By: Dr. Francois Sauer, Dr. Ron LaPorte, and Susan Hanna Bennett The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator 1 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Overview In a Knowledge-based society we go: From Knowledge organized in the Physical Place of a library (private or public) To knowledge distributed in Virtual Spaces via multi-media. From knowledge classified by topic To knowledge selected through meaning enabling associations that are context sensitive. The Librarian then becomes the expert in formulating effective questions to selectively find meaningful associations in different knowledge spaces bigger than the storage capability of a human brain. From knowledge based on the findings of science To the relevance of our conscience for the requisite ethic needed in the application of science. From the access to explicit knowledge captured in writing To virtual networks of excellence that link scientists around the world to concurrently access explicit and implicit knowledge. From the Educator identifying and proliferating appropriate content according to predetermined standards, To the Educator as a Catalyst enabling ethical application of the available knowledge when teaching the value of science including: Truth, Honor, Teamwork, Constructive Subversiveness and Conflict Resolution. 2 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

From the physical place to the virtual space connecting humans 3 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Forces Pressing Against Current Paradigms…. Reproduction The Information Age Association The Relationship Age Explicit and Implicit Knowledge within Virtual networks of Excellence Explicit Knowledge within Physical Places 4 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Forces Pressing Against Current Paradigms…. Illustration: Serge Bloch 5 Social Systems Technological Systems F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Innovations in Education 6 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

The Educator and the Student: Yesterday and Today 7 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Virtual Knowledge Spaces Library of Alexandria 100,000 searchable books On-line Supercourse 4,300 On-line lectures 8 1.Environment of Trust vs. External Control 2.Engaging the Creative Thinking Cycle vs. the Reflexive Cycle 3.Systemic Thinking vs. Lineal Thinking 4.Compassion vs. Judgment 5.Courage and Resourcefulness vs. entitlement 6. Interdisciplinary relationships vs. silos A new perspective: F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added Genuinely Interested Emotionally Connected Honoring Needs 9 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added New Associations between ideas and people An Open Mind - Vulnerable 10 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added A Blue Print for Problem Solving 11 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Library of Alexandria and Educator’s value added Ambiguity for Creativity and Innovation Be ready to let go… 12 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Conclusions Friction in the system, as result of the gap between technology growth and social constructs, presents a tremendous opportunity to improve efficiencies. “Increased public-private partnerships may create new and nontraditional arrangements to support innovation and sustainability in the healthcare delivery system.” (PricewaterhouseCoopers’, 2009) Individual singularity represents a significant constraint in light of the proliferation of knowledge. 13 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Conclusions (cont’d) Technology is needed to reduce complexity and enhance collaboration. In the Industrial age, steam was the resource to multiple the physical force of a human being. In the Relationship Age, the search and virtualization engines will be the lever to multiply the creative imagination of human beings. “In the more immediate future, two other advances – semantic technologies and computer-aided molecule design – will play a much bigger part in enhancing the research process.” (PricewaterhouseCoopers’, 2008) 14 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Conclusions (cont’d) For us to take advantage of identification and association capabilities, a different infrastructure is needed in terms of proliferation of knowledge. The Library of Alexandria is providing an essential element of this infrastructure. Knowledge in a digital environment is a requirement to feed Next Generation Search Engines. This transformation of our society can be leveraged by Educators in a catalytic role – for the ethical expansion of the mind of the student and of the community. 15 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

Epilogue “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire “The student of tomorrow will need to be prepared for a higher calling. This higher calling will be to preempt crisis before they occur, anticipate disasters before they happen, and solve some of mankind’s greatest problems, starting with the problem of our own ignorance” (Frey, 2009). 16 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (

References: 17 1.Serageldin, Ismail. Science: The Culture of Living Change. Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria Egypt p.32 2.Downes, L. The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces that Govern Life and business in The Digital Age. © 2009 by Larry Downes. Basic Books, New York. 3.Frey, Thomas. The Future of Colleges and Universities. blueprint-for-a-revolution/ 4.Sauer, F. (2009) Relearn, Evolve and Adapt: An Essay to Integrate Creative Imagination with Socially Conditioned Thought and Behavior. 5.PricewaterhouseCoopers’, Dec “Top 10 health industry issues in 2010: Squeezing the juice out of healthcare.” p PricewaterhouseCoopers’, “Pharma 2020: Virtual R&D: Which path will you take?” p. 7 F.Sauer, The Library of Alexandria Supercourse: Expanding the Role of the Educator, Supercourse (