A long time ago, a teacher was trying desperately hard to enthuse his Form One English class (slower set) about the exciting thriller book they were reading together yet there seemed to be little connection or enjoyment from among the small group of pupils. When they had reached page 200 of the 208 pages of the novel, one young boy suddenly chirped up: “Gosh, it’s getting good, now, sir!” How good did that sound for the teacher! The child had a lightbulb moment, an epiphany almost, a sudden connection when it all clicked and fell into place. He got it – better late than never!
Of course, nowadays, it would appear to be much harder to get children to read books and such is their shorter attention span, through the increased use of technology, 200 pages would be an ultra-marathon for them, one which they would find more loathsome. Would they be prepared to wait until page 200 before they could say they got it! Children today want instant enjoyment, instant connection. They want quick, clear, cosy connectivity online; they are frustrated if they have to wait for connection to Wi-Fi or their server. Indeed, they feel naked, starved, helpless without it. And of course, the speed of connectivity is far greater each year. They want good connectivity. When there is no signal (perish the thought!), they send out the Mayday signal, their own SOS – help!
Here is the issue though: good is bad! Good connectivity (online) leads to bad connectivity (in person). Children (adults, too) know they want or need connection but they look for it in the wrong place. Proper connection comes with proper real people, not with someone online, who may well even be fictional or an avatar. Social media is nearer to social mania or indeed social muddle. People share things, yes, but not in person. Social media is actually not social.
The fact is, education is all about connectivity. It is about connecting the dots between one statement and another, between one fact and another, between one thought or idea and another. It is about connecting with other people’s thoughts as well as their needs, as that is what post-school is all about. It is about connecting with the needs of the future, now. It is about connecting what happens in life to a lesson that is to be learned, as well as connecting a lesson to be learned to what is to be lived in life. It is all about finding the connection to life. It is all about connectivity.
At the heart of connectivity are two of the essential five Cs of twenty-first century learning - communication and collaboration. We develop connectivity through communicating in a way that both parties understand; connectivity opens up opportunities for communication, not using emojis or acronyms but rather words and sentences. We need the two other Cs as well so that we use critical thinking to realise that good is bad in this regard, while we also need creativity to work on finding human connectivity in person much sooner. Connectivity is indeed at the heart of learning.
However, learning can easily be done, as well as better done, in-person. The connection is to be made at a human level. Education involves getting on the same wavelength as someone else (not like tuning into a radio show of old, nor turning to an app or website that places them in a virtual world.) Covid-19 showed us supremely that we need schools, that we need personal connection, not for the reason that we always thought (namely academics – no, we can easily do that online) but for the social development of the pupils (things which cannot be learned on one’s own, online, in books). Children have to learn to be in community, to take responsibility and to respect leadership, to stand alongside those with whom they have much in common and those with whom they differ greatly. Social development is absolutely fundamental; social distancing is totally detrimental.
So, there is a real danger in online connectivity. Good connectivity (online) can lead to very bad connectivity in person; in contrast, and equally true, is the fact that bad connectivity online can assist in bringing good connectivity in person – bad can be good but good can be bad. We must not get lost in thinking that good, fast, powerful connectivity online is perfect, is what we want and need. No, we need human connectivity – that is when we also will be able to say: life is getting good now! Let us hope it does not take us to page 200 in our 208-page life to realise that.