Towards a Brighter Future:

Promoting Learning &

Knowledge Society

Prof.Dr.Aung Tun Thet

Knowledge Society

Knowledge Society

• Society of shared knowledge• Prospect for human and sustainable development

Knowledge Society

• Social, ethical and political dimensions •Nurtured by diversity and capacities •Technological breakthroughs

Knowledge Society

•Multidimensional•No single, ready-made model•Education •Critical thinking

Knowledge Society

•Access to knowledge •Production of knowledge

Knowledge Society

• Foster knowledge-sharing • Integrate all members • Promote new forms of solidarity •No one excluded

Knowledge Society

• Present and future generations•Knowledge public good available to everyone

Knowledge Society

• Young people play major role - first to use new technologies•Older people also important – experience – knowledge road to wisdom• Focus on human rights and inclusive participatory character

Knowledge Society

• Freedom of opinion and expression • Freedom of information, media pluralism and academic freedom•Right to education

ICT

•New opportunities for development • Simultaneous growth of Internet, Mobile telephony and digital technologies •Revolutionized role of knowledge

ICT

• Important role1 in:•Economic development (spread of innovation and productivity gains)•Human Development• “Technological leapfrogging”

Knowledge Society

•Virtuous circle•Acceleration of knowledge production• Values and practices of creativity and innovation

Knowledge Society

•Not limited to Information Society • Information knowledge-generating tool - not knowledge itself• “Useful” and “Useless” information

Knowledge Society

•New approach to development •Rethink development •New value placed on “human capital”

Knowledge Society

•Heightened awareness of global problems•Environmental damage, technological hazards, economic crises and poverty • Infostructure and capacity-building •Massive investments in education and R&D

Knowledge Society

• Fresh possibilities for human and sustainable development• “Information society”• “Knowledge-based economies”• “Learning societies”

Knowledge Society

•Heightened awareness of global problems•Environmental damage, technological hazards, economic crises and poverty • Infostructure and capacity-building •Massive investments in education and R&D

Knowledge Society

• Three pillars 1.Better enhancement of value of existing

forms of knowledge to narrow knowledge divide

2.More participatory approach to access to knowledge

3.Better integration of knowledge policies

1. Better enhancement of value of existing forms of knowledge to narrow knowledge divide

•Raise awareness of richness of knowledge possessed• Identify weak points with regard to access • Assessing skills

2. More Participatory Approach to Access to

Knowledge•Mobilization of all players • Identifying “local or indigenous of knowledge” or “traditional knowledge”•Knowledge producers not only consumers of already available knowledge

2. . More Participatory Approach to Access to

Knowledge•Key players – teachers, researchers,

artists, designers, journalists and NGOs •Modalities completely rethought•New institutional forms – hybrid

forums, citizens’ conferences and debates associating decision-makers, lawmakers, private sector and civil society

3. Better integration of Knowledge Policies

•Clarification of goals of ”knowledge society”•Deepening of research on social impact• Broader consultation in area of higher education

Recommendations

1. Invest more in quality education for all to ensure equal opportunity

2. Increase access to ICT3. Widen contents available for universal access

to knowledge4. Develop collaboratories: towards better

knowledge sharing5. Share knowledge for sustainable development

Recommendations6. Making linguistic diversity 7. Move towards knowledge certification on internet:

quality labels8. Intensify creation of partnerships for digital

solidarity - “digital twinning arrangements” 9. Increase women’s contribution 10.Measure knowledge

Towards Learning Society

Four Stages of Learning

CONSCIOUS

+

-

- +

COMPETENCE

Stage 1

UnconsciousIncompetence

Stage 2

ConsciousIncompetence

Stage 3

ConsciousCompetence

Stage 4

UnconsciousCompetence

Society

• Segments endowed with high degree of:• Lateral instead of vertical learning• Ideational instead of functional learning• Dialectical instead of consensual

learning systems• Elitist social structures

KITE

• Knowledge• Information• Technology • Education

KITE

• Fly and fly high• Create new networks • Assimilated into political, socio-cultural

and spiritual frameworks

Courting Obsolescence

• Build upon local knowledge • Share openly and widely • Innovate and improvise

Ensuring Optimal Consensus

• Cooperation and competition co-exist • Nurtured and encouraged• Heterogeneity spurs healthy growth

Life long Learning

• Discover new value in new knowledge, technologies and information exchange mechanisms• “You ‘never arrive• The more you learn, • the more acutely aware you become of your

ignorance.”

Dissolving Distances, Expanding Horizons

•Overcome barriers of language, literacy, and localism•Create learning communities across age, class, language, skill, status and spatial boundary

Learning Society

• Liberating society• Encourage pluralism• Foster creativity and innovation 

Ways Ahead

• Strong learning society •Pool all knowledge, information, insights and perspectives • Build bridges with global pool of knowledge and learnings

Learning

LivingLoving

Learning Society

Five Learning Disciplines

Learning Styles

Learning Disability

• ‘Boiled’ Frog

Five Disciplines

1.Systems thinking2.Personal mastery3.Mental models4.Shared vision5.Team learning

1. Systems Thinking

1. Systems Thinking

• See ‘wholes’ • ‘The big picture’ • See interrelationships and patterns • Determine cause and effect

2. Personal Mastery

• To perceive or think differently is more important than knowledge gained• Personal growth and learning• Never-ending quests for self- improvement

and self-discovery • Spiritual growth

3. Mental Models

• People don’t grow old. • When they stop growing, they become old. • Assumptions, views and prejudices

4. Shared Vision

• Force in peoples’ hearts• Focus and energy for learning

5. Team Learning

• Aligning and developing capacity1.Probe and explore complex issues2.Work in concert, coordinating efforts

and communicating openly and closely3.Interact with each other

Final Note

• The choice is Ours!

Thank You!