fehler/gist:7920886

## gistfile1.txt
/* We need to change web design education. Urgently. To do that we need to celebrate it. */

I don't think education has an inherent inability to cope with changing technology, my course team has been evolving our content year-on-year for close to a decade now. We very rarely deliver the same lecture twice, there would be no point, everything is moving too quickly.

I think the problem lies with designers who transition 'away from industry' into academia and stop keeping current. Once the link to making is broken, once you become an academic who is no longer engaged with practice, you begin to become almost useless as an educator.

Universities have a role to play in research and there are many academics who are fantastic pursuing that line of enquiry, however, universities also need to recognise that there is a desperate need for educators. As the current university system stands (certainly in the UK), research is seen as the priority, while education is secondary.

That I believe is a huge mistake. We have a desperate need for designers who are not only equipped to create, but are equipped to think. When education takes a back seat to research we end up with poor and uninspiring educators when what we need is exactly the opposite.

We need more educators, who are passionate and committed and who, importantly, maintain links into industry and, preferably, continue to work in industry. If we celebrate educators who are innovating and delivering engaging learning experiences, we might attract more talented individuals to see education as a calling.

We are guilty in our industry of hugely overlooking education. Award ceremonies, for example, the net Awards, "celebrate the best in web design and development," and yet, there's not one category celebrating education. If we're truly to change education, we need to list it up there with 'Designer of the Year' and 'Developer of the Year'.

I find it frustrating. I write for net magazine and I have repeatedly suggested that they celebrate education, but it would appear it isn't sexy enough to give a category. I think that's hugely disappointing, very short-sighted and indicative of a wider malaise in industry, which would appear - as echoed by many voices - to have given up on education. That's a real shame.
	/* We need to change web design education. Urgently. To do that we need to celebrate it. */

	I don't think education has an inherent inability to cope with changing technology, my course team has been evolving our content year-on-year for close to a decade now. We very rarely deliver the same lecture twice, there would be no point, everything is moving too quickly.

	I think the problem lies with designers who transition 'away from industry' into academia and stop keeping current. Once the link to making is broken, once you become an academic who is no longer engaged with practice, you begin to become almost useless as an educator.

	Universities have a role to play in research and there are many academics who are fantastic pursuing that line of enquiry, however, universities also need to recognise that there is a desperate need for educators. As the current university system stands (certainly in the UK), research is seen as the priority, while education is secondary.

	That I believe is a huge mistake. We have a desperate need for designers who are not only equipped to create, but are equipped to think. When education takes a back seat to research we end up with poor and uninspiring educators when what we need is exactly the opposite.

	We need more educators, who are passionate and committed and who, importantly, maintain links into industry and, preferably, continue to work in industry. If we celebrate educators who are innovating and delivering engaging learning experiences, we might attract more talented individuals to see education as a calling.

	We are guilty in our industry of hugely overlooking education. Award ceremonies, for example, the net Awards, "celebrate the best in web design and development," and yet, there's not one category celebrating education. If we're truly to change education, we need to list it up there with 'Designer of the Year' and 'Developer of the Year'.

	I find it frustrating. I write for net magazine and I have repeatedly suggested that they celebrate education, but it would appear it isn't sexy enough to give a category. I think that's hugely disappointing, very short-sighted and indicative of a wider malaise in industry, which would appear - as echoed by many voices - to have given up on education. That's a real shame.