Who Should Control Information?

I've written about the fear of the internet before. I consider this fear to be a real barrier in schools even though so many enlightened educators are using technology in effective and inspiring ways (ie..Classroom2.0!). Angela brings up a great point. To wit: "We can’t control the information. Suddenly, there are too many options. Nobody understands how to proceed safely, so we are all securing the fort in hopes of waiting out the storm."

That is the problem in a nutshell. Websites get "sonicwalled", access gets firewalled and learning gets stonewalled out of fear. At least some of this fear is that we in education don't hold the keys to the palace of information anymore. We're not, to be blunt, needed for intensive and extensive learning to occur. The game is up. The charade no longer tolerated.

Prediction: the longer and harder the resistance to change that embraces new learning paradigms, the worse off schools guilty of this resistance will be.

What's needed are new roles. New positions. I wonder what school district will hire the first Assistant Superintendent of Information Management and E-Learning.

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Comment by Dena Coots on May 8, 2008 at 8:20am: I know you posted this a while back, but I'm a bit new around here. I am very intrigued by your prediction. I also notice this same resistance to change. It is hard to give up the reins of control and learn to facilitate learning rather than be the all knowing purveyor of knowledge. With so msuch information being generated, I see educators in the future being responsible for assisting learners in wading through this overload of information toward finding vaible and accurate information. Very insightful!