Higher Ed Leaders Respond to the Digital Transformation of Education

Colleges and universities must continue to embrace technology and new ways of teaching if they hope to engage students, said a group of education experts at a recent conference in New York.

The Higher Ed Leaders Forum, held on June 20 and 21, brought together members of the higher ed and K–12 communities for a panel discussion entitled “The Digital Future of Education.”

Panelists, who included James E. Ryan, the dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, said students’ shorter attention spans and increasing dependence on their smartphones are having an impact on education. An article on MeriTalk dives into the issue:

Students are now accustomed to a certain level of technology, and have those expectations in the classroom.

 

Ryan believes a successful transformation to a digital classroom involves more interaction, conversation, problem-based lessons, and project-based learning.

 

“When students come to a physical space… they should be engaged and doing something that’s difficult to do online,” said Ryan.

Panelist John Palfrey, the head of school at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, added that makerspaces give students the sorts of learning opportunities they can’t get online.

“It’s been really effective as a space to change things up a bit and get kids using their hands and thinking differently,” he said.

Catch more of the discussion about The Digital Future of Education by watching The New York Times video below.