Disconnected by IT: technology, knowledge transfer, and interaction in KAIST education 3.0

Abstract

People are now living in the society where they can communicate with others who live far away so that they are connected, and it has had a wide influence upon the society. Education also has kept up with the changes and new education models appear that bring IT into the classroom, such as the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). However, some previous studies on educational technology argues that adoption of new technology into the classroom does not always decrease distance between teachers and students, emphasizing not the physical but the pedagogical meaning of distance. Using the KAIST Education 3.0 program as an example, this thesis focuses on the roles and effects of IT as an adopted classroom technology, and argues that IT has a tendency to disconnect education practices, or professors from students. By using IT, Education 3.0 operates online video lecture and offline class focused on discussion in parallel, and they have not been integrated. As the course goes on, the gap between knowledge transfer and interaction grows wider and they are utilized and assessed independently, in contrast to the traditional class in which they are managed altogether. In addition, the relationship between professors and students changes. In Education 3.0, professors are course managers rather than educators and remain at a distance from the students. By revealing reverse side of IT in the classroom, this thesis provides balanced standpoint on IT and extensive understanding on the adoption of new technology in education.