KnowledgeWorks out of Cincinnati, OH created a Map of Future Forces Affecting Education last year. I got my hands on a paper copy during a keynote presentation of a National Science Foundation meeting in Washington DC this week. An electronic version and a link to download a paper version can be found here.
It’s an interesting map in that it lists half a dozen external forces that will affect education in the next decade in the areas of family and community, markets, institutions, educators and learning, and tools and practics. With regards to digital tools, it is noteworthy that the focus seems to be on mobile and connected devices, in an environment that favors personalization/customization AND networking/connectedness at the same time.
Another item worth noting is “the end of cyberspace” being one of the drivers of change, meaning that
places and objects are becoming increasingly embedded with digital information and linked through connective media into social networks. The result is the end of the distinction between cyberspace and real space.
This is more along the lines of the concept of ubiquitous computing I’ve written about on this forum before, but one in which mobile technologies definitely worth a role.
Even though the map was created from a US perspective, I’m sure at least parts of it apply to other contexts. It is interesting to navigate through and investigate, both in digital and paper formats.
Crossposted to the Handheld Learning Forum
Image Credit: “Futuristic Space Travel”, Jay Khemani’s photostream;
http://flickr.com/photos/jay/11836041
