There is much talk about ‘just-in-time learning' which is the acquisition of knowledge and skills as they are needed. This is more effective than “just-in-case learning” which is the acquisition of knowledge and skills in case they are needed.

“Just-in-time learning is more attractive to our students because it is relevant, timely and increasingly accessible wherever and whenever.

Children come to school with a lot of ‘just-in-time learning' behind them. From the earliest age they have been learning how to make sense of their small world. And their teacher has been the total environment : parents, siblings, friends, stories, games, TV characters, toys...

The rising generation has learnt to communicate with an incredible variety of images and sounds. These children have become technically-able before they have become literate. Talk to any parent of a 4-year old!

The simple fact of the matter is that young people do not talk about technologies as an add-on. They talk about an environment in which they live, communicate, learn and share; about being connected to their friends and a global community. This shapes a very new way of seeing and understanding the world.

And they bring all of this rich learning to school. We are left with the great professional question: What are the implications of this for today's classrooms, today's programs and today's teachers? What kind of total environment can we provide to engage and develop the interests and learning capabilities of our students?

How can we match the best aspects of the students' total world of learning with the world of the school?