Lifelong Learning

In today’s session (6023), we learned how to analyse policy statement from its basic elements, e.g. problem definition, goals and instruments. A good policy statment should have the problems recognized and well-defined, goals clearly articulated and feasible instruments proposed. And also it should be internally and vertically consistent.

Then we had a little discussion about why using ICT in education. When talking about using ICT as a catalyst for educational change, Dr. Fox said there is a tendency of using the word “lever” instead of “catalyst” to describe the use of ICT in education. My team partner, Peter, then gave a very insightful explanation of the differences between those two words which I was convinced at that moment. He said that a catalyst is a chemical substance which speeds up the process but it doesn’t initiate change. However, a lever can move objects from one place to another with force which indicates a transmit and transformation.

However, after I returned home, I consulted dictionary to confirm the difference but to find a different story. Here are the definitions of those two words.

Catalyst-

1. something that makes a chemical reaction happen more quickly without itself being changed.
2. an event or person that causes great change. (from Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
3. an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. (from Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary)

Lever-

1. a bar or handle which moves around a fixed point, so that one end of it can be pushed or pulled in order to control the operation of a machine or move a heavy or stiff object. (from Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
2. a rigid bar used to exert a pressure or sustain a weight at one point of its length by the application of a force at a second and turning at a third on a fulcrum. (from Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary)

To my understanding, catalyst facilitates and speeds up change although itself remains unchanged. However, lever moves agent to a third point without necessarily change it. In terms of ICT used in education, whether it is a catalyst or a lever, it relies on whether it changes or transforms education or not.

ICT undoubtedly has provoked dramatic changes in the way of teaching and learning. However, doest it really change the nature of education? Or it has just pushed education to another stage without changing its basci norm. In this sense, it is more proper to say that ICT is a lever more than a catalyst in education.

Arguments are welcome.