Tomorrow:Today
Classroom of the Future
As we set out to envision the classrooms of the future, we feel it is important to clarify some key points. First, let’s look at the moniker “classroom of the future” – a phrase that was coined during the last century, during the Technology Age. The phrase conjured images of Jetson-esque beings using technologies yet to be developed. That was in the 20th century. We now find ourselves in the Information Age. Today, the technology and infrastructure necessary to create these miraculous classrooms are part of our everyday life. What we need are “The Classrooms of Today”.
To remain at parity with the world we live in, we need our education system to be a reflection of that world. Curriculum that lacks real world relevance has, and will continue to discourage students from seeking knowledge.
Recent studies show that there are a few primary factors that are keeping our schools from achieving their goal of preparing the students for success in the 21st Century:
Class sizes are too large
Content appears irrelevant to the student’s daily life
Teaching methods and curriculum are outdated
Students that place outside the centerline assessments, and ESL students, lack the individual care needed to thrive
Student assessments are not standardized, and individual progress is hard to track
Textbooks are expensive, unwieldy, and quickly become outdated
-
Imagine a set of solutions that could begin implementation today. They could include, but are NOT limited to:
Short format, interactive micro-lessons both for the student (MicroLearn). Content for students would consist of 15-20 minute interactive lessons, using real life scenarios and problem solving. The idea is to have numerous modules for the Student to choose, each representing concepts that are central to the overall curriculum. Below are some benefits of this approach:
Smaller, manageable modules engage students more readily
Allows for work outside the classroom
Addresses the remedial, advanced, and ESL students with targeted content
Curriculum is easily customized and can be designed to address core curriculum goals
Content can be solicited from a variety of sources. PBS, industry, media outlets, publishers, etc
(OPEN SOURCE)
A Web Portal for students, teachers, and administrators, providing content and services within its own safe online community, based on education. In the portal model, everything you need is at your fingertips. Most successful portals allow the user to customize the content, and even arrange it into pages. A Web Portal would offer:
Ability to provide VOD (video on demand)
Vehicle to provide interactive learning content
Assessment tracking
Student progress reports
Allows for and stimulates parental involvement
Discussion site – creates a central forum for educators and students to share ideas and discuss solutions
A more direct way to disseminate information to all groups
Creates a huge purchasing entity, able to benefit from the economies of scale when purchasing both education related products AND general merchandise, which could provide an additional revenue stream
Allows for personalized services like counseling via telepresence
Allows for classroom learning via telepresence
___________________________________________________________________________
These are just a few of the many ideas and programs that represent a step forward in the evolution of modern education. We welcome your thoughts and ideas. After all, it takes a village!
Please feel free to engage in open discussion in our forum here
_____________________________________________________________________