The Seven Ages of Computers in Education
Abstract: This talk is a light-hearted look at e-maturity models and other models of integrating computers into teaching and learning. It takes its inspiration from Shakespeare's "Seven ages of Man" and shows the relevance of the Bard in the digital age. We begin with the infant. How do we nurture new implementations? How do we deal with the "whining schoolboy" in our institutions who are reluctant adopters? How do we encourage the lovers, and what do we do when they get over enthusiastic? What are the strategies of the soldier, and how do we preserve our honor among the quick quarrels that occur during our implementations? How do we evaluate like the justice, and what are the 'wise saws and modern instances' that we tap into? Then, when our equipment gets old and our innovation stale, how do we retire "into the lean and slippered pantaloon"? Finally, is "Second childishness and mere oblivion" necessarily a negative quality? Once we have successfully implemented, should the technology not be transparent? Should we not be "oblivious" to it? And is second childishness not actually a call for the next innovation? Essentially this talk grapples with all the issues to consider in the successful implementation of technology into education, and will provide a number of case studies to support the argument.