By:Dr. Francois Sauer, Dr. Ron LaPorte, andSusan Hanna Bennett

The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator

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OverviewIn a Knowledge-based society we go:

From Knowledge organized in the Physical Place of a library (private or public) To knowledge distributed in Virtual Spaces via multi-media.From knowledge classified by topic To knowledge selected through meaning enabling associations that are context sensitive. The Librarian then becomes the expert in formulating effective questions to selectively find meaningful associations in different knowledge spaces bigger than the storage capability of a human brain.From knowledge based on the findings of science To the relevance of our conscience for the requisite ethic needed in the application of science.From the access to explicit knowledge captured in writing To virtual networks of excellence that link scientists around the world to concurrently access explicit and implicit knowledge.From the Educator identifying and proliferating appropriate content according to predetermined standards, To the Educator as a Catalyst enabling ethical application of the available knowledge when teaching the value of science including: Truth, Honor, Teamwork, Constructive Subversiveness and Conflict Resolution.

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From the physical place to the virtual space connecting humans

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Forces Pressing Against Current Paradigms….

ReproductionThe Information Age

AssociationThe Relationship Age

Explicit and Implicit Knowledge within Virtual networks of

Excellence

Explicit Knowledge within Physical

Places

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Forces Pressing Against Current Paradigms….

Illustration: Serge Bloch

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Social Systems

Technological Systems

Innovations in Education

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The Educator and the Student: Yesterday and Today

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Virtual Knowledge SpacesLibrary of Alexandria100,000 searchable books On-lineSupercourse 4,300 On-line lectures

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1. Environment of Trust vs. External Control2. Engaging the Creative

Thinking Cycle vs. the Reflexive Cycle3. Systemic Thinking vs. Lineal Thinking4. Compassion vs. Judgment5. Courage and

Resourcefulness vs. entitlement6. Interdisciplinary relationships

vs. silos

A new perspective:

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added

Genuinely InterestedEmotionally ConnectedHonoring Needs

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Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added

New Associations between ideas and people

An Open Mind - Vulnerable10

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added

 

A Blue Print for Problem Solving

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Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added

 

Ambiguity for Creativity and Innovation

Be ready to let go…

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Conclusions

Friction in the system, as result of the gap between technology growth and social constructs, presents a tremendous opportunity to improve efficiencies.

“Increased public-private partnerships may create new and nontraditional arrangements to support innovation and sustainability in the healthcare delivery system.” (PricewaterhouseCoopers’, 2009)

Individual singularity represents a significant constraint in light of the proliferation of knowledge.

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Conclusions (cont’d)

Technology is needed to reduce complexity and enhance collaboration.

In the Industrial age, steam was the resource to multiple the physical force of a human being. In the Relationship Age, the search and virtualization engines will be the lever to multiply the creative imagination of human beings.

“In the more immediate future, two other advances – semantic technologies and computer-aided molecule design – will play a much bigger part in enhancing the research process.” (PricewaterhouseCoopers’, 2008)

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Conclusions (cont’d)

For us to take advantage of identification and association capabilities, a different infrastructure is needed in terms of proliferation of knowledge. The Library of Alexandria is providing an essential element  of this infrastructure.

Knowledge in a digital environment is a requirement to feed Next Generation Search Engines.

This transformation of our society can be leveraged by Educators in a catalytic role – for the ethical expansion of the mind of the student and of the community.

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Epilogue

“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire

“The student of tomorrow will need to be prepared for a higher calling. This higher calling will be to preempt crisis before they occur, anticipate disasters before they happen, and solve some of mankind’s greatest problems, starting with the problem of

our own ignorance” (Frey, 2009).

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References:

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1. Serageldin, Ismail. Science: The Culture of Living Change. Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria Egypt 2007. p.32

2. Downes, L. The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces that Govern Life and business in The Digital Age. © 2009 by Larry Downes. Basic Books, New York.

3. Frey, Thomas. The Future of Colleges and Universities. http://www.davinciinstitute.com/papers/the-future-of-colleges-universities-blueprint-for-a-revolution/

4. Sauer, F. (2009) Relearn, Evolve and Adapt: An Essay to Integrate Creative Imagination with Socially Conditioned Thought and Behavior. http://relearnevolveandadapt.com/

5. PricewaterhouseCoopers’, Dec 2009. “Top 10 health industry issues in 2010: Squeezing the juice out of healthcare.” p. 18

6. PricewaterhouseCoopers’, 2008. “Pharma 2020: Virtual R&D: Which path will you take?” p. 7