What was school like for you? I hated school. I hated the desks in rows, the standardized testing, and the awful cafeteria food. More than anything, I could not stand the vast amounts of time I felt I was wasting by learning things that held no relevance to my adult life. As a student, I dreamed of doing school a different way.
I now spend almost every day working to disrupt and change the system that I believe failed me and so many other students. I talk, write and dream so much about the future of learning, education, and schools. Here is what I hope school will look like in 10 years in 2030.
School Buildings
The school building as you know it will change. No more sectioned off classrooms featuring heavy doors and narrow windows. No more desks in rows facing a projector screen and a lectern. Dusty textbooks, old chalkboards and tired school decorations will be gone.
School buildings will be vibrant and dynamic. They will feature what is today called “flexible seating.” In other words, many schools will look more and more like a WeWork or your favorite coworking space! Schools will feature maker spaces, and engineering spaces so students can use their hands to manipulate items and learn.
Schools will be filled with new technologies like VR/AR sets, voice controlled devices and the latest laptops and tablets for each student to engage with.
Teachers
The role of the teacher in 2030 will change drastically from today. You probably knew your teacher as the content expert. Typically, schools hire Mrs. Roberts to teach math because she knows math really well. Your English teacher typically loves literature and maybe has a small writing career on the side. Teachers have been required to be content experts for so long.
In 2030, adaptive learning software will replace direct instruction. Adaptive learning software is computer software that uses AI to move students up and down through a grade level’s content based on student performance on assessment questions. Adaptive learning is faster and more efficient than even the best teachers.
Using adaptive learning software to teach core content means that teachers no longer have to be content experts. With adaptive learning software, the role of the teacher changes. The teacher is now a motivator, coach, curriculum designer and mentor to the student.
Since adaptive learning software is faster than instruction today, the future will see schools condense pure academic work to three hours per day, using the other three or four hours in the day to teach life skills or let students explore personal interest projects. This means the role as a motivator is one of the most important roles a teacher will play.
Students
Students change constantly. In 2030 learning will come to students on demand in the form of cutting edge technology. There will be an app for almost everything you can imagine. AR/VR and mixed reality will immerse students in the learning resulting in deeper understanding of the content they study.
This ultimately means students will have more choice and control in the future of education.
Purpose
My best guess is that there will be an economic downturn in the United States in 2025. When that happens, many American colleges and universities will suffer. Some will close their doors. Ultimately students will, in 2030, find attractive career preparation offerings outside of the college system.
Lambda School, Flatiron School and programs like it will become the new barrier for hire. An endorsem*nt from these programs will help many students forgo a traditional four-year university while still landing valuable careers.
This means at the k-12 level, schools will shift and heavily focus on skills acquisition as opposed to rote memorization and content “mastery.”
School is going to massively innovate in 2030. What do you think about these innovations? What would you add?
_________________________________________________________________________
I taught in a traditional school setting for 5 years before entering my current role where I design curriculum, plan projects and motivate students to break all of the rules. I'm interested in change and finding the next set of large innovations to the classroom through the use of adaptive learning technology and AI. The world is rapidly innovating and it is my belief that schools must follow that trend. Connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Twitter to keep having great conversations.
