Wes Fryer is an ex-teacher, a very influential web 2.0 writer and now an employee of AT&T (and, as he so eagerly pointed out, proud carrier of the iPhone). He presented an interesting seminar that will soon be available for download from his wiki.

Wes made an interesting point: It is not the technology that makes a teacher great. “Have you ever been in a class that was completely non-interactive? Please podcast that class!!” he said, “because if you are not interacting with me, then let me listen at a time and place that is convenient for me”.

Your favourite teacher was not a great teacher because of the overhead projector! It was because of how he or she made you feel inside. Technology is merely an ‘amplifier’. It amplifies good teaching but it also amplifies bad teaching.

Wes quoted Alan Kay: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Many seek to predict the future by preventing it”. He noted that many changes in schools are intended to create ‘digital school 1.0’ ---- merely putting a glamorous wrapper on an existing, flawed school system ---- instead of the necessary transformation to a real ‘school 2.0’ where learning is not limited by time or physical boundaries.

He directed us to www.educationevolving.org, which argues that

“Traditional schooling is 'torqued out'. We need to create radically different models of school/ing.

The states' charter laws make it possible now to create new and different schools.

In redesigning schools we should focus on motivating the workers: both students and teachers.

We can now customize student learning using today's digital electronics.

Without new models of school K-12 might not be sustainable economically.”

Wes then introduced Katie Beedon who has been involved in the Greater Houston Education Collaboration group, a great model of peer-to-peer professional development to help build a 21st century education system.

Certainly plenty of food for thought in this one.