old rules still reign in most places, but an increasing number of schools are adjusting them. This includes not only letting kids use the Internet during tests, but in the most extreme cases, allowing them to text message notes or beam each other definitions on vocabulary drills. Schools say they in no way consider this cheating because they’re explicitly changing the rules to allow it.

These uses of technology are part of a broader shift in academic rules that has been underway for several years. Educators say the concept of “collaborative learning,” which has students working in groups and essentially answering test questions or tackling assignments for each other, continues to gain currency. Its proponents say it can help teach group skills and critical thinking."

I applaud the pragmatic approach of allowing learners to consult whatever resources are available during the course of evaluation. I am concerned though that teachers, educators, etc. do not require learners to learn enough of a topic to gain understanding, and the ability to critically analyze the subject which is a different level of knowledge altogether.

The impact of this deficiency has grave consequences for business and civic life in America in my opinion.

technorati: education