I like it because it gives a broad picture of a lot of current and future topics (initial language, as you say?), but what I propose to participants is to read it trying to reflect on the way it relates to their local (Latin American, mostly) context. I complement the reading with an observation of their own environment, in order to check how Stephen’s ‘predictions’ relate to our own reality.

Now, I don’t know about Singapore, but at least in my course, participants point out very quickly how particular is the context Stephen refers to, when compared to ours (for example, in terms of broadband and tech access, which is still limited, or the role educational institutions play in the big picture). The exercise is useful, I’d say, as a first step in creating a personal stance on the local future of e-learning…

Now, I didn’t think before about scenarios, but looks like that could be a useful exercise. So maybe I’ll borrow some of your ideas to include them in the next weeks of my course…

Good luck with the course, and thanks for sharing these ideas!

Best,

Diego

This whole process of looking to the future is to have that evolutionary/competitive advantage of being prepared for it, so whatever change it brings you/your organization/your circle can jump the waves.

Or heck, it is just fun to try and peer into the future (Stephen seems to have lots of fun there). Isn’t that what motivates people to do all the things we do, to have something to drive for? (is this the meandering kind of response you are seeking?)

I can’t remember Steohen’s story, but I was just listening and wondering what Assinibone did with this report? Did they use it, or pat him on the head? That is the harder part- what do you do with our future peering?

It’s an interesting arc from Alan Kay’s Dynabook (the seismic shift in computing to make it personal,portable, and a platform for creation) across many dots to Stephen’s PAD (damn was he on with the name!) to maybe the iPad? It seems even more interesting to me how much feverish speculation and vapor conclusions people were making before the damn thing is out. The frenzy to push out these ideas is nutso.