The Future of FE in Context Dr David Collins

The telephone “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us” Western Union memo 1876

The computer “Computers in the future will weigh no more than 1.5 tons.” Popular Mechanics 1949

The Good Old Days The weather was better Front doors were always left unlocked Neighbours were constantly borrowing cups of sugar. Beer was 2d a pint Monday was washing day Everyone wore hats

The 1950s family car

The 1950s Bathroom

1950s Television

BBC TELEVISION 3.00pm Mainly for Women Look and Choose: an enquiry into vacuum cleaners Quick and Easy Dressmaking Fashion Report Watch with Mother: Picture Book 5.00 Children's Television: Studio 'E' Vera McKechnie introduces George Cansdale and his animal guests, Ion Trant on his Welsh farm, Ossie Noble with Harold Taylor and Carlos with his pigeons, Reg Darnley and his holiday harmonica, and 'Packi', a strip cartoon drawn by Tony Hart The Weather 6.00 News and Sports News 6.05 Tonight A new early evening programme for all the family, introduced by Cliff Michelmore 6.45 Monday Melody 7.15 News and Behind the Headlines 7.30 This is Your Life with Eamonn Andrews 8.00 Theatre Night: The Member of the Wedding 8.45 Panorama with Richard Dimbleby 9.30 Off the Record introduced by Jack Payne Meet Jeanne Heal Jeanne talks to her visitors on a topic of her choice Picture Parade A weekly magazine of films and film personalities News Weather and Closedown Monday 18 th February 1957

The 1950s Classroom

Education in the 1950s A preparation for life and work Because Careers/Jobs were relatively stable People didn’t move around very much The pace of change was comparatively steady The world was segmented

1950’s Education School leaving age 15 Grammar and secondary modern schools Technical colleges Free university education (Top 5%) GCE O Levels and A Levels LEA controlled And we still had the cane!!

What’s changed Local, regional, national, international mobility The need to up skill and change careers several times during a lifetime Change is getting quicker (Step changes are unpredictable?) Technology alters the teacher/learner relationship

Today - The family car (Well almost!)

The Bathroom today

The Television today

The Classroom today???

Education today Comprehensive schools Specialist schools Grammar schools Academies Tertiary, Sixth form and FE colleges University education (50%?) School leaving age ? The Skills agenda etc etc etc

Education today Front loaded and full-time Preparing for the university and/or a first job? Based on “local” priorities (FE) Locked into immediate known employment needs (the emphasis on skills) With staff woefully undertrained in the new technologies

Holding back the tide

The Change Equation

The Organisational Iceberg

The Need for Revolution not Evolution The irrelevance of the national curriculum (schools) With too tight a focus on the needs of present employers in FE And Higher Education (undergraduate) which is locked into the 19 th century With piecemeal (sectional) approaches to reform And no clear linkage between education and real life! (currently a preparation for rather than a part of)

FE Today – The Typical College? 225 Teachers 150 Support Staff 10 Learning Resource areas 25 Specialist areas 50 classrooms F/ t and P/t Students 250 Programmes of Study

The Student Experience 2000 Selects a programme from a menu Interviewed and admitted Follows a one/two year course Up to 15 hours teaching a week in college 1 hour tutorial time 5-10 hours home study time Assessed at set points

Change Factors The need for lifelong learning The changing pattern of work and leisure The increasing application of new technology The growth and availability of knowledge A world-wide communication network

FE Tomorrow – The Typical College? 250 Learning guides 50 Support staff 25 Resource areas 25 Specialist areas 35 Discussion rooms with digital whiteboards and world-wide video Associate students Personal learning programmes

The Student Experience 2020 Interviewed to ascertain a personal learning programme constantly reviewed by computer and learning guide College attendance varies between 3 and 6 hours a week Home study varies between 12 and 15 hours a week Assessment on demand (Following self assessment)

Beyond today..

Don’t panic!