Horizon report

Thanks to Dave Parkes, Head of Learning Support, Information Services at Staffordshire for alerting me to "an interesting report from NMC and Educause which celebrates the need for Information literacy. The annual Horizon Report is a collaborative effort between the New Media Consortium (NMC) and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI). Each year, the report identifies and describes six areas of emerging technology likely to have a significant impact on teaching, learning, or creative expression in higher education within three adoption horizons: a year or less; two to three years; four to five years.

The areas of emerging technology cited for 2006 are: Social computing; Personal broadcasting; Cell-phone-accessible educational content and services; Educational gaming; Augmented reality and enhanced visualization; Context-aware environments and devices."

He was delighted to highlight the paragraph (in the "Critical challenges" section): "Information literacy should not be considered a given, even among "net-gen" students. The skills of critical thinking, research, and evaluation of content, not to mention creative demonstration of mastery or knowledge, are needed more than ever; yet these very skills are underdeveloped in many students. Techniques for finding and assessing relevant information from the array of resources available both on- and offline are crucial, especially in light of the rising trend toward collaborative work. "

New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. (2006) The horizon report: 2006 edition. Austin: NMC. http://www.educause.edu/
content.asp?page_id=666&ID=CSD4387&bhcp=1

Photo by Sheila Webber: Winter moon through tree, Couthurst Road, Blackheath, December 2006.