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 WomenLook and Choose: an enquiry into vacuum cleanersQuick and Easy DressmakingFashion Report

3.45-4.00 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.

5.57 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 10.00 Meet Jeanne Heal Jeanne talks to her visitors on a topic of her choice 10.15 Picture Parade A weekly magazine of films and film personalities 10.45 News Weather and Closedown

Monday 18th 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 16 -18? 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 19th 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 10000 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 25000 Associate students 25000 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!