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21 Things That Will Become Obsolete in Education by 2020

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The following list prompts thought-provoking reflection on future educational methods from the viewpoint of current facilities, hardware, and methods. These are not my prophecies, but rather, those of Shelly Blake-Plock in her blog, TeachPaperless. The list made me think, so I am passing it along in the event that it lets you do the same:
 
1.Desks
The 21st century does not fit neatly into rows. Neither should your students. Allow the network-based concepts of flow, collaboration, and dynamism help you rearrange your room for authentic 21st century learning.

2. Language Labs
Foreign language acquisition is only a smartphone away. Get rid of those clunky desktops and monitors and do something fun with that room.

3. Computers
Ok, so this is a trick answer. More precisely this one should read: 'Our concept of what a computer is'. Because computing is going mobile and over the next decade we're going to see the full fury of individualized computing via handhelds come to the fore. Can't wait.

4. Homework
The 21st century is a 24/7 environment. And the next decade is going to see the traditional temporal boundaries between home and school disappear. And despite whatever Secretary Duncan might say, we don't need kids to 'go to school' more; we need them to 'learn' more. And this will be done 24/7 and on the move (see #3).

5. The Role of Standardized Tests in College Admissions
The AP Exam is on its last legs. The SAT isn't far behind. Over the next ten years, we will see Digital Portfolios replace test scores as the #1 factor in college admissions.

6. Differentiated Instruction as the Sign of a Distinguished Teacher
The 21st century is customizable. In ten years, the teacher who hasn't yet figured out how to use tech to personalize learning will be the teacher out of a job. Differentiation won't make you 'distinguished'; it'll just be a natural part of your work.

7. Fear of Wikipedia
Wikipedia is the greatest democratizing force in the world right now. If you are afraid of letting your students peruse it, it's time you get over yourself.

8. Paperbacks
Books were nice. In ten years' time, all reading will be via digital means. And yes, I know, you like the 'feel' of paper. Well, in ten years' time you'll hardly tell the difference as 'paper' itself becomes digitized.

9. Attendance Offices
Bio scans. 'Nuff said.

10. Lockers.
A coat-check, maybe.

11. IT Departments
Ok, so this is another trick answer. More subtly put: IT Departments as we currently know them. Cloud computing and a decade's worth of increased wifi and satellite access will make some of the traditional roles of IT — software, security, and connectivity — a thing of the past. What will IT professionals do with all their free time? Innovate. Look to tech departments to instigate real change in the function of schools over the next twenty years.

12. Centralized Institutions
School buildings are going to become 'homebases' of learning, not the institutions where all learning happens. Buildings will get smaller and greener, student and teacher schedules will change to allow less people on campus at any one time, and more teachers and students will be going out into their communities to engage in experiential learning.

13. Organization of Educational Services by Grade
Education over the next ten years will become more individualized, leaving the bulk of grade-based learning in the past. Students will form peer groups by interest and these interest groups will petition for specialized learning. The structure of K-12 will be fundamentally altered.

14. Education School Classes that Fail to Integrate Social Technology
This is actually one that could occur over the next five years. Education Schools have to realize that if they are to remain relevant, they are going to have to demand that 21st century tech integration be modelled by the very professors who are supposed to be preparing our teachers.

15. Paid/Outsourced Professional Development
No one knows your school as well as you. With the power of a PLN in their backpockets, teachers will rise up to replace peripatetic professional development gurus as the source of schoolwide prof dev programs. This is already happening.

16. Current Curricular Norms
There is no reason why every student needs to take however many credits in the same course of study as every other student. The root of curricular change will be the shift in middle schools to a role as foundational content providers and high schools as places for specialized learning.

17. Parent-Teacher Conference Night
Ongoing parent-teacher relations in virtual reality will make parent-teacher conference nights seem quaint. Over the next ten years, parents and teachers will become closer than ever as a result of virtual communication opportunities. And parents will drive schools to become ever more tech integrated.

18. Typical Cafeteria Food
Nutrition information + handhelds + cost comparison = the end of $3.00 bowls of microwaved mac and cheese. At least, I so hope so.

19. Outsourced Graphic Design and Webmastering
You need a website/brochure/promo/etc.? Well, for goodness sake just let your kids do it. By the end of the decade — in the best of schools — they will be.

20. High School Algebra I
Within the decade, it will either become the norm to teach this course in middle school or we'll have finally woken up to the fact that there's no reason to give algebra weight over statistics and IT in high school for non-math majors (and they will have all taken it in middle school anyway).

21. Paper
In ten years' time, schools will decrease their paper consumption by no less than 90%. And the printing industry and the copier industry and the paper industry itself will either adjust or perish.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I think Shannon has a point in a lot of areas–lockers, desks and such, especially. Flat surfaces on which to put whatever it is we’re working with, and an individually secure spot to stash one’s stuff are not going to go away. Especially since any school that has purchased desks in the past 3 years is going to probably still be using them by 2020, wouldn’t you think? (and FTR–desks don’t equal rows, necessarily–my kids’ classrooms have desks, but they are arranged into “pods” of 4-6 students apiece, and they shift throughout the year so that kids have the experience of interacting with other kids. I can see them getting smaller and more mobile, though…)
     
    A lot of this looks almost utopian to me–the idea of differentiated learning being the norm, computer design and innovation becoming something expected of everyone, non-grade-based learning models, and the death of standardized testing, decent school food. And I have to say, it’s nice to hear someone come out and say in print that Wikipedia Doesn’t Suck–I find it a very useful tool, as long as one knows what it is and where it comes from, and doesn’t try to use it as a primary source. 
     
    I think paper will still be around.  I do hope paper use can indeed be cut dramatically, but again, the books already in existence are here, and they are an easy way to read without dependence on technology–in fact, I think any kind of environment that makes all learning utterly dependent on technology is potentially dangerous. Because technology breaks. I want my kids to know how to write with a pencil. I want to be able to look something up when the network is down. Enough people this summer have gone 3 days with no power to know that it can happen, and I don’t see that getting solved in 9 years.  
     
    And what about the schools with little or no funding, in depressed areas? Where will they get the resources to implement all this stuff?
     
    If the headline here said “21 things that will become obsolete in education by 2040 in schools with decent funding” I could find very little to disagree with.
     
    Thought-provoking post, thank you!
    Jennifer 
    (who still has Trig nightmares but never had to take statistics)

  2. Interesting ideas.  I wonder how much the time the author spent teaching in public schools, especially at the elementary level.  These are the things I believe will definitely stay as long as there are schools:
    1.  Student desks will stay.  There is not a better ergonomic way of doing work whether writing, drawing, typing or some other variation.  That would be like saying that dining rooms will no longer have tables and chairs.
    4.  Homework.  Isn’t homework defined as completing assignments outside the classroom?
    10.  Lockers.  Lockers are simply mini-storage facilities and always have been.  Where would students keep their stuff?  Right after the Columbine shootings, the students in our district were not allowed to carry back-packs to class.  

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