The Future of Our Schools
The future school systems we will see in the next 5-20 years will become increasingly database-driven, accessible online, and increasingly diverse. Teachers will not be replaced by technology, but their role will change. Instead of curriculum deciders they will be discovery guides and application experts.
Leading to Your Success is a strong advocate of change in the school systems. We see the reduction in funds as a wake-up call to all who felt real change should be comfortable and gradual. Today, more than ever before, we see educational technology and its huge money-saving advantages brought to the forefront of district implementation strategies. We see extended school hours being considered to broaden and diversify student opportunities. We see customized learning plans and competitive gaming theory being implemented to strengthen each student's results and esteem. There is much to be done, and most important is the need for collaborative, consensus-building, and mutually beneficial strategies. Common Core is a new and exciting innovation that shows great promise to unify our nation's schools while creating more individualized learning experiences for each student. STEAM is another initiative that is gaining momentum. If it is successfully developed it can become a hugely important force in creating cross-topic learning, multi-interface instruction, and divergent learning strategies that allow students to find their individual interests, path, and passion for career and life-long learning. |
So many who want to help change the way schools function throw up their hands in despair when the list of impediments becomes too much to manage. Yes, it is true that there are many, many active forces working to thwart progress, and there are also many entrenched and deeply rooted systems, paradigms, and traditions that also anchor us in place. To that point I have begun to express my disdain for anything that stands in the way of our schools making intelligent progress. I have created a blog and website that speak against the resistance to improvements. If you are interested, please feel free to take a gander at these works in progress. Mountain Movers at Work - Website Mountain Movers at Work - Blog |
