Challenge 4: Learning for the future (9th December 2010)

Connections, Clouds, Things, and Analytics


Abstract

The random connections that produce innovations and new insights are increasingly abundant in open, technologically-mediated environments. As data moves into the cloud - and our interactions with that data follow - openness becomes an important requirement for learning and knowledge growth. Cloud-based, open data, when coupled with physical-world data through the "internet of things", provides a rich source of learning and knowledge analytics. Through analytics, educators and organizations are better able to see the often invisible social and information-exchange networks that underpin interaction within organizations. Taken together, clouds, openness, things, and analytics offer an interesting glimpse into learning and knowledge development in a connected world. What is less clear is how these developments will influence higher education. This session will explore the potential systemic impact of technological-driven changes in knowledge generation and address the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education."

Keynote Speaker:

George Siemens is writer, speaker, and researcher on learning, networks, technology, analytics and visualization, openness, and organizational effectiveness in digital environments. He is the author of Knowing Knowledge, an exploration of how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed and what it means to organizations today, and the Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning. Siemens is currently a researcher and strategist with the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute at Athabasca University. Previously, he was the Associate Director, Research and Development, with the Learning Technologies Centre at University of Manitoba.
Together with Stephen Downes and Dave Cormier, Siemens has pioneered open connectivist courses that have included thousands of educators and students as participants. He is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences detailing the influence of technology and media on education, organizations, and society, having presented at over 200 conferences in more than 30 countries. His work has been profiled in provincial, national, and international newspapers, radio, and television. Siemens has maintained the elearnspace blog for ten years and www.connectivism.ca for five years.. Additional background information is available at www.elearnspace.org/about.htm

Key questions:
• How might universities adapt to socio-political and technological change?
• What forms of future learning scenarios will universities support?
• What emerging technologies are useful in supporting such learning scenarios?

Agenda:
11.00-11.15 SSeLF SIG launch and welcome (streamed)
11.15-12.00 SSeLF Challenge 4 presentation: George Siemens (streamed)
12.00-12.15 questions (streamed)
12.15-13.30 lunch break
13.30-14.30 Interactive session (facilitated by George Siemens)
14.30-15.00 SSeLF plenary and close
15.00-16.00 SSeLF SIG meeting (everyone welcome)

• Event outputs