The current educational system is descendant from the Industrial Revolution, and the vast wave of immigrants that arrived during that time. It was designed around the wonderful new invention; the factory. Its purpose to provide a basic education to the masses to help them assimilate to this new land and provide the much needed work force to support the development of new industries.

The factory style educational system led to the compartmentalization of information so that it could be passed out as children moved through the assembly line of schooling. Knowledge was presented in liner format, not in its true integrated form. Changes in the information/knowledge base were also made from on high. Organizations made up of leaders in various fields met, conferred, and debated. They examined the results of research and experimentation, came to consensus, and passed the information down to the masses. This system of education is still primarily in place today, however; the process by which the knowledge base is changed and conveyed is undergoing a major shift.

We are in the midst of a technology revolution. Our ability to communicate, store, share and interact with information changes almost daily. The internet helps us maneuver through knowledge in its true interconnectedness, in a way factory schools never could. It allows us to negotiate meaning with others more readily. Researchers now post their finding on a daily bases, if we know where to look we can find new discoveries everyday. Will this new revolution continue to make its way into education? Will the schools be transformed, morphed into something new? Will we provide our students with the skills they need to access, manage and collaborate in this vastly changing information and technology revolutions?

Honestly I believe it is apparent that the change is beginning. It is my belief that schools will need to change in order keep up with how our students are already participating in these new technologies. If we need to produce student how have the skills to work in this new age we will need to change how we do things. The information technology revolution will change schools as the industrial revolution did before. We need to prepare for the change.

Note: An excellent reference on how these new technologies are changing how information is shared and accessed you should read Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson.