My thoughts

The process of telling stories about the futures of digital education can be a highly generative exercise (Selwyn et al., 2020); therefore, considering several different scenarios of the future is a useful practice (Macgilchrist et al., 2020; Selwyn et al., 2020; sava shaeli singh & Maughan, 2014). “There is far more complexity and variability across types of institutions and regions of the world” (Educause, 2020, p. 7); but I speculate that in ten years, the change in K-12 education on Vancouver Island is inevitable. Regular in-class learning and flexible learning options; outdoor education; distance learning; alternative learning programs; and the hospital homebound program will continue, but there will be one key change—the central learning space will be online with minimal paper use.

Safety

The world we live in is unstable due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and, in the next ten years, there will be times that instability will return. Flexible learning options and digital learning spaces allow communities to cope with environmental disasters such as a global pandemic, unpredictable storms, and wildfires. Vancouver Island communities and schools are vulnerable; “extreme global weather events and droughts will impact students’ well-being and educational attainment, particularly in rural and/or under-resourced communities” (Educause, 2020, p. 8). There may be times when students need to be home, and having that option while maintaining the school experience is crucial. Teachers and students will need ways to connect safely so that continual relationships and learning can be fostered (Siemens, 2006). Therefore, in 2030, a safe learning alternative is essential— in schools and online from home.

References

Brown, M. et al., (2020). 2020 Educause Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning Edition. https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2020/3/2020_horizon_report_pdf.pdf?la=en&hash=08A92C17998E8113BCB15DCA7BA1F467F303BA80

Macgilchrist, F., Allert, H., & Bruch, A. (2020). Students and society in the 2020s. Three future ‘histories’ of education and technology. Learning, Media and Technology, (45)1, 76-89, DOI: 10.1080/17439884.2019.1656235

sava shaeli singh & Maughan (2014, June 18). The future of ed tech is here, it’s just not evenly distributed. The Medium.  https://medium.com/futures-exchange/the-future-of-ed-tech-is-here-its-just-not-evenly-distributed-210778a423d7

Siemens G. (2005). Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning. http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm.

Selwyn, N., Pangrazio, L., Nemorin, S., & Perrotta, C. (2020). What might the school of 2030 be like? An exercise in social science fiction. Learning, Media and Technology, 45(1), 90-106. https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.royalroads.ca/doi/full/10.1080/17439884.2020.1694944

Attribution: Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash