The role of Print in education

It's not obvious, but the snippet below is at the core of the answer. It's the part about "artifacts of prior conversations" Eduction is conversation, managed in the service of learning. Print is the artifact in question.

from Coevolving Innovations
The trajectory of systems research and practice: A Fuschl conversation (2008)

: "In addition, artifacts of prior conversations are helpful as references for ongoing research. Ideas from a conversation in 2000 (i.e. on aporetic conflict) resurfaced in 2008, and are being revisited in current research. The path from idea generation to initial documentation to published research to application is ambiguous in its direction and duration. The combination of easily-accessible proceedings and in-person availability of prior participants improves the transmission of knowledge."