Prof. Roni Aviram / The Center for Futurism in Education

Prof. Aharon (Roni) Aviram, Chair

Educational futurist and philosopher of education, Roni Aviram's interests focus on the impact of ICT on education and society, and on forging macro and micro levels strategies for the optimization (in light of Humanistic values) of the impact of ICT on education and higher-education. Aviram has written numerous scientific papers and articles published in collective volumes and scientific journals on these subjects, as well as several books on the desired future of education and ICT-based education. He is the chair of the Center for Futurism in Education at Ben-Gurion University, and has led pioneering projects and think-groups - Israeli and European - focused on the "merger" of ICT and education, the radical change of the school and systems of education and higher education, and the formation of virtual lifelong learning environments enhancing human development and flourishing. For Aviram, the best uses of ICT in any educational or lifelong learning framework would be those enhancing personal autonomy and dialogical belonging, the two values he takes as the cornerstones of Humanism and Humanistic education.

CFE - The Center for Futurism in Education

The ever growing availability of information and knowledge, the globalization of society, and at the same time the growing diversity and regionalization of states, the free market economy and ever expending privatization of once-universal or national assets - all these factors and many more call for re-approaching the question of the aims of education.
Any such attempt to address this question must stem from a deep understanding of prevailing practices – and among them, first and foremost that of ICT.
Any such attempt should furthermore be critical in its approach, investigative in spirit, and strategic in scope.
And at last, any such attempt should be guided by a clear conception of individuals' wellbeing and societies prosperity as means for enabling their citizens' wellbeing.

Homeschooling

The Center provides academic support to the legal campaign of homeschoolers in Israel, trying to achieve governmental recognition of their educational practice. This effort joins another process, led by the Center, aiming at increasing awareness in society in general and the research community in particular to the issue of homeschooling.
The Center has organized, together with Mandel Institute for Educational Leadership, the first academic conference dealing with homeschoolers, held in Jerusalem, May 2006.
http://www.bgu.ac.il/futuredu/