My father was an amateur photographer. He carefully instructed my brother and I in the proper terms for things, one, in particular, was “Depth of Field.” When I was 12 years old it meant, “it’s either all in focus or not.” Today, while I know the proper definition, it means how I see beyond the now, the immediate, or the right now.
I devoted much of my life to preparing my students and my colleagues for what lies ahead as life-long learners. My passion was simply to be aware and prepared for what’s next.
So, what’s next?
We live in a world that is dynamic. Data and information drive more than our minds can fathom or accept, we’ve decided we’re uncertain about “driverless cars,” but our response is to all these new opportunities is predictable. Typically, what we don’t understand we avoid and ignore. (Did you ever see a VCR flashing 12:00?)
During the last three years, I spent time in an urban classroom, serving middle school students. It was exciting, exasperating, eye-opening and exhausting! WOW! What amazingly talented students, each in their own way, learning to navigate through this ever-changing world. I surveyed and questioned students, parents, and teachers. I wanted to be able to assist them in being that life-long learner always prepared for what’s next!
In ten years, even compared to the last ten, our lives will be well beyond our current focal point. I think it’s imperative that our schools deliberately choose to be different. I have been gathering data and have discovered that, while doing many fantastic things, we are stuck in that traditional method of learning. More importantly, my research concurs with others and I simply can not say it better.
Are we ready for this? Will our graduates be ready to thrive in this world?
As I survey the data we’ve collected on these coming realities, and as I hear from students across the country, I’ve distilled my two chief concerns:
- Mental Health
- Moral Fluidity
You see, this coming “smart world” presents an overwhelming amount of information and choices, the likes of which our brains were not designed to handle all at once. The angst, depression and anxiety attacks we already see in adolescents is the result of many realities, not the least of which is the constant ping of the phone, thanks to social media. Get ready for more mental health issues on campus and at home. Somehow, I don’t believe the answer is simply to take more meds.
Furthermore, the moral fluidity stems from the fact that our smart world opens up all sorts of options for pleasure and opportunities for exploration, some of which we have no idea how to handle. What do we make of the moral implications of robots that can offer a cup of coffee and a sexual favor at an exclusive café? Or, how about the implications of sending robots into another nation to fight our war? Does that make it easier to declare war since it costs us technology and money more than human life? Is it right to make a moral decision based purely on convenience?
You see, our technology has the potential to carry us further than our character can sustain us. Trouble brews when our integrity doesn’t keep pace with the momentum created by that smart technology. Students can develop “elastic morality.” Tim Elmore, On leading the next generation.
There’s more to come and more to learn about what I’d love to have you join me in creating. I’m rebuilding Winding Creek to continue to serve students in urban settings. Stay tuned for updates and information.
Thanks for reading along and seeing a little into the beyond with me.
Until then,
Scott