The image above is the "hole in the wall" that was created by Dr. Sugata Mitra in India. Dr. Mitra simply placed a computer in the outside wall of his office, and allowed anyone to use it. This was significant because his office is located in a slum in India with some of the worst living conditions in the world. He deliberately placed the computer at the eye level of children so they could access it. What happened there, and later in several other locations in India, exceeded his expectations. Kids were able to figure out how to use the computer in just a few hours, even though they had never seen one before, and lived in a place with no modern conveniences. Soon the children were teaching each other, even helping one another learn to read. After seeing this happen again and again, Mitra created new learning centers called SOLEs, meaning self organized learning environments. Each SOLE is a desk with a computer that is large enough for 3-4 children to work together. Children are asked a big, complex question and then left on their own to find the answers. As the children worked, Mitra realized they needed just a little encouragement, so he created "Granny in the Cloud." Volunteers talk to the children via Skype, on a large monitor on the wall. These "Grannies" just tell the children they can do it and prompt them to keep working on the problem. Mitra described these experiments in 2010 in a TED Talk:
Encouraged by these results, Mitra has now created a "School in a Cloud" to bring his idea of minimally invasive education to more children. He has also created a SOLE Toolkit for parents and educators who want to create similar programs in their homes or schools.
Dr. Mitra recognized that the Internet has changed everything. Teachers are no longer the purveyors of knowledge. Children can learn whatever they want, whenever they want, if they have access to the web. If you doubt a child's ability to learn and engage digitally, just watch a one-year-old with an iPad or smart phone. At about 15-18 months, toddlers are able to open apps and engage in games and content. If our digital natives are to benefit from schools, it is time we redesign learning environments and learning activities. Schools must require children to become responsible for their own learning and provide the tools necessary for them to do so. A minimally invasive and personalized approach is needed to move education into the information age.
Dr. Mitra recognized that the Internet has changed everything. Teachers are no longer the purveyors of knowledge. Children can learn whatever they want, whenever they want, if they have access to the web. If you doubt a child's ability to learn and engage digitally, just watch a one-year-old with an iPad or smart phone. At about 15-18 months, toddlers are able to open apps and engage in games and content. If our digital natives are to benefit from schools, it is time we redesign learning environments and learning activities. Schools must require children to become responsible for their own learning and provide the tools necessary for them to do so. A minimally invasive and personalized approach is needed to move education into the information age.
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