Twenty-first Century Learning: New Ambition, New Pedagogy, New Buildings, New Opportunities

As the 21st century unfolds we can see that this first decade is already characterized by a more global world of
‘helping people to help each other’, with viral, peer to peer, agile, collaborative and creative outputs valued above the standards and conformity of the 20th century. Technology has arguably brought this about, although some would argue that the organic and collegiate world we now find ourselves in is more in line with history than the passive couch-potato world of the late 20th century.

Nevertheless, an education world of ‘helping people to help each other’ is challenging for organization, for assessment, for institutions, for teachers and learners too. In addition learning is finally, rather belatedly, going global too. The school curriculum sounds anachronistic in a world of global trading, worldwide holidays and international commerce and communication. If key institutions like universities are struggling to come to terms with this new century the learners certainly have no problems.

In his keynote, Stephen will look at all these issues in the context of the work he has been engaged in with Scottish schools.

Stephen Heppell