Can we improve the future with lessons from our past?

This invited keynote presentation addressed the nature of online life and how it makes sense for learning and identity. "My roots are England, my reference point is the moon and my sense of belong is to join the global society of humankind" was my riposte to Jacques Delors concerns about globalisation. The explosion of information and interpersonal relationships that Web 2.0 and social software enables demands that we think ‘outside the box’ about these five issues - creativity, attention, space, identity and authority, and this presentation examines the concerns of stakeholders at the levels of government, organisation and individual with respect to learning and the new opportunities offered by online technology.