In its foundation philosophy of kyosei — living and working together for the common good — and to start a new conversation about the future of education, Canon Australia commissioned writer, broadcaster and academic Dr Sunil Badami to undertake an investigation of the current discussions and issues in education; to discover what the future of education might be, and the best ways to approach the myriad possibilities and opportunities of tomorrow.
Research for this project began in March 2018 over a twelve‑week period, with over 100 hours of surveying, compiling and annotating nearly 300 academic articles and government white papers, specialist and general media reports and educational literature covering both theoretical and current issues in education.
Nearly 20 hours of interviews were conducted with participants featured and quoted in the white paper, as well as follow-up interviews and correspondence.
Participants were selected for their experience in all educational sectors – primary, secondary and tertiary – as well as both private, independent and public schools.
They were also selected for their prominence and achievements as commentators, campaigners, thought leaders, policy makers, administrators, mentors and educators.
Participants were asked up to 50 questions, which covered issues such as the challenges facing education today; the role technology and business might play in education; teaching and learning; engagement and outcomes; assessment and pedagogy; innovation and change; funding and government policy, including the release in April 2018 of the report into the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools (popularly known as “Gonski 2.0”).
Questions were also tailored to participants’ individual areas of experience and expertise, as well generally regarding the futures of working, teaching and learning. These interviews were recorded, either on digital audio or on film, and professionally transcribed.
Questions were framed by the findings drawn from this wide range of research, hopefully providing possible discussion points to start new conversations about the future of education, rather than positing any definitive answers.
As Dr Badami has discovered in the course of this enlightening learning journey, it is not simply any “right” answer that we need to seek, but new ways of asking different questions: for it is in these questions we can not only discover knowledge, but come to understanding.
Download the full whitepaper here: https://www.canon.com.au/futureofeducation