Across my Twitter feed today came an intriguing post. It was from Doug Johnson, @blueskunkblog, the Director of Media and Tech from Mankato, MN. He shared a link to Mind/Shift’s 21 Things That Will be Obsolete in 2020.
My kids will be in elementary and middle school in 2020. These are changes that are coming extraordinarily fast. For their sake, I hope this is not science fiction.
Here are my reactions to some of the 21.
#1- Desks. I am ready for this. My ideal would be a classroom with flexible desks. Not only desks than can be moved, without attached chairs and kidney tops. How about desks that can adjust in height? I would love desks that could be used for a student who wants to sit in the floor, in a chair, or stand. How many adults can sit still in a conference chair all day? This may be a hard shift for some teachers, but I dream of the possibilities it opens up.
#3- Computers: I see the need for both wired computers and handhelds. Digital devices that are mobile will become common place in student hands. I look forward to when they become invisible. But there are tasks like higher order graphic design, video editing, that I feel may always need a larger screen. Plus, even though I am composing this with my thumb on a mobile device, I can not imagine giving up my computer.
#4- Homework: The repetitive busy work that we see today? I hope so.
#7- Wikipedia: Let them use it. Let’s teach responsible use, fact checking, and expanding through primary source research.
#9- Attendance clerks: Have you read Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother? Check it out.
#11- I.T. Departments: I had to read this one carefully. I disagree. I feel, despite technology going wireless and mobile, there will still be need for support of district wide software and educational tools. Nothing runs without support. Even as students and teachers become more proficient, we will need technology leaders to make up an I.T. Department.
#13- Organization by Grade: Yes. Yes. Yes. Let’s teach students as they are ready to learn and progress, rather than trapping them within boundaries. But, there are subjects and lessons that should be taught with age-level peers. Of the topics I’ve commented on so far, this is the one that will be the most drastic and uncomfortable for educators and parents. The kids, though, I think would adjust and thrive quickly.
#14- Schools that fail to integrate technology: I can’t wait until it no longer is a option to teach using 21st century tools and skills.
#17- Parent-Teacher Conference Night: This has been becoming obsolete since digital gradebooks have been visible to parents. Communicaiton happens as intervetions are needed and essential.
#19- Outsourcing: We have some talented kids. Let’s celebrate them!
#21- Paper: This will become a later post.