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Using the Power of Collaboration to Crowdsource Learning
Coworking, crowdsourcing, citizen sourcing, collaboration - all these these familiar Web 2.0 terms for cooperative human engagement have been applied to everything from scientific inquiry into protein folding to mapping galaxies, to creating smarter government through initiatives like Gov 2.0. All these efforts affect knowledge acquisition in some way.
I'd like to propose that we can employ similiar collaboration techniques to essentially crowdsource learning, utilizing what Clay Shirky calls our "spare brainpower" to further deinstitutionalize education. There are already a lot of tools in place to make use of our cognitive surplus, from opensource learning initiatives to citizen science opportunities.
I think we can leverage our innate curiosity and the power of collaboration to create powerful social networks for learning, at both the community level and online. In our conversation on the "Curiosity Driven Life," one of the things discussed was "safe zones" that encouraged curiosity and child led learning. Working together, I think we can connect learners of all ages online and in person with mentors and learning guides via libraries, community centers, museums, parks, gardens and more.
What do you think about the potential for Crowdsourced Learning?