Keynote presentation by Claudio Dondi at the 7th EDEN Research Workshop in Leuven

1. Is ICT actually helping the
learner to drive?
A combined
research/policy
perspective
7th EDEN Research Workshop
Leuven, 22-23 October 2012
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER
Senior Fellow of EDEN

2. 1st Issue:
Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
The learner at the centre
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
 Who disagrees?
 How far is reality from this principle?
 Have institutional education systems progressed in the last
ten years?
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

3. 2nd Issue:
Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
ICT can help (we all agree)
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
 So why hasn’t it happened yet?
 Wrong technology?
 Wrong way to use ICT?
 Curriculum constraints?
 Lack of competences?
 Need to gradually adapt institutional systems to major changes
seen as necessary?
 No real intention to change?
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

4. Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
What does research say? (1/3)
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
How can ICT contribute to learner’s emancipation?
(Noss, 2012 – TEL Research Programme UK)
1. Connect 7. Engage
2. Share 8. (Streamline)
3. (Analyse) 9. (Include)
4. Assess 10. Know
5. Apply 11. Compute
6. Personalise 12. Construct
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

5. Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
What does research say? (2/3)
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
How can ICT contribute to learner’s emancipation?
(Visir 2012 – Vision Report)
1. Access to contents 7. Peer support/expert
2. Supporting the learning of support
competences (processes) 8. Self-assessment and
3. Opening up learning documentation of learning
context achievement
4. Active learning process 9. Responsabilisation and
5. Ubiquitous learning access ownership of learning
6. Learning communities 10. Learning quality awareness
by learners
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

6. Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
What does research say? (3/3)
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
How can ICT contribute to learner’s emancipation?
(STELLAR NoE, 2012 – Dephi studi tensions)
1. Data tracking for personalised learning vs. Data Privacy
2. Digital divide despite technology spread
3. Ubiquitous Learning Opportunities vs. Focused and Critical
Processing of Information
4. Established practices vs. continuous innovation in the
classroom
5. Individual Learning Paths vs. Standardised Learning Paths
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

7. Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
Some policy dilemmas
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
 Is it realistic to change institutional education from inside?
 Is it possible to bring innovative practices from informal
learning into formal education?
 Isn’t flexibility a possible path towards de-responsabilisation
of the state/collectivity towards public education?
 What about learners who need more support?
 Is ICT a significant contributor to cost-effectiveness in public
education?
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

8. Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
Towards polarisation?
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
 Credentialised vs. uncertified learning outcomes
 Regulated curricula vs. self-managed paths
 Teacher supported vs. peer supported learning
A B
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

9. What does polarisation
Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
mean in term of…
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
 Social equity?
 Economics of education?
 Evolution/survival of present education institutions?
 Emergence of new learning support professions?
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

10. Can we bring learners to driving
Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
seat while avoiding polarisation?
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
A few conditions:
 Full awareness of the relevance of challenge by education
institutions
 Renewed articulation of the aims of education: a policy task
to be conducted in a participative multi-stakeholder approach
 Research support to facilitate a delicate transition phase –
system view required!
 Full awareness and competence of individuals as learning
citizens
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012

11. But remember:
Is ICT actually helping the learner to drive? - A combined research/policy perspective
ICT differentiation and personalisation
of supply are so needed!
Claudio Dondi, SCIENTER – Senior Fellow of EDEN
(and do not necessarily lead to
polarisation)
Thank you!
cdondi@scienter.org
http://visir-network.eu/
Claudio Dondi, President of SCIENTER 7th Eden Research Workshop – Leuven 22-23 October 2012