Where I am At, Part 2 - My New Vision

In short, I have a new master plan.

My last master plan went roughly like this - become a teacher, get some experience, use that to travel the world, live overseas and do some good. VSO was the culmination of that plan, and on finishing my placement I felt a little directionless as I didn't have a new one. That was one of the reasons I wanted to spend some time travelling, learning, reading, meeting people, having fun, and reflecting.

It has been a great experience. I have meet and stayed with wonderful people with very different lifestyles, from eco village hippies to young entrepreneurs blazing a trail in foreign lands. And more importantly, I have had a chance to let the mental dust settle, see what is left standing and think about what I want from life and what I can offer.

So, my new master plan is, more or less:

to work to develop the use of technology to radically reshape how education works, improve opportunities for creativity, exploration and play, free teachers to teach, and better serve those who are most let down by the current system

This topic is something that has surfaced in me in one form or another throughout my life learning, teaching and advising.  I have also been hugely inspired by some recent reading, especially The One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan, Why School? by Will Richardson and Beyond the Hole in the Wall by Sugata Mitra

What I will end up doing exactly is something I will find out as I embark on this new path. I could work with NGOs or schools in developing countries to try new models of education delivery. I could work as a teacher in in the UK or elsewhere with a focus on experimenting with cutting edge technology driven teaching methods. I could work for one of the organizations that are blazing new trails for what education can mean, such as the Kahn Academy. Or I could pioneer a project of my own, perhaps alongside a more traditional teaching job.

Whatever path I take, I am convinced that technology, and especially the open sharing of information, has the potential to vastly improve (or damage) the equality of educational opportunities, to improve (or damage) motivation, independence and curiosity of learners, to liberate (or cage) teachers. And I want to be part of this exciting change.

And I need your help.

I don't expect to have a clear path laid out for me. And I definitely don't have all the answers. So I would love to hear, in the comments or by email:

• Ideas, criticisms, thoughts and comments
• Suggestions or introductions to people, organizations or schools thinking along similar lines
• And ideas for a name for a new blog dedicated to the topic of using technology to reshape education. Using some or none of the following: learning, fun, play, change, excite, exploration, personalisation, technology, evidence based, equitable, revolution, curiosity, awe, joy, creativity

Thanks for reading. I will write more soon on how I have come to this decision, what I think I have to offer, what I think is wrong with education as it is now (and where it is headed) and how I imagine it could be transformed for the better.