Technology-Leadership+Summary



The world is open. More than just the title of a book by Curtis Bonk, it is a personal reflection of Mr. Bonk’s personal growth and evolution with web technology and education. No longer is the world of education mired in the sinkhole of isolation. The introduction of the fourth wave of technology, collaboration and sharing, has transformed our world into a society “…where user sharing, contributions and participation are the norm.” (Bonk, 2009, p. xvi)

We all learn. The basic theme underlying everything in the book, WE-ALL-LEARN (Bonk, 2009), is an acronym that provides the framework for educators and trainers to actively involve technology in everyday instruction. Web searching, E-Learning, Availability, Learning and Learner are just a few of the first words of the statements taken from the WE-ALL-LEARN acronym. Each one is a statement of how the world of technology is transforming education to more of an individualized process where we have the ability to take control of our learning through the use of free, open source resources.

The world is open and is now entering a more personalized age of learning. Blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networking sites have changed the way society interacts. No longer are we tied to static bits of information from out of date text books but rather we are free to learn in real time.

“Anyone can now learn anything from anyone at anytime.” (Bonk, 2009, p. 7) Dr. Bonk truly believes this statement and really this could be considered the overall summary of the book in one line. Technology has opened the door for anyone and everyone to become a part of the education process. This is demonstrated throughout the 12 chapters of the book as he shares the stories of real people using technology in new and innovative ways to enhance education.

He describes how college students are participating in archaeological digs and reporting their findings in real time through the use of blogs. In his interview with Bob and Tom, professors from Texas A&M, he learns about a progressive charter school where students that everyone had given up on (even the students themselves) were now succeeding by using technology to direct their own learning. Another example of this revolution in education is seen in NotSchool. No longer called students and teachers but now researchers and mentors, those involved in NotSchool are using technology to create their own learning experience tailored to fit their needs. All of these examples increase motivation and improve the overall learning.

But it is not only in the formal settings of college internships or charter schools that this new open education is taking place. Web 2.0 is open to everyone and it is open everywhere. Social sites such as YouTube have given the ordinary person the power to teach and share with others around the world. Millions of viewers can be affected by the myriad of videos available on pretty much any topic imaginable. Dr. Curtis Bonk truly demonstrates how the “World is Open” with the stories and examples from nations around the world. Businesses like IBM and Sun Microsystems, places of higher education like MIT and Stanford, and online sources such as Facebook and Wikipedia are all contributing to this revolution that is taking place in the way people learn and share. It has truly become a world where the learner can direct their own education. “The learning pursuits now possible on this planet have widened a thousand fold in just the past few years.” (Bonk, 2009, p. 291) Students, teachers and schools are no longer isolated islands on the large ocean of education; they are now integral parts of a continuously flowing river of knowledge.

Bonk, C. J. (2009). The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education. San Francisco, CA. Jossey-Bass.