Ever feel like the education system is kind of like stuck
on a merry-go-round?
Yeah, yeah, I see what you mean.
Like one minute it's all about new math, then damn,
tablets in every classroom makes your head spin.
It's definitely a field that never sits still,
that's for sure.
Right, so are we actually getting anywhere?
Yeah.
Or just spinning in circles?
That feeling you mentioned, that constant change,
actually it highlights something crucial about education.
Okay, I'll listen to you.
It's not a simple problem to solve, you know?
It's this whole intricate system,
gotta be understood on a deeper level.
Deeper level.
Okay, now you've got me curious.
So, today's deep dive,
we're gonna explore this idea of education
as a wicked technology.
Wicked technology?
Sounds like something out of sci-fi.
Robots teaching algebra.
Not quite robots, but closer than you might think.
Okay, now I really wanna hear more, lay it on me.
So, wicked problems, they're not so much about
right or wrong answers, it's more about
navigating these systems, tons of interconnected challenges.
So, instead of trying to fix education
like it's a broken toaster,
we need to think of it more like, what, a whole ecosystem?
You got it.
Like a delicate balance, you mess with one part.
Exactly, changes can have ripple effects
throughout the whole system.
Okay, that makes sense.
Think about the shift from just memorizing stuff
to deeper learning.
Deeper learning, huh?
So, not just what we teach,
but how we understand learning itself.
Exactly, it's a whole different way of looking at it,
not just absorbing info.
Instead of just cramming dates in formulas,
you're learning to like, think for yourself,
solve problems, actually use what you learn.
Exactly, making connections, not just memorizing.
Okay, that makes a lot more sense.
Especially in this fast-paced world.
Absolutely.
But how does this all connect to education
being a technology?
That part still kinda throws me.
That's where things get really interesting.
You see this chapter, it argues that education,
it's not just art, not just science.
Right, it's always felt like more than one thing.
It's both, and more.
It's a soft technology, constantly evolving.
Okay, I'm with you on that,
but how does thinking of it as a technology
change how we, I don't know, approach it?
It helps us understand how it ticks, you know?
Like the underlying mechanics.
Okay, so kinda like under the hood.
Yeah, this chapter,
it highlights these key characteristics
of education as a technology,
and once we get those,
we start to see why those quick fixes,
they often fall short.
All right, you've got me hooked.
Let's hear these characteristics.
So first off, just like any technology education,
it's driven by human needs, right?
Makes sense.
And those needs, they don't stay put,
they keep evolving.
Absolutely.
What we needed to know 100 years ago
is totally different from today.
Right, like knowing how to balance a checkbook,
probably not top priority anymore.
Ha ha, yeah, maybe some coding skills
would be more useful these days.
Exactly.
Just like any tech,
education has to adapt to these new needs.
Adapt or become obsolete, kinda like.
Exactly, and just like technologies adapt,
education has to as well,
because like any technology,
it's based on natural phenomena.
Natural phenomena, okay, you're losing me a bit.
Think of it like this.
Education, it's rooted in the science
of how our brains learn best.
Oh, okay, so like the actual biology of learning.
Yeah, and we're always learning new things
about the brain, right?
How it works, how we learn.
Absolutely, it's like a whole new frontier of discovery.
Exactly, and every new discovery,
it kinda shakes things up.
Makes you rethink what you thought you knew.
Exactly, like we learn about neuroplasticity
or how important social emotional learning is.
It's not just about cramming facts in there anymore.
It challenges us to rethink how we teach,
how we even measure if someone's learned something.
It's kinda like how technology evolves outside of school too,
right? Exactly.
They've gone from those giant computers to smartphones.
Right, and each step along the way,
it's building on what came before.
So we're not just playing catch up,
it's more like constant improvement.
You got it, and speaking of building,
another big thing is that education
is both modular and recursive.
Uh-huh, modular and recursive.
Time for a quick vocab lesson maybe.
Uh-huh, sure, think of it like building blocks, right?
You got your classrooms, curriculum, lesson plans,
those are the modules.
Okay, so you can mix and match, create
different learning experiences.
Exactly, but here's the recursive part.
Even a tiny change to one module,
it can ripple through the whole system.
Wow, so even something as simple as like,
how long recesses could impact a child's learning
in other subjects.
Exactly, there's more and more research showing
how important physical activity and just free play are
for boosting academic performance.
That's pretty amazing.
It really is all connected, huh?
It really is.
Okay, so we've talked about how education
is driven by our needs, grounded in how our brains learn,
and made up of these interconnected parts.
Right.
What else makes it so rickety complex?
This next part is key.
Technology, it shapes not just what we think,
but how we think.
In education, it's no different.
Ooh, okay, give me an example.
Let's say digital devices in classrooms, right?
It's not just about giving every kid a tablet,
it's about really getting how those devices
change the whole learning game.
You mean like kids today,
they've got information at their fingertips constantly.
Yes.
But it's even bigger than that.
It's about how these digital tools,
they can help kids collaborate, solve problems,
get creative.
In ways that we couldn't have even imagined before.
Exactly, we're talking about changing
the entire learning process itself.
So it's not just about the content,
but the way technology changes how we learn.
Right, and we gotta really pay attention
to those changes, the good and the maybe not so good,
because they have a huge impact
on how we design effective learning.
Okay, I'm with you.
Now, you mentioned this chapter talks about
several characteristics of education as technology.
What else should we keep in mind?
This next one's about how some educational ideas,
they spread like wildfire while others just, you know,
fizzle out.
So stick some don't.
And it's not always about which idea
is actually better on paper.
Okay, so why do some ideas take root
while others just never catch on?
It's all about context.
Think about mobile phones, right?
Those first clunky ones.
Oh yeah, nobody was exactly lining up for those.
Right, but when they became the way
to get in touch with your kids, boom, mass adoption.
Because the need was there,
even if the tech wasn't perfect.
Exactly, same goes for education,
for any new approach to work,
educators have to get the context.
What are the needs right now?
What might get in the way?
Right, having a good idea isn't enough.
It's gotta fit into the bigger picture.
Exactly, it's more about understanding
the whole ecosystem.
So we can see if an ideal will thrive
or just wither away.
You got it.
And that's precisely why thinking about education
as this wicked technology,
it requires us to shift our thinking
how we solve problems.
Okay, I'm totally seeing why we can't treat education
like a simple equation.
It's so much more than that.
But if there's no one answer, what are we supposed to do?
How do we even design solutions
in this ever-changing landscape?
That is the million dollar question
and that's exactly what we'll be diving into next.
Okay, so we've got education
as this complex, always evolving technology.
But if there's no instruction manual,
how do we even begin to navigate this wicked landscape?
Give me some practical advice here.
Well, you're in luck because this chapter
actually offers some really useful takeaways.
Like how to approach education
as this technology we've been talking about.
Okay, I'm so ready for this, lay it on me.
All right, so takeaway number one, embrace diversity.
Diversity, okay, so like in the classroom,
different teaching styles.
Yeah, all of that and more.
You see, when we're dealing with a wicked system,
there's just no way, no single solution
that's gonna work for absolutely everyone.
Right, like trying to find one meal
that every single person on earth will love,
not gonna happen.
Exactly, so instead of trying to find
that one perfect answer, which doesn't exist,
we need approaches that give us more choices,
more flexibility.
It's about creating a system
where more people benefit,
even if it's not perfectly equal for absolutely everyone.
Okay, so diversity of thought,
diversity of approach, got it.
That's takeaway number one, what's next?
Think big, act local.
Ooh, I like that.
That's both practical and kind of profound.
How do we balance those two things?
It's about recognizing that, yeah,
some goals of education are universal.
Like we want kids to think critically,
to be able to work together, communicate effectively.
Right, those are good goals.
But how we get there, that needs to be adaptable.
A small rural school with limited resources
is gonna have different needs
than a big, well-funded school in a city.
So you take those big ideas,
but you tailor them to each community.
Exactly, that local knowledge knowing the challenges
and what's possible in your own backyard,
that's super valuable.
That makes a lot of sense.
Okay, Hibbe with takeaway number three.
How do we get away from this idea
that education is like this straight line?
You know, like we're always just prepping kids
for the next test, the next grade,
instead of actually learning.
It's a really good point.
And the chapter actually talks about that directly.
It says we need to ditch the linear, embrace the cycle.
Okay, love the sound of that, tell me more.
So it's about realizing that education
isn't about checking boxes or getting to some finish line.
It's an ongoing process, always observing, reflecting,
experimenting, refining, it's a cycle.
Always evolving, just like that technology of education,
we talked about.
Exactly, we don't expect our smart cones
to be the be all and end all of mobile phones, right?
Right, they're always coming out with new ones.
They're constantly evolving, getting better.
So we should think of education the same way.
It's an ongoing experiment, always a work in progress.
Exactly, when we let go of needing that one right answer,
it frees us up to be more creative, more responsive,
and ultimately more effective in helping our students thrive.
This is giving me so much to think about,
not just how we design education systems,
but also how we approach our own learning.
It's about embracing the journey, not just the destination,
but how do we actually put this into practice?
How do we move beyond the theory
and actually make things better?
That is the question, right?
And this is where it gets really interesting.
It goes back to the very beginnings of technology,
like the earliest tools humans ever created.
Oh wow, okay, prehistoric school time, I'm ready.
Imagine early humans, right?
They had some pretty immediate needs,
food, shelter, staying safe.
Survival mode.
Exactly, when they invented something like,
let's say, a stone axe, it wasn't about some abstract goal,
it was about solving a real problem right then and there,
and they used whatever they could get their hands on.
It was all about practicality.
Exactly, and here's the thing,
those early technologies,
they didn't just stay the same, right?
They were constantly refined, adapted, improved,
as humans faced new challenges,
as they discovered new possibilities.
So instead of looking for the right answer in education,
we should be focused on constantly making things better,
being open to new information.
Yes, think about literacy, for example.
The way we teach kids to read today
is completely different from 100 years ago.
Oh, absolutely, no more memorizing Dickens for hours on end.
Thank goodness.
Right, and that's because our understanding
of how kids learn to read, it's evolved,
and so have our methods.
It's like this constant dance between new information
and adapting how we do things.
Exactly, and it's not just literacy, it's everything.
Classroom design, how we assess what kids know,
we could constantly be asking,
how can we improve this?
What have we learned that can make this better?
Okay, I'm really seeing the potential here.
This mindset of constant improvement,
always looking for ways to make education more effective.
But this wicked problem thing,
it means they're always gonna be trade-offs, right?
We're never gonna find a solution
that works perfectly for every single student.
That's true, but remember what we talked about before,
embracing diversity, part of that is recognizing
those trade-offs and still trying to create a system
where more people benefit,
even if it's not perfectly equitable for absolutely everyone.
So it's about finding that sweet spot,
striving for improvement,
but also accepting that there are gonna be limitations.
Exactly, it's about being okay with complexity
and understanding that the work of education
is never really done.
And that's why this idea of education
as a technology is so powerful.
It lets us approach these challenges
with a sense of purpose,
but also a healthy dose of humility.
We're not dealing with equations here,
we're dealing with people.
Exactly, and that's what makes this work so important
and so hopeful.
I love that.
Okay, so if we had to pick one big takeaway
from all of this, what would it be?
If education is something we create,
not a problem to solve,
what responsibility do we each have
in shaping what it looks like in the future?
Wow, that is a powerful question.
It's a call to action for all of us, right?
Not just policymakers or educators,
but everyone has a role to play
in shaping the future of education.
Exactly, and that's the beauty of a conversation like this.
It helps us understand the complexities,
but it also hopefully sparks some aha moments
that inspire us to think differently
and maybe even make a difference.
And on that note,
we're gonna leave you with plenty to think about.
This has been an amazing deep dive
and I know I've learned a ton.
Until next time, keep those questions coming
and keep diving deep.
You know, it's funny, the more we talk about this,
the more I keep coming back to this idea
that we create education.
It's not this fixed thing.
It's something we build and shape.
That's kind of exciting when you think about it.
It is exciting.
And it reminds us that we all have a responsibility,
you know, to really think about
what we want education to be,
especially for future generations.
It's not just up to the experts, it's on all of us.
I totally agree.
Parents, mentors, community members,
even just as lifelong learners ourselves,
we're all part of this.
But where do we even start?
There's so many different ideas about education,
so many voices.
You're right, it can feel overwhelming.
This chapter, it really stresses how important it is
to get on the same page about what education is for,
you know, its purpose, especially in this day and age.
Right, like if we can't agree on the why behind it all.
Exactly.
It's gonna be tough to figure out the how, right?
And this is actually where that whole technology analogy,
it really clicks.
Like we design technologies for a reason
to meet needs, solve problems.
Right, they're tools.
Exactly.
We need that same clarity with education.
What are we aiming for?
Are we getting students ready for jobs,
for being active citizens,
for just living a fulfilling life?
I'd imagine it's probably a mix of all of those things, right?
Probably, but how much we emphasize each one,
that's gonna shape everything, what we teach,
how we measure learning,
even how the school day is structured.
So first things first, define the goals, then what?
Okay, so we have our shared vision, right?
Now we can look at what we've gotta work with,
all the tools, the methods,
just like with any technology we gotta evaluate,
what are the strengths, the weaknesses,
and most importantly,
do they fit with those goals we talked about?
Don't just jump on the latest trend.
Exactly.
It's not about chasing fads,
it's about choosing what actually works, what makes sense.
Which is easier said than done.
There's so much happening in education,
it's hard to know what's really gonna make a difference
and what's just flashing the pan.
For sure.
And that's where being a little skeptical is a good thing.
Ask the tough questions.
Is there proof this new approach works?
Are there any downsides we haven't thought about?
We've gotta be savvy, right?
Like informed consumers, but for education.
Yes.
And that takes us right back to this idea
of education as a wicked technology.
It's messy, there's no one right answer.
But when we accept that,
when we're willing to constantly learn and adapt.
Right, be open to new information.
We can create educational experiences
that really make a difference for every student.
That's what it's all about.
So for our listeners out there,
if they're ready to dive in, embrace this challenge,
what's one thing they can do today
to start thinking about education differently?
You know, it might sound simple, but ask questions.
Talk to teachers, to students, parents, everyone involved.
What's working, what's not?
What can we imagine together?
Because the future of education, it depends on all of us.
Our wisdom, our creativity, our dedication
to making things better.
Couldn't have said better myself.
This has been an amazing conversation.
It's a good reminder that we're all in this together.
And by really understanding education,
especially all the messy parts,
we can make it better for everyone.
So keep those conversations going,
keep asking questions, and most importantly, keep learning.
That's all from us for this Deep Drive.
Until next time.