"We have set the center of learning in the classroom, just as surely as the astronomers following Ptolemy placed the center of the solar system within the earth. Today, a heretical group proposes to abolish that placement -- to deny the centrality of both the school building and the school calendar -- and along the way the textbook and perhaps the teacher, too. These 20th-century Copernicans want to allow the earth to move. They see learning, even fully accredited, formal, certificate-driven learning, to be possible any time and anywhere." (Bruce, 1999)
He proclaims of a breaking of walls of tradition, for learning to be more open. However, research on the successfulness of distance learning is very limited(?). Also, what defines what should be standard in the distance learning environment? You leave a place of big responsibility from the teacher over to the child when doing this environment. Most importantly if Bruce is implying of a change, he needs to realize that it is a process not something that is going to occur overnight.
"Economic forces and new technologies may together bring about a Copernican revolution in the nature of formal education, and there is ample evidence of change already." (Bruce, 1999)
Sadly, Bruce does not go into detail about this evidence of change, could be a topic of discussion in class tomorrow.
"The role of the teacher will change in dramatic ways. The lecture, already an endangered species in many contexts on pedagogical grounds, may have to be rethought entirely given the emerging technology for high-speed, low-cost delivery of video, or even virtual reality, on demand." (Bruce, 1999)
In the next few paragraphs, Bruce tries to explain that lecture of the teacher needs to be rethought due to increase of technology. With this lecture how much control does the teacher have with this influx of information.
"Schools and universities will undergo fundamental reorganizations. The lines between schools, community colleges, technical colleges, universities, museums, nature centers, and workplaces are becoming fuzzy. As more courses are offered online, students will find it easier to continue full-time work while studying. There will be less need for the local college in each community or region. How many institutions of higher learning will survive? One-half of those in operation today? One-tenth? Will students even continue to study through public institutions, or will they turn to corporations or new organizations for coursework?" (Bruce, 1999)
Is Bruce siding with the God of Economic Utility here? Are we just going to just do away with education all together just because the information is just a click away? Bruce is seeing into the future here and needs to realize that there has to be a gateway to this information and not just to sit and take in the buzz.
"Schools agree to use the computer lab 4 hours a day and let students see the advertisements that pay for the equipment. Moreover, they agree to let ZapMe! collect aggregate data on student web use and viewing preferences." (Bruce, 1999)
Here Bruce is talking about a company who donates technological items on the grounds of the above statement. How far will we go in order to have access to the right tools of information? Are we as teachers accepting of the fact what they could subject our children into.
A few word about curriculum: Bruce needs to realize that having a curriculum with this change is also a process in itself. In order for a curriculum to be created all stakeholders must be in for the writing. The more the merrier and better the curriculum. Curriculum, like change cannot be just written overnight.
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