Observation and Reflection on "e-Learning 2000 Conference"

E-Learning 2000 Conference was held from 25-28th May, 2000 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There were a variety of interesting papers (see http://www.e-learning2000.com.my). The conference was well attended by academia, educational institutions, corporations, IT software and hardware vendors, government agencies, etc.

In broad summary, the conference highlighted the followings:

• a) Technological advancement to support e-learning efficiently and at low costs.
• b) Current initiatives, experimentation and future trend on e-learning

From the presentation by various speakers and Question & Answer sessions, the following observations were made.

There is a prevalent mental models among speakers and the audience (in view of very little challenges from the floor), that :

• 1) Technological solutions are at hand, or nearly, for e-learning to take place. It is up to human kind to harness and make full use of it
• 2) Change is inevitable. Change will come like a tidal wave, but there are many (others) who resist change.
• 3) But change cannot be implemented because people (not me) is not committed, not providing the necessary resources.
• 4) With technological solutions at hand, people should just use it. There is no need for human intervention to create or craft a new vision guided by universal human values and principles.
• 5) Technology is supreme

The detection of such mental models or underlying assumptions and beliefs was made, as they became most obvious on reactions to questions like :

• "What compelling vision for human race and new society is the speaker trying to advocate and create?"
• "Is there a need for human intervention in the face of Frankestein-like technological advancements?"

The answers and opinions expressed were generally :

• - we are in the business of providing technological solution to e-learning, it is up to you to make use of them in anyway you like
• - it is not our business to help to facilitate or influence towards a more human learned society, nor our business to create a community of conscious people to help to co-create a future and vision cared for dearly by all.

Similarly frequent questions and comments from the floor were

• - Government not providing adequate infrastructure, resources or quality services
• - People generally resist change

The above observations are made by looking at the bottom of the iceberg i.e. Mental models and Belief Systems from the behavior and expression of thoughts.. These observations do not imply in any way the right or wrong of the things. Trying to understand the underlying assumptions made is not meant to be judgmental at all, but to understand the basics of the thought pattern.

In fact many of the thoughts and opinions expressed are legitimate. They appear to be true on the surface, or conclusion made after some experience of things that happened. They may sound logical and as such they are taken for granted without anymore deeper probing.

Thoughts govern human behavior. Many unquestioned and unchallenged thoughts can lead to unintended negative consequence, producing long term disastrous results especially in this highly interconnected and interdependent new era.

The followings are some discussion on different perspectives to the above stated paradigm in thoughts:

• - Many of the earlier scientists regretted their roles and contributions in the atomic and nuclear research and innovative technology after witnessing the massive human destruction of the atomic bombs during WW II. Is was the same mental models then that it was up to humankind to make use of the atomic and nucleus technology in whatever manner deemed fit.
• - In this age even without Internet, there are problems and limitation on parental guidance to the young, state control on the many social ills, teachers' guidance to students, organizational facilitation to bring up the best of its members their talent and wisdom, .... I.e. There is lack of a effective structures to create, promote a Community of Guides, Facilitators, Coaches, etc. Can we safely assume that we do not need such a Community of Practitioners to help to co-create a new world to live in?
• - If we see e-learning as not merely set of tools, techniques and technologies, but learning towards a society of greater wisdom, that human beings learn the fundamentals of generating greater human values to coexist and co-create, we should be urgently and seriously looking at promoting and developing a new sets of human skills in this Internet-era. We may find it too late to leave it to chance and others to use the current technological advancement with the hope of they coming up with something more human. Should not such a roles be the vendors, technologies innovators, organizations (profit and non-profits), parents, teachers, governments etc.?
• - When we still see technologies on e-learning for helping to get faster and easier degree or certification of educational products, more efficient for professors to reach millions of students then traditional classroom of students, the previously described mental models fit perfectly well. But then I think we have seriously missed the point of the greater purpose of e-learning! While professor creates contents of knowledge for thousands of students, who guide and facilitate the students behaviors and thoughts?
• - When there are still echoes of people resistance to change, it may be that there is a serious lack of leadership at all levels, sectors and industries across this global village : leaders that could articulate a compelling vision to influence, motivate others for a shared vision. At one hand there is people tendency to resist change, on the other hand, there is lack of clarity, direction and leadership to show a way. Why e-learning does not talk on development of such crucial leadership skills at all communities?
• - As usual, there are problems, obstacles out there created by other people making e-learning less a reality. At the same time, among those who realize and believe in the importance of e-learning for a better society, the focus may be on self-empowerment and creativity, not just others. For example, schools generally lack the fund and facilities to access to Internet for students, maybe a win-win business proposal can be made with so many cyber-cafe owners to use their facilities on e-learning for students, instead of currently having students surfing and chatting aimlessly and picking up inappropriate morale and human values.
• - Many industries and organizations are investing and embarking on e-library, e-learning, but in their own little cocoon. Maybe we need to have a policy on e-learning for the whole society, linking and synerzising with the many good willed organizations, profit and non-profits, industries and government agencies, instead of duplicating efforts and investment on short term tunnel vision.
• - With advancement in technology, the need for human wisdom becomes more crucial. Why then so little emphasis on development of human skills to match appropriately with the higher levels of technological systems? Where is the notion of Cyber-coach, Cyber-Facilitator, Cyber-Coach or Mentor etc. as a new breed of heart and soul human beings working hand in hand with the technologies and mankind?