The Secret Power of Time

Another fascinating RSAnimate video talking about the revolution in time taking place, particularly for the younger generation affected by digital technology. Professor Philip Zimbardo implies that this is having a profound impact on boys, who spend a disproportionate amount of time in front of games consoles and affects their interest in schooling which appears 'analogue'. The question for us educators is whether we can we ever return to a traditional method of getting students to focus on writing, reading and arithmetic using conventional methods? How then should schools work around the use of computers and emerging technology to engage students? Less subjects? More independent learning with access to computers?

I have forgotten the reference but a colleague was telling me about an educational experiment in which students were asked to follow a course online and they then came in voluntarily to lessons to be supported by teachers with understanding their homework/independent assignments. Schools could allocate far more time to independent study in order to develop self-management (to use a PLTS term!) or even expect that homework is completed during curriculum periods allocated for independent study.