Editor
Many years ago, I worked with Paul. Paul was about half my encode new experiences in our memories and guide us to respond age and extremely intelligent. He didn’t brag but I knew he scored rationally so we can extrapolate information to predict the future. 90%+ for Mathematics in his university entrance examination. Further knowledge can eventually be used to generalize to other These were the early days of the internet and things. It can be conceptualized and applied to as the world-wide web crawled its way into our Can young people quite novel information. millennial lives, Paul was ready and welcomed Over time, as we build up many knowledge be expected it enthusiastically. bases in our brains, we assimilate and understand Our Wellington office followed the to build more and more knowledge and learn how some tradition of many others. Morning tea was knowledge may inform other knowledge. Soon ‘Dominion Quiz’ time. I expected Paul would knowledge we have an entire eco-system of interconnected comprehensively blitz the quiz every day networks of knowledge to call on to interpret but surprisingly, he rarely answered a single when you can our world and give it vibrancy and colour. We question. He could find answers to questions just ask Whaea get more and more efficient at storing incoming on the internet in a nano second, but the information when it fits prior knowledge and internet wasn’t allowed at quiz time. Paul was Google for the it becomes easier to consolidate and retrieve it. stumped. Building our knowledge base then, is a critical One day we had a repeat question from a few answer anytime, feature of learning for young people. Encoding weeks before. We all kept silent so Paul could anywhere? and recalling knowledge is part of that process. answer. ‘I have no idea,’ he eventually offered. If our prior knowledge is available, we can Paul’s explanation for not recalling the answer was ‘he didn’t build on it, change it, evaluate it and reconstruct it. We can need to remember’ because he could just look it up again on apply critical thinking skills to help us decide what is worthy the internet. It seemed the memory compartment of Paul’s and relevant knowledge and what is not. We can comprehend extraordinary brain, was like a very expensive Christmas tree and remember new information better when it is connected to decoration. An ornamental crystal ball, in pristine condition, existing knowledge. of the finest quality, and quite empty. This is a process which continues throughout our lives. In 2022, we are deeply immersed in the information age with When we actively assimilate new information and actively billions of bits of information being added to the internet every apply that knowledge to our already well-developed knowledge minute of the day. The question is, how can this information base, we eventually become wise. Our judgement is sharp and translate into retrievable knowledge? Can young people be our thinking deep. We have much to draw on to reach our expected to build knowledge when you can just ask Whaea conclusions. Google for the answer anytime, anywhere? Whilst noting the importance of knowledge development, There are multiple theories of learning. At the heart of each and the memory skills associated with that we also place a high is knowledge – building knowledge, broadening knowledge, value on the use of technology in classrooms. As a country critiquing knowledge and creating new knowledge. Whether we have a very high uptake of technology and in our schools teacher directed or student centred, the process of learning is we place considerable emphasis on our young people being dependent first on remembering previous information so we technologically literate and capable. have something to build on – something we can convert into These aspirations have merit at one level, but have we got the knowledge. It is an active process by which we incorporate balance right? Are we making sure that technology is not doing new information into existing cognitive frameworks and come our children’s schoolwork for them, giving them all the answers to conclusions about it. As new information comes to hand, while their memory banks are starved of the rich nutrients we we reconsider, rearrange and reevaluate and eventually we call knowledge? construct new knowledge. Each stage is completely dependent Technology can be a wonderful aid. It supports teaching on the knowledge we already have – the knowledge we have and can help children with learning. What it must never do is remembered. replace either. So why is knowledge so important? For a start it is essential to help us to understand the world around us. It is also essential to making informed decisions. Our knowledge structures aid us to