Classrooms of the future???

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Permalink Reply by Mitch Coley on January 20, 2009 at 7:44pm

OMG! I'm all about protecting students, but this piece of legislation is taking the control out of school districts. Local jurisdiction! Otherwise, the classroom of the future will be a future 3d with simulations, laptops instead of textbooks, and lots of student products online. A lot of traditional techniques will be utilized, but the Web 2.0 revolution can't be ignored. Students are obviously connecting online, outside of the classroom. There engagement will be improved many times over if they can bring their "facebook and myspace" mentalities to the classroom.

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Permalink Reply by John Sowash on January 20, 2009 at 8:22pm

Here are my predictions:

In 20 years (or less), 50% of all instruction will be done through on-line learning. Individual schools will specialize in a particular area and "host" the class for students all around the country and the world. Courses the school does not teach will be made available through other schools. Teachers will take on more of a facilitator role rather than being primary instructors. They will tutor students individually or in small groups when they have questions regarding their on-line course work. Assessment and coursework will become increasingly adjusted to the unique needs of each student.

I may be way off, but there is a growing consensus that on-line learning is going to revolutionize education within the next 20 years. Check out Disrupting Class by Clayton M. Christensen.

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Permalink Reply by Tanya Rehse on January 21, 2009 at 10:23am

I've now been using APEX (an online curriculum site) in one-on-one teaching for the last year. Basically, I don't see a substantial difference in how students respond to this versus a good lecture. They misread material, skip sections, and often do not understand how a particular concept is presented... or corrected, if there is quick, computer-generated feedback. The amount of labor that goes into addressing a tremendous variety of student learning needs is huge - no online curriculum is going to be able to completely address that for a very long time.

Thus, IMHO, a teacher-facilitator is fundamental to online curriculum. A fully online course, without a teacher-facilitator, suffers from the same issues as a book on tape with a couple animations. Disruptive technologies are getting bigger and more prominent - they still can't address the complexity of student learning needs. The power of Web 2.0 is the immediacy of fluid human and computer interaction. It doesn't replace humans.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on January 21, 2009 at 5:07pm

Tanya, I agree, so much of what is done with new tools is old stuff.

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Permalink Reply by Jill B on January 21, 2009 at 4:57pm

I don't know what it's going to look like in 20 years, but I know it's not going to look like it does now.

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Permalink Reply by Kev on January 21, 2009 at 7:42pm

I have a sad feeling it will look strikingly similar to what it looks like now. Teachers teach how they were taught.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Justl on January 21, 2009 at 8:25pm

At times, I couldn't agree with you more. Yet, all of the information I have learned on these Web 2.0 over the past 10 days gives me hope! I think in addition to fighting higher education, the parents of the students we teach also are comfy with schools as they are. After all, if it was good enough for them... :-)

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Permalink Reply by Karen Justl on January 21, 2009 at 8:27pm

The article is disheartening and so short-sighted. So many of the tools I have found on Web 2.0 are great for elementary and middle school students.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Lehr on January 21, 2009 at 8:37pm

I see the cell phone taking the place of the computer. Easy access to internet, e-mail and everything in between.

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Permalink Reply by Maria Fleyshgakker on January 22, 2009 at 6:33am

Here is the link to The Future of Education discussion. There is a hope, things will go the right way :) Don't be too pessimistic, people :) Those in power do understand that the real power is in the hands of the kids because if we do not meet their needs they all will drop out. We must change the system so it prepares the next generation for their lives, not to the life of a farmer in 17th century England :)
There are many hypocritical laws that we learned to ignore, or work around, or protest. We can organize e-protest :) in a positive way with our students participation.

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Kutkey on January 22, 2009 at 8:24am

I think that textbooks as we know them will be gone. There might be some supplemental workbooks to accompany online instruction in the classroom. Perhaps charter schools might finally become solvent in an online environment. But I agree with Tanya Rehse that human interaction will always be necessary and desirable. Read my blog on this The Fun They Had which looks at Asimov's short take on education's future.

As for the legislation, I happen to agree that MySpace has no place in the school. Most of it is a free for all, a virtual bathroom wall of graffiti. However, there is definitely a place for educational social network sites. The motivation they provide students is genuine and they meet the students where they are. It would be irresponsible of us not to utilize these tools. This is a part of our students world and will continue to be in one way or another. We must adapt to it. Read Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on January 22, 2009 at 8:51am

I agree.... in 10 years, students will be carrying electronic tablets similar to Amazon's Kindle that'll contain every textbook they need. Chiropractors everywhere will lose business as backpacks become much lighter!

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