Why Experts Are Dead And Smartphones Super Weapons

September 12, 2017 / Oskar Cymerman

Experts are dead, smartphones are superweapons

The are no experts.

Expert - that idea is pretty much dead.

In this day and age, the amount of information grows exponentially. There are new developments every second. New things are invented and created every day.

I had a conversation with a student recently. Parker builds and races drones. He did a research project on them last year. He spent many hours over many days compiling the information into a video for English. A few days before he was supposed to present, new cutting edge drone tech hit the market and he had to remix his video. He loved it and didn’t mind, because he’s a complete nut about it but…

While Parker knows a lot about drones, and might be considered an expert by many, he is not an expert. He can’t be.

He builds, flies, fixes, and talks drones for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He knows more about them than 99.9% of people. He knows A LOT. But as soon as new drone tech hits the market, some of his knowledge becomes outdated in an instant.

This isn’t the future. It’s the present. Believe it.

So what does the future hold?

I have no idea. Remember? We’re all newbies at pretty much everything!

And maybe it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that we overcome our uncertainties, hangups, and fears and learn how to use present day technologies and tools.

This will make learning whatever technology comes next easier.

What matters is that we educate ourselves on ways information is accessed and applied today.

This will make learning whatever we need to learn later easier. Same goes for our students.

What matters is that from now on we show and help our students use tools that give them access to the future and let them participate in it fully.

We must leverage the tools available now, so students can teach themselves to use the tools of the future.

Nothing is more important in education.

So, if you still ban the most sophisticated learning super weapon ever created aka the smartphone in your classroom, consider the arguments above. Close your eyes and visualize the future. Can you see one in which kids are allowed to use all of the tools at their disposal? Or does it constrict and slow progress?

You have the power to change the world. Use it often.

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