The War on Learning

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Behind the lectern stands the professor, utilizing various technological tools like course management systems, online quizzes, and plagiarism-detection software. In the seats are students equipped with smartphones, laptops, and social media. While it may seem like a battle between these two forces, they are both engaged in a larger conflict over the nature of learning. The author examines current attempts to reform higher education through technology, revealing that many initiatives fail because they view education as a product rather than a process. Popular strategies, such as using video games or distributing iPads, often disappoint as they encourage consumption over intellectual growth. The analysis includes recent trends in postsecondary education and the surrounding rhetoric, supported by personal accounts. To identify effective educational technologies, the author explores strategies like MOOCs, gamification, remix pedagogy, and educational virtual worlds. The book concludes with six fundamental principles of digital learning and highlights successful university initiatives. This work is essential for campus decision-makers and anyone invested in the intersection of education and technology.