21 Things That Will Be Obsolete by 2020

Pipper

There will come a time when the rich will sit under a tree with their Socrates, and only their brains for company; the poor will be crowded into overcrowded schools and lessons to be left alone with a Kindle. The wealthy and educated know the game….

LRA

They were saying things like this 50 years ago…meh

Fewwe

Just wait and see.

Cashstrapped

Much of the paper reduction will continue to be a result of cash – either the lack of, or replacement by ccredit/debit devices (integrated into smartphones, no doubt).

guest

fuck “digitized” paper. books for life.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JA6T52I3P2FQQGLBLZQBB4U3O4 Hmmmmm

This is all a bunch of bull – people said this ten years ago and more. I mean seriously, people once thought in 2010 we’d be living in outer space, not using cars, flying everywhere and defying gravity. Are we anywhere close to that? Nope. P.s. It’s not that we’re afraid of Wikipedia – it’s a great source for tidbits of information but has no right in a research paper. We teach our students to use it and to accurately asses information to find flaws. Wikipedia isn’t fool-proof and a lot on it isn’t correct. Sadly, students think it’s fact without finding out if what their reading is true. Your list proves my point that Americans are becoming less intelligent with the influx of technology. Technology is a necessity, I teach it in school. But you got it all wrong.

Terry Elliott

You certainly are sure of yourself. Almost as sure as the writers of the article. All wrong? bunch of bull? less intelligent? Is a comment section an appropriate place to speak this way? Perhaps it is the sound of your own voice that entrances you. Eventually, everything we know is wrong so please be useful. Something is bound to be obsolete in ten years. It is fun to guess. I would suspect that the writer would be the first to admit she might not know the future. Ease up,dude, and engage not enrage.
- lite bleu
  
  Love your answer and adopt your advice – engage not enrage.

http://twitter.com/ryanbretag Ryan Bretag

What is sad about a list like this is that we are projecting it for 2020 when many of these should have already been extinct and schools should be moving now on these. As a great leader I know says, “we continue to land” in education and when we land, we bury our feet so deep that moving us takes an act of Congress. Sad…

http://twitter.com/KyleAlbert Kyle Albert

This list seems ill-thought out. Considering the massive budget crunches virtually all public schools in the US are in right now, to posit that by 2020 all desks will be gone and buildings will have become smaller and greener is ridiculous. Where’re all of these schools going to get the money to do this?

I think it’s more important to focus on smaller changes that we can make to our schools to make the more relevant, rather than focusing on pipe dreams. As a high school senior, all of this stuff sounds fantastic — but it’s necessary to be realistic.

Adcom

Are you seriously seeing these in schools in Oakland, East Palo Alto, Richmond, etc, in the next 10 years? I mean… really?

Brian

This is a pretty realistic if you look back to where schools where 10 years ago. Sure schools and educators may have been thinking about these things for years, but we now how means to actually implement them. They’ve been wanting to digitize textbooks for 30 years, but not it is really physically and economically possible. The savings in eliminating the mounds of paper alone will help to pay for some of these new initiatives. I like the fear of wikipedia one and some on the comments here about it. Funny thing is, every so often (years back) Encyclopedia Britannica and others would put out a separate volume that just corrected the mistakes and ‘misprints’ found in each lengthy volume. Wikipedia allows us to fix these errors on the fly and is more immediate. If you could cite the encyclopedia, with all it’s misstated facts and misprints, you should be able to cite and use Wikipedia for research. So what if the info changes every minute. Eventually, the text bound encyclopedia changed it’s info with the next printed. You can cite the specific date/time of your Wikipedia page using the revision history links. Anyway, the list is pretty good and as a tech-in-ed integrator and parent of little ones, I’d love to see many of these come to fruition by the next decade. Prepare the students for the future, not your past.

Anonymous

This is a great “wish list.” The reality, is the wealthiest Americans (approximately the richest 2% of all Americans) consistently push for lower taxes for themselves while taking an ax to severely slash Federal and State education budgets, keeping in their mantra of “Dumbing Down America.” For the wealthiest to rule the poorest, aka a Tyrannical Aristocracy. The disaffected Americans can (and should) use Twitter and Facebook, just as the Arab revolutionists have in these past few weeks, to fight for their educational rights.

Anonymous

This is a great “wish list.” The reality, is the wealthiest Americans (approximately the richest 2% of all Americans) consistently push for lower taxes for themselves while taking an ax to severely slash Federal and State education budgets, keeping in their mantra of “Dumbing Down America.” For the wealthiest to rule the poorest, aka a Tyrannical Aristocracy. The disaffected Americans can (and should) use Twitter and Facebook, just as the Arab revolutionists have in these past few weeks, to fight for their educational rights.

Tgif

Sorry if you are being kept down by the man. I think these are soem wonderful ways to get around the learning block known as teachers unions. Hurrah!

http://twitter.com/jbaldwin Jonathan Baldwin

You had me up until number 19. Why not get them to do the plumbing, cleaning, accounts and the teaching while you’re at it?

Lee Smith

Yeah, why not. #19 is totally in line with what schools should be working toward.
Boyle213

Do you really think teaching trades in high school is a bad idea?
Keely

Yep, I’m a student, and I “asses” information on Wikipedia all the time.
Keely

Yep, I’m a student, and I “asses” information on Wikipedia all the time.

Curator

Part of being a “curator” is giving H/t to sources – peeps catch on to this sort of thing. The Daily Riff is flattered by Tina’s follows. http://bit.ly/fEbRMr

http://www.bannerprintingshop.com/ Banner Printing

In this article, I would agree on some that it will be obsolete on 2020. But not all on this list would be obsolete because there are still on this list would be available on 2020.

SFTor

Tina needs to read “The Social Life Of Information” by John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid. Learning and competency exist in social contexts. Schools, classrooms, and workplaces provide a large part of that context.

Capn Gravy

Well, the article does state it is a “wish” list…
That said, one of the key components to making these innovations possible is access to high-speed Internet. This is fine for urban and suburban ares, but there are still many schools and households in our rural districts here in California that are still working with dial-up connections. When the schools go paperless and homework assignments are only online, where does that leave them?

Titus77

I’m very doubtful about the ‘demise’ of books and paper. Students and schools have had the option to digitize printed materials for 2 decades and there’s nearly as much paper now as there ever was. Certainly the impact of ereaders and tablets will be huge, but a significant number will still want the book in their hands.

Real World

Not one of these will come to pass, you are dreaming. Schools are regressing due to massive funding cuts (in favor of business tax breaks, like they need it mroe!) Go spend anytime in a school and you will see teachers without time to think, let alone set up individual learning centers! 10 years is nothing. Some of these in 50 years I might believe.

Wendy

Great list! In today’s world, WHERE students learn is no longer defined by the walls and desks of the traditional classroom. For them, learning is no longer isolated from the world. Perhaps what we need to do is to shift our questioning from what to do with technology in our classrooms toward redesigning the relationship between school and what happens after school. As learning is moving more and more outside of the classroom and into our students’ technology rich, resource rich, connected lives, we need to help them make connections within and between these two environments to prepare them to become full participants in our society.

New pedagogies, new students, new technologies, new literacies are in our midst – learning needs to be personalized, always on, engaging and authentic. We need to use the strategies and tools that address the new realities as we bridge the gap between the controlled learning of school and the connected and collaborative learning of our students’ lives – technology can be that bridge.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PROR44UNMHB6YJ4VSSMMQAIFKE Vando

I don’t see any of this for a very simple reason, all of the items on this list ignore a very basic part of schools, the students and the teachers. It doesn’t matter how much technology you sink into schools and how much money you put in school resources if kids don’t want to learn or can’t learn because you have teachers that can’t teach. How many kids do you know that would self teach themselves with a book? Then the ill side effects of things like computers in class rooms, is a illegible hand writing out of any and all students coming out of highschool/college. But I seem to be alone on this opinion.

Bridget C

“How many kids do you know that would self teach themselves with a book?”

Almost every homeschooled child I know actually. And I know quite a few. If you don’t make learning a boring repetitive task, kids actually love it and do it voluntarily. Honest, they do.
Banjoffheidi

Vando- no longer can teachers be the “sage on the stage.” The apathy that has run rampant in education of late is disheartening. The quaint little classrooms with all students sitting in desks in rows and adoringly staring at their teacher in the front of the room has not existed since the 50′s. Priorities from parents do not include parents saying to their children, “sit in your seat, pay attention and DO NOT get in trouble at school or you will be in bigger trouble when your father gets home” .
As a teacher in an inner city school district, parental priorities range from: will I have a job, will I be evicted today, is there enough food to feed my kids, do my benefits last me through the month…..
Unfortunately, this is a reality in many areas of our country, not just inner city. Notice the priorities did not include anything about school. Most of our kids get at least 2 of their meals here at school so parents make sure they attend but do not put a priority on how the behavior is while the child is here. We have now instituted an after school program that includes a “snack” and transportation home this school year. As the teacher, I am the parent. The “parent” has become the concierge, if you will.
I promise you, Vando, as a teacher and a parent, I will do my best to educate, using 21st Century Skills and Technology. all of my students and create a life long desire to learn through the skills and strategies I impart upon my students.
- meep
  
  what happened to the good old days when teachers had no clue what a cellphone looked like and when people used to hang out at the milkshake bar and talk about boys…. stupid twitter

Prettyvacant

I can tell you that a lot of teachers would love to see this stuff happen – but the people making comments about funding are correct, and there’s also the continued demands from politicians and parents for more standardized testing. That just sets up a system where we must treat students as buckets to be filled with facts or be branded bad teachers. We hate it, but it’s happening all over.

Sadly, most people don’t want their children to pursue their own interests and self-educate; they’re afraid their kids will be left behind the ones who memorize the textbook, make top marks on tests, and can pay attention through a 75-minute lecture.

TUTTY

The 22 Thing That Will Be Obsolete by 2020 = WE!

Gholden

Ha…it is a common perception that teachers may be obsolete by 2020, but if that happened it would not be because mentors are not needed, but because they cannot be found. The challenge will be to find mature mentors who have moved their feet of clay from the 20th Century into the 21st. And this is perfect serendipidy, because the mentors needed will be those that can model life-long learning. The ground is shifting so fast that I cannot write a blog item without going back to revise it…my thinking has evolved while writing it. Imagine the challenge (and potential) for students who are relatively unencumbered with our intellectual and physiological baggage? Educators have faced and conquered many challenges in the past, but the one we face today is perhaps the greatest. It’s the student looking back at us from the mirror.

Goa

lol

21st Century Educator

For you doubters out there, where will we be in education in 2020? If one assumes that we have reached a plateau in regards to these social needs, where does that leave the relevancy of public education?

Ntfdoc

The thing that I can hardly wait to be obsolete is this totally inane list

Gholden

Lol…there already. I work in a distributed learning school where the students have already learned about earthquakes in Japan by walking virtually through the ruins of Kobe and speaking to the survivors. They’ve learned about wildlife management issues by becoming wolves, ranging through Yellowstone National Park. They walk through arteries, eat, work, and live with the ancient inhabitants of Mesa Verde, learn about cartesian planes while participating in an archaeological dig, all virtually, and all for free. They are now rebuilding Egypt, Greece and Rome so they can teach others about these great civilizations. They are currently rebuilding a local retirement home where they can “give legs” to the immobile, “restore memories” through multimedia biographies, and allow distant relatives to visit. They’re just finishing rebuilding our school so students and parents can meet with teachers, get assignments, collaborate…there are no desks, no paper, no lockers, no fixed curriculum that fails to account for personal interests and passions. Parents could not be more pleased. There children have become 24/7 students of the world, digital jedis out to change the world. And I am just getting warmed up about what they can do! What are we lacking? Teachers with the passion and vision to join us.

Gholden

“Their children….” Yes, I can spell too. Lol.
C Doig

So where do you find things like the virtual walk of kobe? What are the resources/sites?
tjohare

What is the name of your school? I would like to check it out. Thanks.
Banjoffheidi

Please email me, banjoffheidi@elyriaschools.org. I would love to “chat” more about what you do and where you are, etc. I have just scratched the surface of what you describe and I would LOVE more ideas. It is obvious our “fight” to involve parents and make parents accountable for their childs behavior and attitude is failing. This is exactly the thing we need to eliminate the necessity of parental persuasion in the inner city/low-income schools.
Lteaman

I, too, would like to know where you teach and I’d like to view your web site. Please reply to lteaman@vbschools.net. Thanks.
Seandkarlin

Please give us more information! Where can we find you on-line?
Mayerk

I, too, would love to know more. Our school is moving to a 1:1 model next year and would like to share your information with our faculty. I can be reached at mayerk@stcva.org
- stevie
  
  1 to 1 is a badge, not better. Show me single respected study that shows 1 to 1 is more effective than other environments. As a tech professional, I can see that 1 to 1 is often such a distraction, that learning actually decreases! The race to technology by public schools is yet another example of how the system is broken and does not put the educational needs of children first.
TEACHer

I’d like to think you exist, but you have yet to answer inquiries as to the what and where factor. I’m certain many of us would love to teach in such a school, but you need to prove you actually exist at this point. Waiting….
Gholden

gholden@nides.bc.ca
Skype= gord.holden (Canada)
twitter = Nidester
http://www.nides.bc.ca

While I can tell you that much of what my students do is free, the implementation of a program like mine is not something that can just be “adopted.” There is a need for much planning and commitment. Working full-time, I don’t have a lot of time to set up individual teachers, but would be willing to work with/present to district personnel to get things happening. Let me know if you think your district is ready. I know the students are.
- Bud
  
  From Gholden’s site:
  
  What do you need?
  - A fairly current computer
  - An internet connection
  - Discipline, determination and a will to succeed
  - A home facilitator who is present and can supervise the learning
  
  I’m sensing that the only way this works as a model is because of the last two points. Not saying it’s impossible, just saying the first two needs are way easier than the last two.
  - Gholden
    
    Yes, but in my experience, if you have the first 3 (along with some imagination and a desire to engage students in their learning), then the 4th one usually appears. And if not? Well, their “engaged” student likely won’t even notice. : )
Rickolbum

This sounds really exciting. Is there a website or other contact point where I could get more information?

Tina Barseghian/MindShift

Lots of issues to raised! I’ve asked the writer, Shelly Blake-Plock to respond to comments. Read it here:
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/03/a-challenge-to-doubters-do-something-impossible/

Anonymous

Like most de-schooling notions, there lurks in the background questions of class, or more precisely the assumed perspective of a certain (upper) middle class. The question really is not whether these trends will occur, in some districts and locales they most certainly will. For others, the constraints of resources will continue, delaying the millennium.

A more substantive question would be that of development, and the varied way children learn. In adolescence there is a rapid growth in maturity and learning abilities, but there also exists little evidence that the middle schooler is such a little adult that we can call that classwork covered. So, at least on the basics/specialized trend, I would vote no. In working with the age I see the students working through a variety of other issues, and while they may sometimes self-present as adults, as often there is still the child underneath.

JC

The dictionaries in my classroom are from 1967, the high school hasn’t bought new text books since 1989, we just got phones in our room 3 years ago and my building doesn’t have heat.

Rochejc1859

Just give it ten years. Then everything will be magically digitized and fantastic according to the 2021 educational utopia discussed in this article

Jefe1

I agree. I cannot get my kids to put down their phones and am trying to figure out how to teach and give them my Spanish lesson plans via text message or twitter. I think as a good teacher we need to adapt and I know for sure in an innercity school we need to maintain aware and not become ridgid and stiff and stay where WE feel comfortable. AM I a tech geek?! NO. Are my students? …not really, but they are A LOT FAR AHEAD OF ME! So, I will run to catch up to keep up and maintain high expectations and learning!!!!! I agree with most of the list, at least in the urban classroom!

http://twitter.com/misterabrams misterabrams

I read your article after finding it on Twitter. There are some major, heavily anchored concepts and paradigms of schools that will have to be broken before these changes can take place. Won’t it be wonderful when it happens? We should all try to imagine a time when students can have access to their “pocket computers” (smart phones) and perform research anytime they want. With that increase in access of information, imagine how the teaching would have to change! A movement away from facts and figures to creating and collaborating! Live the dream.

Everyman

Recent technology has been a Curse, not a Savior. None of these changes you have listed will be good for humans – - just more and more people out of work, more isolation, more alienation. Viewed objectively, not a single recent technological change has been good for the peace and tranquility of human beings – - teenagers are being separated from their families by electronic devices, unbridled lies and propaganda being are dished out irresponsibly over the internet with no accountability, and power and control are being consolidated into the hands of the techie few. Electronic Media is alienating to the Human Spirit, and is bad for humans.

Gholden

Yes, the invention of the telephone was the beginning of the end. People began to talk to disembodied phantoms in a netherworld, demons that separated people from their REAL friends, families, and associates. People’s world began to shrink…lol.

A few years ago I had two sisters join my class that were so chronically shy that they did not respond to me for 6 weeks. Within 6 months of unintimidating, confidence-building, communication as an avatar, they had transformed to the point where you could almost call them “socially aggressive.” One of them joyfully announced to me that they had friends now…”300 of them in Australia!”

My students (from the west coast of B.C.) are now slated to work with students on the east coast of the USA. My goal is to have them also working with other children who are Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Jews in Israel, and Hindus from India. Sure sounds like the beginning of the end of peace, relationships, and everything else we hold dear.

And yes, now that we have families where both parents work, and many families are dysfunctional…children are indeed finding “family” elsewhere. While that has never ALWAYS been a good thing, it has always been a fact of life. Our challenge is not to stop them from doing this, or tearing down their means, but to address the reason for it. Time and effort much better spent methinks.
Ftechnology,bringonthe20s

i completely agree! well said
Fds33fje

HA! What a penetrating observation! Alienation, indifference, isolation, facebook (make the world a more open place by helping people connect and share), how ironic. Information flood is clouding wisdom, of which, wisdom, is the ultimate commander of every knowledge and technology there will ever be.
everyman’s everyman

tell it to my family who spends all day playing words with friends with eachother while sitting in the same room, with except of my sister who is living on campus, its away for her to still feel connected to her family. get off the library computer and to back under the rock you came from
Guest

No, it’s actually conservative idiots like you who are bad for humans (: the world is changing, old traditions are being re-examined and if you can’t accept that and start thinking for yourself – thus finding your find your place in the 21st Century – Natural Selection will take care of you …

Gholden

Hmmm…so sorry that I didn’t respond earlier. I thought I would recieve notification if anyone responded to my post. Yes, I do indeed exist. If you wish to contact me it may be best by skype gord.holden (Canada). Tina has asked for an article, so I will be sharing here further details and the opportunities that exist for learning through immersive technology.

Gholden

Have to chuckle about comments that suggest technology isolates people. Yes, of course some humans will gravitate toward activities that do isolate. One could argue that the hours of practise spent doing horseback riding, art, music, well the list is endless…involve much more isolation than not, but we do not attribute the world’s ills to these things.

Training student-teachers in the Comox Valley (SD71), I would invariably be asked for the “short version” of what makes a great teacher. My response was 90% preparation, 90% relationship, and 20% are the intangibles. So, I find myself moving to North Island Distributed Education School, where I have students from across B.C. The relationship aspect is now GONE. And I AM a lousy teacher. Am I a lousy teacher now? I am 100% confident that none of my students (or their parents) would say so. Why? Because over the last 3 years I leveraged the technology that was available to bring students together with each other, and me. Many of these students have left classrooms because they either did not have the health or patience for the “peace and tranquility” they found there. Now, they have their tribe. They are my digital jedis, and you will find them working collaboratively with other students almost 24/7.

Everyman, I do not blame you for your opinion. It has come from seeing the underbelly of technology. But there is another side. You will be moved and enlightened when you find it. I hope that the same passion that moved you to criticize will empower you to continue your journey. There is another view around the bend. : )

Ambicachi

This is ridiculous. People always make the mistake of imagining too much change in too little time. 50 years? 100? Maybe then, desks in classrooms or books (largely) will be gone. But in 10 years? As long as all of the current teachers don’t suddenly drop dead in 9 years, there will STILL be a fear of wikipedia, still be grades, and frankly, there will still be those same teachers who (some) “ha[ve]n’t yet figured out how to use tech to personalize learning.”

Rochejc

I’m sorry but this could be the 21 dumbest predictions Ive ever seen. You really think that in ten years paper will be obsolete, buildings will somehow decrease in size, all students in the country will be taking algebra in middle school, all parents will somehow learn to use technology, curriculum will be entirely revamped, bioscans will take attendence, etc. I actually laughed at this. I think that most of these won’t even be true in the next 50 years let alone 10. You probably believe that gasless flying cars will be the norm by 2015 too huh?

CindyB

You are so right.
http://profiles.google.com/sathi.rmit10 Sathi Veerappan

I think so. You are correct. It’s full of morning dreaming.
SeanR

You must not be living in the same world as us because this is not crazy. Kids are learning more advanced things at much earlier ages. Algebra is being taught to middle schoolers. Parents in 10 years are teens right now. Those are technology based teens. They are not going to become technologically stupid when they become parents.

Granted some things on this list will not come true in 10 years but most will come true and sooner than most think. You need to rethink what is going on in this world.
- Fife
  
  This is post I wrote in response to PMStall. I’m curious what you think of it given your words about Algebra in middle school.
  
  I completely agree with PMStall. Someone, anyone, find research that states
  the majority of kids (nationally or locally) below the age of 13/14 are
  developmentally ready for the abstract concepts in Algebra. Don’t bother
  trying because you won’t find any…Today and tomorrow there will
  be kids younger than 13/14 who are ready to master Algebra and good for them.
  But the vast majority of kids are not ready tomaster the concepts and skills
  of Algebra. Notice I write the word master; ifone wants to think of mastery
  in terms of typical grades than equate it with anA or B. So many students
  who take Algebra I now, earn a D or F and just passby. Or even earn C’s but
  their understanding is minimal at best.Unfortunately,initiatives
  like having a certain number of 8th graders in Algebra I and get credit (or
  pass) is complete nonsense. Students can earn low grades (D’s and even an F)
  and still pass. These type of initiatives are politically motivated, not
  what’s best practice in education. Unfortunately, the public is swayed
  by such information. When will most parents and pretty much all
  politicians realize learning something well is far better than just getting
  credit for it even if learning it well means taking a course one, two or even
  three yearslater.
teacher

Head’s up……..We are a Los Angeles public low income school…..all our textbooks are online, all our tests are done online, every student has to do multiple PowerPoints a year, our gradebooks are online with parents logging in weekly, our students create yearly portfolios (some of which is digital), every teacher has a website, 90% of all students complete Algebra by the end of 8th grade, the combo home-school/independent online K-8 school operates out of an office at the local charter high school, and homework only counts for max 10% of a students grade (some classes, zero). It’s already here…
- Michelle
  
  I am all for these changes, I would welcome them all. But as a teacher in a rural area this is more then 10 years out for us, and I think quite a bit of schools. For us I think it will need to be a shift of our parent mind set, we have online grading and websites, I would say less then 50% of parents use it. My school is focused on the pluming and leaky roof, not bio scans.
- Teacher in the real world
  
  Yeah right. I’m a teacher and have gone to conferences with folks from LA and they would say you’re full of it. Unless you’re a pampered little magnet school in which case your good fortune = less resources and good students for regular schools. LA School District is a joke.
  - Dr. H
    
    I am a consultant with LACOE and “Teacher” is absolutely correct in their statements. One of the benefits of being a “Low Income” district in LA is that there is a lot of special attention (read: money) given to the schools to increase outcomes. This often results in a classroom far ahead of the ‘curve’ of your standard classroom. You, obviously, have a grudge against what LA is offering to their students…. of you just don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe both.
    
    Dr. H.
  - Bstalk
    
    I am SO afraid to read that you are a teacher. I feel sorry for your students!
  - Eeskmstech
    
    I’m a computer lab teacher in a district that is not very advanced technology-wise. However, I try to teach problem solving and not necessarily computer techniques as the technology they are using in my lab will certainly not be what is in their hands in the future. Will the kids adapt? Certainly. We did.
    
    Why am I responding to your post in particular? I’m teaching a unit on being respectful on-line and our feelings when we cyber bully or are cyber bullied. I’m going to read the kids some of these posts and see what they think. I’ll reply again after our discussion next week and post their opinions.
  - Anonymous
    
    “Teacher in the real world” = a.k.a. laid off teacher who hasn’t worked in a long time. Obviously you know nothing about which you speak of.
- student19
  
  But desks? what else would students sit in? bean bag chairs and futons? I know I’d fall asleep in class if that were the case. And paper? I sure can’t learn well using a computer all the time. Yeah it’s helpful, but writing down notes on paper helps me with memorization (plus you get to doodle on the pages)
  - 3lwood
    
    Students shouldn’t sit! They should be mobile and active. Sitting is dangerous to health.
    - Gholden
      
      Indeed, our refurbished computer lab will not include chairs. They just get in the way of students flying around the lab, sharing, learning, teaching, collaborating. Much better for the body AND the mind!
    - Dormangelo
      
      Quite, quite
    - Pickle
      
      Indeed good sir
    - Lisadu
      
      It pains me to see eight year olds sit for six hours a day and have restrictions on movement and speech because the teacher has mandated benchmarks. Movement in the classroom is so controlled that students sit for the classroom parties. It’s unnatural.
    - Lisadu
      
      It pains me to see eight year olds sit for six hours a day and have restrictions on movement and speech because the teacher has mandated benchmarks. Movement in the classroom is so controlled that students sit for the classroom parties. It’s unnatural.
    - elephant
      
      So is staring at a computer screen for hours a day!
  - Bobbyann56
    
    I have to say, bean bags and futons are a part of my small town school in AR and the students seem to be doing just great and not napping. We also have I-pads, computers, laptops and I-pods on the way. Maybe not all the students have the same technology, but the goal is to have some type of technology in all students’ hands during some part of the learning day. We also use less paper than two years ago, notes are made for note taking apps and such.
- Jkoerschen
  
  Power points? How 20th century is that.
- Fife
  
  This is post I wrote in response to PMStall. I’m curious what you think of it given your words about Algebra in middle school.I completely agree with PMStall. Someone, anyone, find research that states the majority of kids (nationally or locally) below the age of 13/14 are developmentally ready for the abstract concepts in Algebra. Don’t bother trying because you won’t find any…
  
  Today and tomorrow there will be kids younger than 13/14 who are ready to master Algebra and good for them. But the vast majority of kids are not ready tomaster the concepts and skills of Algebra. Notice I write the word master; ifone wants to think of mastery in terms of typical grades than equate it with anA or B. So many students who take Algebra I now, earn a D or F and just passby. Or even earn C’s but their understanding is minimal at best. And consider this, how many students have to take remedial courses to “refresh” their memories with basic skills and basic Algebra concepts because by the time they get to 11th and 12th grade, they have forgotten most everything.
  
  Unfortunately,initiatives like having a certain number of 8th graders in Algebra I and get credit (or pass) is complete nonsense. Students can earn low grades (D’s and even an F) and still pass. These type of initiatives are politically motivated, not what’s best practice in education. Unfortunately, the public is swayed by such information. When will most parents and pretty much all politicians realize learning something well is far better than just getting credit for it even if learning it well means taking a course one, two or even three yearslater.
- B. B. Bennett
  
  Yeah, that’s nice, but what’s the background on all of this technical improvement? If your school is low income, where’s the money coming from to pay for this stuff? Is it a grant, or some special “because you’re a low income school” program? We can barely get voters to pay for the old fashioned schools so I don’t know what it will take to implement your school’s experience statewide.
  
  As to PowerPoints I am sorry but I’m unimpressed. So what? Quantity versus quality: merely having them do the presentation with a computer instead of poster board doesn’t mean that they learn any more than they otherwise would.
  
  As for algebra, completion isn’t mastery; it’s simply getting a passing grade on the days of the tests. We both know that the battle is still raging about at what age children are developmentally ready to embrace algebra without crying. The more likely scenario is for it to be broken up into bite-sized bits and spread out over several grades, from primary to secondary, perhaps even discarding it as a discrete study and mixing it in with geometry and the rest with the focus being on “here’s the problem, how do we solve it”.
  
  Homework goes back and forth like a bad joke. Now it’s good for you, now it’s not. Stay tuned.
  
  My real question is this: If we’re saying that you need a college diploma to succeed in this brave new world, that a high school diploma just isn’t cutting it, then why does the education process essentially stop at age 12 for the vast bulk of students? When are we going to re-evaluate the entire school experience, from curriculum, to schedules, and and to breadth?
- B. B. Bennett
  
  Yeah, that’s nice, but what’s the background on all of this technical improvement? If your school is low income, where’s the money coming from to pay for this stuff? Is it a grant, or some special “because you’re a low income school” program? We can barely get voters to pay for the old fashioned schools so I don’t know what it will take to implement your school’s experience statewide.
  
  As to PowerPoints I am sorry but I’m unimpressed. So what? Quantity versus quality: merely having them do the presentation with a computer instead of poster board doesn’t mean that they learn any more than they otherwise would.
  
  As for algebra, completion isn’t mastery; it’s simply getting a passing grade on the days of the tests. We both know that the battle is still raging about at what age children are developmentally ready to embrace algebra without crying. The more likely scenario is for it to be broken up into bite-sized bits and spread out over several grades, from primary to secondary, perhaps even discarding it as a discrete study and mixing it in with geometry and the rest with the focus being on “here’s the problem, how do we solve it”.
  
  Homework goes back and forth like a bad joke. Now it’s good for you, now it’s not. Stay tuned.
  
  My real question is this: If we’re saying that you need a college diploma to succeed in this brave new world, that a high school diploma just isn’t cutting it, then why does the education process essentially stop at age 12 for the vast bulk of students? When are we going to re-evaluate the entire school experience, from curriculum, to schedules, and and to breadth?
- Cliff Hemple
  
  Looks like grammar has disappeared from teacher skills too.
Geniemyo

As a children’s book author and illustrator working on her first book, I don’t think books will be obsolete, and not within 10 years. I suffer from conjunctivitis and computer eye strain, so reading from a kindle may be a challenge for me. I like the printed word on paper and plan to try to donate to organizations that plant trees.
- Gholden
  
  Yes, my books fill every nook of my house. Even the ones I’ll never read will likely have a home with me until I’m shuffled off to an old-age home, or my house erupts in flames. Similarly, I drive a vehicle I cannot see the sense in parting with. It has no radio, sound system, or air conditioning. The heating and defrosting system leave a lot to be desired. Well, let’s just say that it’s likely a safe bet that very few budding children’s book authors would be willing to trade down to my old rust-bucket. But as obsolete as you may consider it to be, as long as it transports, I feel little need to purchase a vehicle that does more things, better.
  My first teaching job required me to teach about Peru from a book. I couldn’t wait for my wife (who had lived throughout Peru) to read it so I could gain further insights from her. She laughed as she read it. It turns out that the text book was poor fiction. Peru was described the way our (Canadian) government could describe Peru without running the threat of displeasing the Peruvian officials that influenced diplomacy and trade. My students didn’t get a text book that term, they got the truth. Today, they would be Skyping with various Peruvian students to find out what life was like in Peru. My wife’s experiences from 20 years ago, so much more valid that the 30 year old text books, is no longer valid either.
  But what of fiction? My favourite children’s books are the Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve taught the entire series to every class I’ve taught for the last 18 years. How stimulating to read about children going through a wardrobe into another world. Now, my students travel through an arch of wisdom in Quest Atlantis. They venture with other (real) children into virtual worlds where they not only walk amongst the citizens of ancient and alien civilizations, they also learn from them, and influence their story by the decisions they make. Together, they solve problems on the moon, save rhinos from extinction, encounter mysterious fish kills, and are now building their own virtual worlds with which to tell their stories. And this is just the beginning. I haven’t begun to talk about the growth of augmented reality, where stories come alive in 3 dimensions before one’s eyes.
  Like my vehicle, books are not only obsolete, so is the kindle. The marketplace is simply taking its time catching up to vehicles for fact and fiction that do more. And who is leading the charge? The digital natives we call children. While I do not see print being totally supplanted in the near future as a valid means of transmitting information, the printed word is quickly losing its prominence as the medium of choice. No one has suggested that people burn their books. By all means, cling to whatever works for you. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that what works for you is what others will be choosing 10 years from now. If you do, well, I have this car that might interest you….
  - Theresa
    
    Please tell me you aren’t serious. Yes, kids (and even adults) will choose a computer/video game or a movie over a book, but that doesn’t mean that we as parents/teachers/mentors should encourage it. My toddler will pick cookies over vegetables any day of the week, but I still serve her healthy foods first and foremost. The printed word forces children to use their imaginations to fill in the gaps and images that are being described. A virtual reality system, computer game or movie might allow the transmission of information, but it will be at the cost of children’s imaginations. If our children lose the ability to imagine, they will also lose the ability to solve problems creatively and come up with those very stories and games that you are holding up as the future. Kids (and adults) should be encouraged to explore the printed word and use it as a jumping off point for their imaginations, not allowed to slip into the easier world of video games where someone else does their thinking for them.
    - Gholden
      
      Good grief. Please try to open your mind to the fact that what you may be calling cookies is the new super vegetable that does all the things you ascribe to books much, much better. Parents are wanting to have their children in my program because of how their imagination has been set on fire. Last week, one of my students just won the major filming award for Canadian students, not for an assignment, but something he put together simply BECAUSE of the important and inspirational work he was doing in a virtual world. Below I am trying to insert just a few of the comments of parents whose children’s imaginations and academic abilities have been transformed. This didn’t happen because we stopped using books, but because we replaced them with something better. Corn is a vegetable, but your really shouldn’t live on it. Until you research and experience this area in more detail, I hope you will keep an open mind towards change. The genre of books that you value so highly for your children were NOT easily accepted into publishing and education. Look it up. Their acceptance took a long time. Let’s hope we don’t make the same mistake with this generation. It would be their loss.
- Damfino
  
  I agree books will not be obsolete in 10 years, but one can’t deny that the popularity of the printed book is being challenged by eReaders.
  
  Reading from a Kindle would not be any more of a challenge for you than reading from a regular book. The fact that you don’t know that proves to me that you’ve never looked at a Kindle.
  - excited
    
    Yes, i concur. I think a school district should try and team up with Amazon and Google, and see if they can’t get all their students Kindle Fires, and Apps made exactly to help kids learn Algebra (for example). Remind them how to foil, and so on. Imagine no more backpacks! I am very excited for the next generation, and the limitless possibilities that technology is unlocking.
  - excited
    
    Yes, i concur. I think a school district should try and team up with Amazon and Google, and see if they can’t get all their students Kindle Fires, and Apps made exactly to help kids learn Algebra (for example). Remind them how to foil, and so on. Imagine no more backpacks! I am very excited for the next generation, and the limitless possibilities that technology is unlocking.
whudduppp

i took algebra in middle school circa 2001 :) and that wasn’t advanced placement
- Babz
  
  Me too. But in 1986! Yes, Algebra in the 8th grade.
  - Emurff
    
    Me too… in 7th grade in 1974.
    - Pie
      
      Me too…7th grade in 2007, with weight. Very difficult to grasp at the time.
Josh

Come on. Do you not realize that you sound like my 80 year old granny? A lot of people said we would never walk on the moon as well. ”Change is inevitable, except change from a vending machine.” If it doesn’t change then we are in a world of hurt.”Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore” – Andre Gide.
guest

I took Algebra in middle school 20 years ago, as did half of my peers. I also over the last decade of teaching in NJ have seen many of these predictions begin to make an appearance. Technology changing the classroom and instruction, increased parent communication, digital attendance, and teachers becoming their own source of Pro. Dev. all happened in the last 4 years in the district I taught in. Like it or not education is changing.
Mlknight

i completely agree with Rochejc! i mean in like the 80′s ppl were predicting us to be traveling back and forth to the moon, PUBLICLY, for vacations and living! i have no doubt that is exactly what is happening again, they’re just getting cocky and full of them selves thinking that since we’re so advanced now, everything in story book will come true in no time.

it’s ridiculous.
Ryan

I currently teach in a school in which paper is almost obsolete. I just starter using a text book a week ago. Not because I had to, but because reading a text is a skill my students might need in the future. But then again, maybe they won’t need that skill.

Gholden

I think there’s something that many are missing on this thread that is confusing the issue. The question is will these 21 things be “obsolete” in 2020. If the question was “Will these 21 things be GONE by 2020?” then I would have to agree with all those that say no. Public schools will still be underfunded, and there will always be private schools that will cater to those wanting a 19th century model of education for their children, and teachers who prefer to teach that way whether people want it or not. I still use an overhead projector when doing face to face teaching since it affords me the opportunity to gage student engagement to classroom instruction. I could set up a smart board tomorrow with Wii components to go with the software available, but I won’t. Is there something better than an overhead that would give me the same utility? Yes. Overhead projectors are obsolete, like my vehicle, my floppy drives, my t.v., well I think you get the point. Are things that are obsolete still useful? Yes. In fact, buying a 1992 Toyota creates less of a carbon footprint than buying a new electric hybrid. I think the debate needs to be more about teachnology than technology. It’s not so much the technology that should be at issue in 21st century education, but whether or not we are teaching in ways that meet the needs of a 21st century learner. How do we do that? Personally, I love it when I find a bored student For it’s in the eradication of their boredom that my teaching practice is lifted to new heights. It’s not the furniture that’s the issue…it’s the students’ learning. Find what works for them, and go with it. JMHO.

Kelli

The first line of your post “I think there’s something that many are missing on this thread that is confusing the issue” says a lot. While I agree that technology opens endless doors for students, it is not a replacement for actual human contact or hands-on learning. Given the choice, my students would choose an actual archaelogical dig over a virtual one. They would choose to observe the actual life cycle of a butterfly over a virtual one. They would choose to be out helping in our actual community, not a virtual one. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE what technology has done to enhance my teaching and the learning experiences of my students, and I am certainly not afraid of hand helds in my classroom. However, technology does not teach students empathy, social justice or the importance of being an active citizen who contributes to our community, locally and globally.
- Gholden
  
  Yes indeed Kelli, my students would likely prefer the live experience of sharing in a meal prepared by the Mesa Verde people of 300 years ago. They would love to learn more about wolves by actually running and hunting with a pack as well. Walking through the actual ruins of Kobe, Japan would certainly help them to better appreciate what it’s like to go through a devastating earthquake. I’d also love the chance to visit a space station and do research on an asteroid headed for Earth, but alas, they have to settle for doing these things, and many other similar fieldtrips virtually. If it were safe, affordable, or possible to do these “for real” we would, in a heartbeat. But to suggest that doing these things virtually is a poor cousin to observing the virtual lifecycle of a butterfly is mixing apples and oranges. You also say that “technology does not teach students empathy, social justice or the importance of being an active citizen who contributes to our community, locally and globally.” Well, this statement is proof positive that you have not experienced Quest Atlantis. While I would have considered such a statement to be pretty reasonable 3 years ago, I now know that this is far from true. Try out Quest Atlantis for a month and you will soon understand why I, and anyone who has used it, will disagree whole-heartedly with your statement. Please note, I am not suggesting that empathy and citizenship cannot be taught in real life (lol), of course it can. Like you, I have experienced that. I’m only saying that it can also be done effectively virtually because I have had the opportunity to experience and witness that along with thousands of other teachers. It is of course always advisable to speak from a position of experience rather than one that represents what you suppose to be true.

Kenny

I think this is a bit unrealistic. Maybe by 2030, but assuming the economy continues at this pace, the U.S. nor the rest of the world could afford to do something like this. We likely won’t have the money to give to schools so they can do this until 2016-17 which would allow only 4-3 years to make that change. And even then, technology is expensive and expecting schools to pay for it in that time is unrealistic. And then you have to consider parents and how they would react to this change. What if they are against some of these ideas? What if the students are?

Wdossett

Maybe a few of these will happen, but if we learn one thing in history class is that change at the governmental and major institutional levels are agonizingly slow. I won’t see this flexible a school system for a while.

CindyB

It won’t be this drastic, no matter what we hope, or think.

Dan in CO

Some people enjoy being more isolated than others. It is unfortunate that extroverts like yourself are unable to imagine that there are people on this earth who don’t relax by making small talk and that being alone is not a sad or solemn event, but a relaxing experience that allows us to hear ourselves think and not be constantly drowning in other peoples thoughtless drivel.

The future is here. Learn to embrace it or die a bitter old man.

Beth

This is ridiculously dumb. No, these things will not change like you’ve stated.

1. people need something to put their shit on in class, the office, etc… that would be a desk.
2. I have an app on my phone for french/english translations, but that’s not the same as learning it. It’s more of a check for certain words. Language labs have been a proven method to actually learn a language. Technology doesn’t magically allow you to know something; it facilitates your learning.
3. Yes, my phone is super awesome. It’s compact, portable, and useful. However, I would hate having it be my primary access to the internet and other documents. Why? Well I’m guessing you didn’t write this article on your phone. Not because you can’t, but since it’s a pain in the ass.
4. Our goal with education has always been to learn things. Homework is what students do to accomplish that goal while their outside of school, because teachers aren’t constantly available.
5. Not everyone who goes to school in the US is from the US. Schools accommodate the different backgrounds of applicants through a standardized test. I agree, it isn’t the best way of assessing a student’s capabilities, but it does allow universities to compare entrants. Changing that to a digital portfolio would needlessly disadvantage anyone outside of the US (which, BTW, schools wouldn’t want), since it would require a high school class. Also, although some teenagers accomplish great things, most don’t have anything truly worthy of a portfolio. Unless you’re going to a specialized field, like art (which, BTW, already requires you to have a portfolio), you’re going to university to learn more and figure out what you want to specialize in.
6. Technology is great. It really can be used to help people learn more, since we have greater access to a huge amount of resources. Also, we can communicate so much easier than past generations. However, not all subjects require the latest technology. In fact, as a college student, I hate when professors add needless trends to the curriculum just to stay “hip.” Seriously, we don’t need to tweet you about current events or start a blog about recent items on the syllabus. Don’t fix what works.
7. People haven’t “feared” wikipedia in a long, long time. Just don’t cite it as a reference. Why? Well, if the info is correct, you should easily be able to find a more in depth article that confirms that knowledge. Hell… you can even just look at the article cited on the wiki page. Primary sources are always better, since the information has fewer filters.
9. Most classes at university don’t have attendance sheets, so this is kind of a moot point, except humanities classes. Why? because the point there is to actually discuss the information and bounce ideas off of each other. Even in your creative, technological idyll, face to face is still arguably the best way in which to do this. If people don’t show up, they aren’t pulling their weight (i.e. sharing their views). The same goes for the modern workplace.

I skimmed the remaining answers, but 19 really stood out to me. Because…

19. You don’t think your kids should be spending more time continuing to learn? Yes, they can do all of this stuff, but half the job is the creative input which takes time. Time you might want to spend letting your kid finish school or having a life.

Some of these may be true, but your list is extremely flawed. You don’t seem to really appreciate *why* these things are useful and are instead blinded by the possibility that we can do without them. Just because you *can* do something doesn’t mean it’s the best way to accomplish your goal. Homework exists because students DON’T learn on their own. Paper exists because people can’t all AFFORD personal computers

Alexanderfindlater

A rare miss for stumble upon…

Gholden

OMG.Humanity not only has a 24/7 presence in (outer) space, there is exponential growth in the numbers that inhabit virtual space for business, socializing, entertainment, and yes…education. How devastating that so many teachers seem unable to imagine how they might leverage the hand-held devices being brought to class that are many times more powerful than the computers that put man on the moon.
America already has metal detectors screening elementary students. Bioscans are probably only a few more tragedies away (and a welcome addition to the Homeland Security arsenal.) Flying cars…old technology. Gasless trains have been sailing around the orient for a decade. Whining about needing dictionaries or atlases? (Good grief!) Parents learning technology in 10 years? YOUR STUDENTS will be the parents in 10 years! Yep, I still use a desktop, but it’s on my computer because paper will be banished from my school next year. My students will be consolidating their French lessons next year by meeting French students in a virtual French restaurant over lunch and conversing via Skype (voice and texting). They will be on mixed teams, competing against each other in virtual math games.
You see, the $700,000 just cut from our school budget this year means stepping up to the plate and adopting pedagogies and methodologies that are not only 21st century, but cost effective. Yes, we may be headed back to a Socratic academy, but one in which the walks are not confined by space, time, or ignorance. It’s here now, but only those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear will embrace it. The rest will do what they can to cling to denial, negativity, and excuses. C’est la vie.

Carena586

Honestly, The only things I think that might/should come form this are algbra in middle school and a lack of a fear tward Wikipedia. Hopefuly.

Anonymous

This is amazingly stupid. Computers for instance, Only hipsters use iPads and whatnot fulltime. I hate touch stuff, everything takes longer time, even typing, and the “internet browsing” experience, isent much better. And what do you think are going to happen with PC gamers? Are they all gonna vaporize? I.T. Departments will always be needed as people dont suddenly involve into supreme beings that understand everything right away.

Web design done by kids? I’d like to see the security on that. Or how it looks. Of course, they will be making them by template since kids on suddenly understand code easilier.

The most annoying thing is how you imagine the school. I’m in schol now. Everyone has computers and are allowed to walk where they please at times. This becomes a nuisance as noone even bothers to really learn something. The computer is just distracting. I want back to high school where we used paper and pen, and had no choice but to draw or listen to the teacher.

This is the future imagined by a consumer, not minding that these language labs on smartphones must first be made in said labs. Its like saying all farmers dont need to milk any cows anymore, they now sell milk in the store.

Seriously, this list made me irritated.

Gholden

And spelchekers? Wots wit that? Their just anoying two! : )
Asylum

While I don’t necessarily agree with all the items on this list, I find it interesting as a point of discussion. What I don’t find helpful is that several posters feel the need to make disparaging remarks about the list (“amazingly stupid”) or the author. I certainly hope that those people who feel the need to diss rather than discuss are NOT teachers. God forbid they’re passing that attitude on to kids.

It is also interesting that many of the posters claim that technology will isolate but seem to neglect the fact that they are participating in a global conversation themselves just by posting.
Aminhotep

Farmers dont milk cows anymore. Its done in massive industrial facilities like everything else.

Like500ninjas

Whoever wrote this is fucking retarded.

Anonymous

Delete.

http://twitter.com/teetee_izzymine Call me Tash

I think some of these accusations may possibly become true, considering the fact technology enhances every single day. Its starting to get scary that technology involves everything that we do on a daily basis.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Dragun/1175961041 Stephen Dragun

I’m young, and these predictions of the future are depressing. It’s like the more we become technologically “advanced”, the more we become backward in other aspects of human life: loneliness is at an all time high. why? because people plug into personal devices and never talk. sure, Facebook helps alot of people make friends, but for alot of others, it leaves them lonely and disconnected from going outside, meeting in a park, playing ball, etc.

and I don’t care if digital paper will feel like paper. I own a nook, and I still prefer paper. why? because I prefer the ancient medium. I don’t need a bunch of impersonal, consumer-based technology. what’s wrong with a book?

Gholden

Good grief. Someone who likes to curl up with a good book is going to pontificate on how virtual education isolates people socially. Being on this thread is a lot like reading the novel “Alice in Wonderland.” It just get “curiouser and curiouser.”
One of my favourite novels for children is “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Those who read it have their imagination guided into a world on the other side of the wardrobe, where animals talk and children act a prescribed way. The process of going through this novel (and the 5 others that follow) is a passive and isolating activity. Doing Quest Atlantis, my students don’t just read about an epic story, they become an active part of the story. Rather than walking through a wardrobe, they teleport to a wide variety of worlds, cultures, places, adventures, which they participate in and shape in concert with dozens (if not hundreds) of children from around the world. Children who spent their lunch hours hiding from bullies, make hundreds of friends and learn social behaviours online that transform their personal view of themselves and others, and translate into the confidence and self-assurance they need to make friends in the “real world.” (lol)
My students do not spend wasted hours with lessons they’ve heard before being repeated for the ones who did not get it. They go through curriculum at their own pace, and accomplish more in 3 hours than most students do in 6 hours in non-immersive schooling. This last week, 3 of my students each won numerous medals in alpine skiing events. Four of my students participated in a regional robotics competition (which they won). One student won her 4H speaking competition, while several others participated in hockey tournaments, swimming competitions, etc., etc., etc. You see, these students have MORE social vistas opened up to them BECAUSE of their 21st Century education. I could go on and on about that, but it would be pointless. Someone who is reclusive will find the excuse to remain so whether it be in technology or a book. Don’t blame the medium! I’d speak more to this, but I have two friends from down in the U.S. who are right now waiting for us to share thoughts on Skype. Damn, wish I wasn’t so darn isolated by technology. (lol.)

Anonymous

vipshopper.us

guest

I think you seriously overestimate the speed of change in the US educational system. I currently have 3 student computers that I have been unable to use for the past two years because our IT department cannot get them to all consistently work at the same time. Change is expensive… new technology is expensive, and with the state of the economy and decrease in school funding I don’t see most of these things happening in the next 10 years (except for the cooperative learning groups and differentiation being a part of the job description).

Gholden

Too passionate perhaps, but not too optimistic. Thirty years ago I had 10 students who needed computers in order to catch up to their grade level in reading. There was no IT department, there was no budget for computers that cost a lot more than they do now. I opened up the phone book and started calling businesses to see if any would sponsor a computer for a student. I contacted the local college to see if they had any student programmers that would write the programs that didn’t exist yet. When I had 10 computers and a great reading program for my students the phoning stopped and the learning began. I guess I didn’t know any better. Still don’t, just do whatever I have to in order to get my job done.
If you were to look at the resources I suggested, you would discover that that the best ones are free. The only cost is in the time it takes for a teacher to obtain them, and use them. Sorry, I get the sense that most here want some sympathy. I’ve written as much as I have because you have my sympathy. It’s an emotion that usually compels one to make an effort to help. I think the question that must be asked now though is how much sympathy do you have for your students? Enough to look for solutions rather than excuses. I know these are hard words, and not a question I want to ask. Times are tough, but if you care enough about your students you may need to be tougher, smarter, and more determined than ever to never give up. What gives me the right to say this? Well, it’s advice I took myself. If that’s not good enough for you, nothing ever will be. If that’s the case, my kindest advice to you is that if you are unable or unwilling to overcome the obstacles before you in teaching, move on to an easier challenge and make room for someone still willing to try.

Alice Webb

Good article. I can see most of this happening although the ‘professional learing networks’ in #15 shows me technology doesn’t always insure perfection.

Cmnelson

You are being way too optimistic.

Aredd1628

I don’t think many of the negative commentators realize that the high-schoolers, middle-schoolers, and even the 2nd and 3rd graders will all be adults in 2020. Todays high-school graduates will be in their late 20′s and almost 30 by that time. Now, some these things are somewhat unrealistic due to people’s tendencies to hang on to what they know, but the generation that is already familiar with technology will be the driving force, the new parents, the new teachers, etc. Some of these things could happen with that knowledge in mind.

Tverboven

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. A lot of terminologies will also be a thing of the past. Check out:

5 Things That We Need a New Name For >> http://wp.me/tcfd

and 5 More Things >> http://wp.me/ptcfd-4Y

http://www.facebook.com/people/HaroldmillerforSan-Franciscomayor-Dotorg/100000531985945 HaroldmillerforSan Franciscoma

I thought in 1986 big brother was going to take over, and they got that wrong.

Gholden

Assuming you are referring to the classic novel 1984, those who thought big brother (sic) was going to take over in 1986 were indeed wrong. Anyone who has the slightest grasp of Orwell (or “they” as you call him) knows he was not speaking as much of the future as he was about the past. Big Brother wasn’t a prediction, it was a commentary on what had already begun. You missed it I guess. Wake up, or you and your students will miss the tremendous opportuities afforded by 21st Century education as well.
- Wendy in Michigan
  
  GHolden, I am very intrigued by all of your posts and would love to contact you with many more questions than can be addressed in this thread. I noticed that you asked to be contacted by skype, but I don’t have that capability on all the devices I use. My children attend a Montessori school and it has been extremely difficult to convince the leaders of the school that technology can enhance the classroom that Maria Montessori imagined. We have a huge technology grant that is just sitting there because of the fear of technology. I would appreciate contact via email, if you are so inclined. My contact info is: wendyschwartz@wideopenwest.com Thank you for all that you’ve shared, Wendy

Trowilliams

what is a digital portfolio?? and how will it be a big factor in college admissions??

RAMAKRISHNA.KOPPAKA

I have read all the above 21 ( Twenty one),points very carefully.Thanks.
In my mind there is a dream,when ever I see small kids from 3 years + carrying bags almost equal to their weight,on their backs.When will a day come when they go to school,without carrying anything in their hands.

Fred

I certainly hope it doesn’t come to this … “vision.” Gen X has enough people with horrid “people skills”

http://profiles.google.com/kilgoretrout321 Zack Oliver

hate to break it to you but the real advancements must come in the things being taught. Religion has gone too far controlling what is taught in the schools. Kids need to know the facts of life, whether its sex stuff, or basic facts about religions. But no one knows stuff like that so they are ignorant and uninformed. My family didn’t go to church when I was little besides a Unitarian Universalist church. I had no idea what a Lutheran or a Catholic was until I took a class on Renaissance Lit and had it explained to me what was going on back then. I had learned what the Reformation was, but I had no idea what it meant because public schools can’t talk about religion the way grown ups do. You go to school to LEARN. Not to be confused. That’s the other thing, the way school is taught now deliberately makes it difficult for kids to learn. And teachers are mediocre. That’s because school is slow to pick up on and implement the newest information and research about how Human beings’ brains work, and how we learn. The education system needs to be able to adapt quickly and efficiently to new developments when they involve helping children learn. Kids these days go to school WAY TOO MUCH and work WAY TOO HARD. They get sooo much hw. At a certain point, the education system needs to realize that the world is far too advanced to pack into K-12 the way they do it. Either they need to stop lying to kids and introduce more advanced stuff at an early age, or they need to figure out what they can cut out. Kids need art and music classes as well. School should focus on helping children become intelligent, responsible, good people. Not how to cheat the system and copy/paste and reword from sparknotes. Some intelligent people need to sit down and figure out what is enough to know for a person in the world to be healthy and happy and make intelligent life decisions. This will involve teaching them how to learn on their own so that if they want to know something, they can. The internet is alright, but kids don’t seem to know how unreliable it is, because they aren’t taught how to discern between valuable and mediocre knowledge. That’s because their textbooks are crap. And anyone who heard about the recent decisions by the Texas schoolboard knows this. Cutting out Thomas Jefferson? Are you kidding me? This is why a secular version of religious education must be taught in schools. Most people don’t have a good grasp of basic religious history. And this is probably the most important information you can have! We go to war over religion, we choose our politicians over religion, our friends, our enemies, our children’s schools, our music our movies, the way we treat the Earth, the way we treat strangers and immigrants and gays and straights and transgender people and people of other races. It all comes down to religious beliefs, and if that isn’t a foundation of a person’s education OUTSIDE of a biased church organization that will often tell only one side, then it explains why our nation is so messed up. Kids WANT TO KNOW THIS STUFF because not knowing it confuses them. It confused me! I couldn’t understand a lot of why people hated each other, and I couldn’t understand events in history, like Manifest Destiny and New World exploration and why certain presidents were voted for, and why people are racist, and basically how the world workds. Now I know, and I didn’t have to get brainwashed by a church for years to learn it. I got AN EDUCATION. Would’ve been nice to get it back in middle school or high school when I started asking these questions. So I hope the major thing that’s outdated by 2020 is our educational system. Especially the way we teach our kids about religion. Because it’ll create a more understanding and accepting society once people get some neutral, unbiased information about religion, because believe me, there’s a lot out there.

http://profiles.google.com/seejayjames seejay james

Great points! A massive re-tinking about what is important in education is sorely needed. Religion is especially troublesome from an education standpoint. It needs to be investigated objectively by students, and they need exposure to as many as possible.

http://profiles.google.com/seejayjames seejay james

Interesting things to think about. I think some are correct, but others just aren’t…like paper. We will be using paper for many, many years, but ideally we’ll use it for special things, not everything. Yes, we use a lot less because we can read things on a screen, but think of the number of things we’re reading today compared to 20 years ago… probably a hundred times as much information. So when you want to print something out, you need to be selective. And in a lot of cases, it’s just easier than relying on an electronic device…espeially if the screen is small, dim, the battery’s almost dead, or you don’t have connectivity…etc. Books will have a similar, gradual decline, but they will have an important place for a long time. In many cases, a screen just doesn’t cut it, though admittedly, some of the readers are getting pretty close—mainly the paper-like contrast and not having the need to be sitting at a desk, using a keyboard and mouse. In other words, they’re getting more like real books, for good reason.I’m all for using technology (sometimes) to give us something that a low-tech option doesn’t have, but really, we’re using way too much of it. People, primarily younger people, spend way too long on the phone and texting. It’s just not needed, and it has gotten to the point where it’s damaging—it’s being used as an escape from the surroundings, as is being permanently wired in to music. These are also constant potential distractions to otherwise immersive experiences like reading or enjoying a great meal. Yes, people can turn off their phones…but they don’t. It’s depressing actually, because without that kind of committment to immersion in an experience, you just don’t get the full effect. (Sure, sometimes you don’t really need or want such an effect, but…the overall trand is towards multi-attention, which is great for some things but absolutely robs other experiences.)The open, social feel on my campus has changed a lot in 10 years, and the main reason is immersion in these devices. I’m not saying they should go—we probably couldn’t last a day without them (though we survived without them throughout history, and up until only about 15 years ago). But the amount and purpose of their usage has gotten totally out of control. So, initiatives which have kids use their phones or texting for school-related things, I think, is a bad way to go…they use them far too much already. Use a tablet without Internet instead, so they can get the immersion and interactivity that promotes learning, but without distractions.All that said, the movements towards differentiated learning, open courseware, virtual field trips, time flexibility, etc., are awesome. They are transforming the old ways as we speak, and most of it is an improvement. I also like the “have your students do the website/graphic design” idea…and the follow-up comment about having them do the plumbing and instruction too. Think about it…these could be very real, problem-based learning opportunities, especially if students work as apprentices of sorts (even just for an hour). And the idea of having kids take over large parts of the instruction is fantastic. It CAN be done and is being done in many places already. With the right structure and encouragement, the students themselves will transform what is viewed as worthwhile to learn. It’s overdue. And there’s no reason teachers, parents, and administrators wouldn’t be just as involved. Let it be an open discussion and debate, and reach a compromise that everyone agrees on. Difficult? You bet. Needed? I think so. Illuminating? Completely! It’s a golden opportunity to reassess what we think is important for learning and knowledge. I imagine a lot of the traditional subjects would get changed considerably and blended into other ones. That’s muchmore in line with how the world and the brain work anyway.Anyway, lots more to rant about, but it’s time to get back to endless emails. Yeah, that’s another thing…what percentage of time do people at work spend in front of a computer? It’s totally out of hand. We need to reconsider some priorities before we just wire in forever…

Coy_maggie

“to allow less people on campus at any one time”

Perhaps Mr. Blake-Plock might learn the proper use of less and fewer
.

PMStall

When did technology change the way the human mind develops? The abstract concepts that need to be mastered to understand algebra are only starting to develop in most 14 year old minds. Forcing the majority of 13 and 14 year old students to undertake the rigors of algebra is maybe why the United States is laging so far behind much of the rest of the world in the math field. We are making our students hate math by forcing them to learn things they are not capable of learning.

Gholden

This will be good news to my grade 5 and 6 students who do algebra. They shall have to stop doing it immediately or they will start “laging” (sic) behind the rest of the world. Unless of course the research is right and technology IS changing the way the human mind develops. (You might try looking that up PMStall.) Or perhaps it has something to do with the way math is being taught? I’ve never found children very amicable to doing anything that people were “forcing” them to do.
Fife

I completely
agree with PMStall. Someone, anyone, find research that states the majority of
kids (nationally or locally) below the age of 13/14 are developmentally ready
for the abstract concepts in Algebra. Don’t bother trying because you won’t
find any…

Today,
and tomorrow there will be kids younger than 13/14 who are ready to master
Algebra and good for them. But the vast majority of kids are not ready to
master the concepts and skills of Algebra. Notice I write the word master; if
one wants to think of mastery in terms of typical grades than equate it with an
A or B. So many students who take Algebra I now, earn a D or F and just pass
by. Or even earn C’s but their understanding is minimal at best.

Unfortunately,
initiatives like having a certain number of 8th graders in Algebra I and get
credit (or pass) is complete nonsense. Students can earn low grades (D’s and
even an F) and still pass. These type of initiatives are politically motivated,
not what’s best practice in education. Unfortunately, the public is swayed by
such information. When will most parents and pretty much all politicians
realize learning something well is far better than just getting credit for it
even if learning it well means taking a course one, two or even three years
later.

schmatto

Things that WILL be obsolete by 2020, that’s a pretty damn big call, saying they definitely WILL be obsolete by then. Sorry, but I remember the 60s & predictions like rocket cars, etc., then the early 80s when serious researchers & futurists predicted our biggest problem would be how to manage our increased leisure time due to technology taking care of much of our work & menial tasks [ROFL x 1 000 000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!] You can say things MIGHT happen but WILL, come on!!!

Gholden

Hmmm…how can I put this so it can be easily understood? I do not have a GPS system in my car. I’ve never seen one or used one. I don’t understand the technology, and probably never will. For these reasons it’s somewhat understandable that I could easily believe that such a thing is not possible, or doesn’t even exist. Where my disbelief becomes foolish is when I choose to ignore the evidence that GPS systems already exist in many cars. I can talk about all kinds of red herrings to try and deflect myself into accepting the error of my thinking, but it doesn’t change the reality of GPS systems in cars. Similarly, “Things That Will Be Obsolete by 2020″ brings up things that are already obsolete in many, many classes. They will certainly not be obsolete in places where the teachers prefer to cling to an irrational belief that these possibilities do not exist. I for one would certainly NOT offer to invest in a GPS system I didn’t believe existed, or could not be built. Perhaps the 2020 date giving has more to do with the date when such teachers will be retiring than what is the current reality in other teachers’ classrooms.

mathfreek

I am not sure how much statistics can be done without algebra.

SimmPole

You are very optimistic! I can only hope this will happen.

Lwlau

Definitely food for thought. I do see the writing on the wall… As an elementary school struggling to keep up with the technology, I find myself feeling quite inadequate and behind. It is not that I am unwilling to learn, but the district is not offering enough time and support in this area.

Muk_raker

Rubbish!
Look at any post modern sci-fi film; 2001 ring a bell. Are we commuting to the moon in Ralph Lauren designer space suits? We are all ways at least 100 years behind the sci-fi writers. Disagreement welcomed.

Gholden

It is the JOB of sci-fi writers to “all ways” (sic) try to be 100 years ahead. They wouldn’t be doing their job if they were not. They don’t have a crystal ball, so they guess. (Imagine that!) Sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are wrong. More often than not they are wrong. Usually the future comes faster than they supposed it would. I’m not sure what the science fiction genre has to do with this article however. If you’ve read the posts most of these “predictions” have already come to pass. Take a look.

guest

some of these I find accurate while others are a little outlandish. I just finished the first year of my undergrad and the part about centralized institutions is extremely accurate. I could do the majority of my work from home or even out of the city, province etc (I’m from canada). However I disagree with the complete removal of paper use. While some things have switched to electronic media paper seems (to me) to be fundamental for proper learning. If we had articles assigned to read off of the computer, less students in my tutorials did those as opposed to paper-copy readings. In addition I would never dream of handing a paper in, without printing a copy and going over it with a red pen. I know my wallet sure hurts after buying all my textbooks, i don’t see them disappearing. I feel that the mix of paper and electronic media based tools are very appropriate for the learning environment, all of my quizzes for one class were online, as were my lecture notes, but I still had to read, write exams, and hand in papers in paper and online.
- Second Year Student The University of Western Ontario

http://www.facebook.com/stephanie.heller1 Stephanie Heller

Most of what you said is true and is definitely what 21st
century is all about. So maybe we
will have smarter students after all.
There will always be paper books though, because some of us old people
can’t read that small and kids need to see their work on a big screen. The students will also have memory
sticks or cards. No more excuses that they forgot their homework at home and
solid proof of school day work to show
parents.

Communication etiquette will change also. During my daughter’s graduation two
years ago, most of the graduating class was texting. When we eat, I don’t allow
them to text, so they put the phone on their lap and surrptiously text.

There are two ways that technology is going to affect the
future, communications, and education. IT people are lucky because they will be the fixers and
technology is always going to need people with IT skills to fix things. Added to that will be software
engineers. Rather than use a Smart
board, the could ask the programmers to make a program for them.

Palms were the one of the first ways of being able to make education mobile,
but they didn’t take off that well. The stylus to use the palm was a hassle.
But today, almost everyone I know has a cell phone, droid, smart phone,
etc. Networks can be set (that’s
when the IT’s are used) with the classes being taught. Students can take pictures and download
music relevant to what they are studying.

Teachers can assign certain websites or ask that their
students find websites that fit whatever you are trying to teach. Have you seen
how fast kids text today? It’s
fast because in a way, texting is like shorthand. I’m 53 and can’t do what my
23 year old can do with texting.
It takes me fifteen minutes to type “how are you” one the phone. I’m old school, I can type fast without
looking. She can text faster than I can type.

We could have a national curriculum. There is nothing wrong with the
standards for the different disciplines of learning. Why each state spends money making up their own standards is
ludicrous. Each state would have
to include a social studies standard for their state for the fourth graders.

We will also need cyber libraries, librarys whose
specialists are equipped to look for items on-line and books for reading for
pleasure. We will need computers
for their larger screens, and I think maybe people won’t grumble too much about
feeding children. You are right when you say that children don’t need a longer
school day.

The points I totally agree with are 3,4,5, 6, 7, 9,10, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 20 and 21.

If the curriculum was the same everywhere, (btw for those
not in the loop) all a standard says is “students will be able to perform x by
y.”

To sum things up:

1.
Differential instruction will be standard driven
and the same standards will be used nationally.

2.
Instead of each state giving a test, all states
can give the same test.
Standardized tests will still be needed to be given to measure the
student’s individual progress.

3.
Most kids have a phone, and if they lose it more
than once, their parents will not be really happy because it’s not like a text
that taxpayers pay for but a phone that the family pays cash out of pocket. Parents can be involved by having to
check off on their children’s school work for the day.

It
will take time but it is the future.
The times they are a changing.good article