IPPN

Published: 22 April 2009

Source: independent.ie

Educators could learn from the success of Wikipedia, says software tycoon

Spare a thought for teachers. They are rapidly being superseded by machines. The computer entrepreneur Chris Horn says that Google has replaced the teacher as the prime source of information and knowledge for pupils.

The founder of Irish computer company Iona Technologies says that in the current challenging fiscal times it is unrealistic for teachers to look to the State for help.

Dr Horn says it is time for teachers to seize the initiative and use the internet to their advantage as a shared community resource.

He says teachers need to make their job relevant in today's internet world where "the teacher knows little and Google knows everything''.

He says the profession could copy the example of Wikipedia, and share their knowledge of subjects on the internet.

Dr Horn started his career as a computer science lecturer at Trinity College.

While he was at Trinity, he helped to set up the campus company Iona Technologies, one of Ireland's greatest computer success stories.

Before its eventual takeover last year, Iona had a rollercoaster ride with its fortunes fluctuating from year to year. At its peak it was valued at $1.3bn and employed over 1,000 people.

Although Iona is a midget compared to Microsoft, Chris Horn is perhaps the closest figure we have to our own Bill Gates.

With the economy in the doldrums, the powers-that-be will naturally turn to creative figures such as Horn in order to find a way out.

He believes we should not rely on multinationals, but a new network of small indigenous hi-tech cottage industries.

The software supremo says he never saw a computer when he was at school at the non-fee-paying Newpark Comprehensive in Blackrock in the '70s. He developed a love of machines while playing with Meccano.

"I was inspired by teachers such as John Harris in Maths (Harris was one of the originators of Transition Year), Chris Sealy in Science and John De Courcy Ireland in History.''

At the time Horn viewed teachers as the prime source of information and knowledge.

"Today the situation has changed irrevocably. Teachers are, of course, still fine people, but many students no longer accept their teachers as the prime source of information and knowledge. The internet, and in particular Google, is now the primary way to find out and learn.''

Dr Horn says many students feel that their teachers do not know as much about their chosen subject as Google does -- and they do not find traditional classroom teaching interesting or stimulating.

'It's not that today's students have attention deficit, and are incapable of absorption or focus. On the contrary, they immerse themselves -- for hours sometimes -- in what they find interesting (on the internet).''

The former Trinity lecturer says teachers still have a role in helping students to find the best information from many different sources.

"One thing we must of course continue to do is to challenge students' understanding -- the old 'compare and contrast' technique which my English teacher Derek West drummed into me.''

In this brave new internet world, students have to be taught that no single source of information, including Wikipedia, should be taken as definitive.

Dr Horn says teachers cannot rely on the State to rescue our education system.

"With a ballooning national budget deficit, the worst thing we can now do is to fold our arms, sit back, and wait for some fiscally impotent Minister of Education to put together some study on what on earth should be done.''

Controversially, the entrepreneur says teachers could copy the example of the web encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Dr Horn says teachers could use the collaborative websites known as wikis, of which Wikipedia is just one, to pool their resources.

A Wiki is a website which can be edited by visitors. Groups can use a wiki to produce documents collaboratively. While these websites, including Wikipedia, are open to abuse and inaccuracy, Chris Horn believes accuracy can eventually be arrived at through editing, and the weeding out of rogue contributors.

According to Chris Horn, Wiki websites should be created to help teachers get the best out of the Internet, using methods such as Podcasting. The sites could be set up by groups of teachers in different subject areas.

"I envisage a wiki, created by some maths teachers, on each topic within the Higher Level Leaving Certificate Mathematics syllabus, not only explaining each such topic but illustrating it from real world examples, from applications in society and science as to how that particular mathematical technique can be beneficially used.''

As the incoming President of Engineers Ireland, Horn is concerned about the serious lack of workers trained in certain skilled areas.

"There is a dire shortage of skilled software engineers in Ireland. There is also a shortage of mechanical and electronic engineers.''

Part of the problem is the number of students studying Honours Maths.

"I think teachers could help to encourage more students to continue with Honours Maths, by using the Internet.''

Chris Horn is among the speakers at the Engineers Ireland Annual Conference which starts tomorrow in Tullamore.