Here's what school could look like in 2030

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 think school could look like 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 co-working 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 XR/AR, voice controlled devices and the 2030 version of a personal computing device for each student to engage with. 

Here's why I think this: If you know me you know that I have less than little faith in the traditional school system (including public, private, and charter schools) to evolve quickly. However, COVID and the disruption it is still causing gives me the slightest bit of hope that educators, entrepreneurs, parents and students will come together to find a new way.

1. Alpha (Austin, TX) - Has a middle and high school housed in an old concert venue called LZR. If you're from Austin or used to party there you might know this building as La Zona Rosa. There are no classrooms, no lockers, no bells, no typical school furniture. This place looks like a co-working space for kids but is one of the coolest spaces for students or adults to work.

2. Kodiak High School (Kodiak, AK) - This high school is a traditional school with an extremely modern flair. It is a great example of how to present a familiar system in a new way. Just with the use of architecture they have created a different environment for students.

3. Tacoma School of the Arts (Tacoma, WA) - The coolest thing about this school building is that it is not a building. This amazing school for performing arts is housed in multiple buildings tucked into downtown Tacoma! The function and role or a teacher and student are altered with this choice. For example, having classes in different spaces allows students to have more autonomy and choice in their school day.

My hope is that some schools choose unlikely locations, some choose to renovate and remodel and that some choose no building at all! My hope is for VARIETY!

In the meantime, give these schools a look and if there is one in your area, stop by to visit (once we can all go outside again)!

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. 

Now I use a lot of adaptive apps as I have helped to build several school models that heavily use them. I also use them as a LARGE part of my kids' homeschool program. Here are some of the apps that I LOVE:

Freckle - Freckle is, to me, TOP OF CLASS in the adaptive software world! Kids love it, it's adaptivity is really strong and it has great teaching tools for students who get stuck.

Khan Academy- While I can't say that Khan Academy is my personal favorite or that it has a level of adaptivity that is even close to Freckle, it is effective. It works and it offers a full suite of courses from pre K - Early college level courses. For that it is one that I would recommend.

IXL Learning - If Freckle is highly adaptive and Khan is minimally adaptive, IXL is the middle ground. While students don't often find IXL enjoyable, they do often agree that it teaches really, really well. Through repetition and achievement barriers, IXL both presents content and challenges students in ways that I love quite frankly.

NOTE: If I am going to make a footnote here it's that adaptive learning software is great but it is NOT the only thing you need. It is the smallest part of what makes for an effective learning experience. The human aspect of learning are far more important. The apps are a means to an end that is providing baseline levels of academic content efficiently. Still they should and hopefully will replace lecture.

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.

I hope that students will stand inside of their learning with full control over the experience. I hope that the walls between teachers and students will change.

I hope the future holds more power in the hands of students.

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 endorsement 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 be so different in 2030. Let my imagination tell it, and this is what it would be.

What would you add? What would you take away? How are you thinking about school in 2030?

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