A new year AND a new decade.  WOW. That went by pretty fast. It feels like just last year I was in the classroom trying to figure out why the Reader Rabbit CDs weren’t working on my Compaq computer. A lot has changed in the past decade and a lot WILL change in the next one. It’s hard to believe that I’ve done these predictive posts every year now since 2013.

Last year, one prediction that I totally missed was that I would leave my district administration job after 21 years in schools to take on the role of full-time consulting and speaking. While I didn’t predict that, I can say that so far I’ve loved working with schools and conferences all over the world to collaborate on thoughts and ideas for improving education. When it comes to my predictions over the last 7 years, my success rate has been around 50% which is much better than any baseball player or professional gambler.

That said, these predictions are meant to be taken with a grain of salt. They are meant to challenge both your thinking and mine. Some of them may seem like a future Black Mirror episode while others are just silly, but I’m trying to be BOLD so cut me some slack. So buckle up for 2020!

Social Media gets a mute button

With the 2020 election coming up at the end of the year, you know social media will be rabid with people from both sides of the aisle as well as a LARGE amount of trolls from Russia. While some companies like Facebook have tinkered with a snooze button, I think this is the year that an app comes out that takes all of your social media, text messages, emails, smoke signals, etc. and mutes them all for a period of time. This would be much simpler then having to delete all of your accounts or even mess with notification settings (although those are good skills to teach students).

A school goes 1:1….exercise bikes

Last week I caught wind of a tweet by @MrHamiltonPE (which as since been deleted) where they started a “READ and RIDE” program at their school designed to get some motion into their day. Almost immediately twitter tore it apart claiming it had to have been an article from the Onion or at best it was a misinterpretation of “active learners”. Part of the dangers of thinking differently is that you risk ridicule, but I don’t think the concept is completely out of realm of possibility. Personally, part of my daily routine is to now spend an hour on a stationary bike doing research or reading a book. Movement is a good thing when it comes to increasing oxygen levels in the brain and awaking the receptors for learning. So while this strategy might not be the right fit, there is something to adding more movement to the classroom. So why not go 1:1 with exercise bikes?  Remember when we used to spend thousands of dollars on eClickers?

With gamification and Orange Theories popping up everywhere, it might only be a time before a tool like CyclePath becomes widespread.  It connects to games that you play on a mobile device so if you want to run in the game, you have to actually cycle faster.  Not a terrible idea…

The Ed Poet’s Society goes Global

Back in 2017, following Lisa Johnson’s inspiration, we began an Ed Tech Poetry Slam (click here to watch the ISTE 2018 version). What started as a fun after-conference event idea has grown substantially since then, mostly due to the amazing educators who are a part of the Ed Poet’s Society. Brett Salakas (@mrsalakas) has taken this idea to Australia and really started to run with it, hosting his own poetry slam events down under. This year, he and I have a couple of tricks up our sleeves, but our hope is that this becomes less a prediction and more of a self-fulfilling prophecy as we try to make Ed Poet’s a global phenomenon. Stay tuned!

The 2020 Election will be heavily influenced by TikTok

As I mentioned in my first post, social media will play a huge role in the 2020 election. This particular prediction may have seemed crazy a few years ago, but when you think about how the last few years have gone with our leaders and their use of social media, is this really out of the realm of possibilities?  I think with TikTok announcing tighter security measures and guidelines last week, they are setting up to potentially be the go to source for where the masses get their information. While the company wants to remain politics free, this is social media…they should know by now that they have no control over that. This year, the election will be televised! (in little 10-15 second cute, loopy videos)

Elon Musk takes a crack at “disrupting” education

Will this be the year Musk takes a crack at education?

The mogul has taken on space travel with SpaceX and extremely strange concept electronic cybertruck recently. He is known for taking on concepts and ideas that seem to be rooted in traditionalism and then re-imaging them. So why not education? It’s 2020 and we are still hearing terms about how education needs to take a step into the 21st century. Flexible furniture and mobile devices aren’t enough, we need significant changes in mindset and vision. Time for Mr. Musk to take a crack at disrupting education. Let’s just hope it turns out better than his truck windows.

The Ambient Classroom becomes a concept

We’ve heard a lot about artificial intelligence and the use of digital assistants like Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa to help us through our day at home. Despite some security concerns, some schools have even started to implement programs with the consumer listening device in classrooms. This isn’t a new thing as you can find articles from the past couple of years about using inexpensive Echo Dots in the classroom.  “Ambient Intelligence” is the next level in artificial intelligence and I predict (assuming security concerns are addressed), that it could have a HUGE impact in the classroom.  Imagine a classroom environment that adjusts based on the mood, lesson, time of day, activity, etc? It is technology that actually reacts to the users in the room. How’s that for personalized learning?

“WiFi for All” finally happens

In 2013, President Barack Obama announced his ConnectEd initiative with the goal of getting internet access to underserved schools all over the country. While this has only been mildly successful, there are still many without access. With the rapid push towards 5G and the launch of satellite internet in the past year, there should be a point in the near future where students shouldn’t have to go to Starbucks for free WiFi. The LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites launched by Amazon and Tesla claim to offer robust internet access to even the most rural communities. Not only that, but with more internet options (like in my neighborhood, where I only have one), that would mean competitive pricing for current internet services. So, while it might not be free yet, I think we are closer to being a completely internet-saturated country, which will be important for all the TikTok videos we’ll be watching this year.

The micro-projector movement takes hold

A kindergarten teacher does small group instruction as her Nebula projects her iPad in the background

Remember back in the day when schools would spend over $5000 to install an interactive whiteboard to be mounted on the wall? It was one of ed tech’s early attempts at “modernizing” the classroom, but in reality, it only perpetuated the ‘sage on the stage’ approach to learning. Now many districts are shifting to large, mobile interactive displays. While I like that these are becoming more mobile, they are not very cost-effective for the district trying to keep their budget afloat. One of the districts I consult with was trying to come up with an idea for making presenting information more mobile but at a lower price than those large mobile displays. We decided to try a mobile micro-projector. For around $250, they purchased a handful of these Nebula Capsule and almost immediately saw benefits to both teacher and students in having an alternate way to display information. With built-in airplay and an HDMI port, any device can connect and display information on a flat surface. The screen instantly adjusts and bezels based on what it is projecting on. (hint – the lighter the color of the surface the better) It was amazing to see how just having one other projector made the classroom much more dynamic and less “front of the room” focused.

I will publish three VERY different books this year

I’ve been predicting that I will publish a children’s book for the last 3 years and failed on that prediction every year, but this year, I’m raising the bar.

This year I will publish 3 books in three different genres.

This prediction could be more about me blackmailing, but I already have the early ground work laid to make this happen. I’m hopeful I can find a willing publisher out there to take a risk with me, but if not, maybe I’ll take the ultimate risk and self-publish!

There you have it folks. My latest bold predictions for tech and it’s impact on education in 2020. One thing I didn’t list is less of a prediction and more of a hope. As I travel around in my new role, I hope that I get the opportunity to meet and engage in conversation with more fellow educators and colleagues. Despite all the excitement and rapid changes in technology, I still find that having good discussions with thoughtful educators is the biggest thrill for me.

I wish you all an innovative and safe 2020 and hope to see you at an event in your neighborhood this year!

cross-posted at https://hookedoninnovation.com

Carl Hooker has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator. As Director of Innovation & Digital Learning at Eanes ISD, he has helped spearhead the LEAP program, which put one-to-one iPads in the hands of all K-12 students in his 8000-student district. He is also the founder of “iPadpalooza”- a three-day “learning festival” held in Austin annually. He's also the author of the six-book series titled Mobile Learning Mindset, a guide for teachers, administrators, parents and others to support and embrace mobile learning in our schools. Read more at Hooked on Innovation.

Microsoft has cast a look into the future of education as it looks to prepare the classrooms of tomorrow with the technology they need to thrive.

The computing giant has revealed new research at BETT 2020 today that examines just what the teachers of 2030 will require in terms of technological needs.

With millennials and Generation Z set to make up a significant proportion of the teaching workforce by 2030, the needs of students and teachers alike are set to change, and Microsoft wants to be in pole position.

Advanced

Microsoft’s study surveyed over a thousand new and early-career teachers around the world in an attempt to work out their needs, but also looked to drill into just what technology can do for the educators of tomorrow.

The company found that technology is set to play an increasingly vital role in the classroom of the future, both in terms of enabling learning but also enriching the student and teacher experiences.

The study found that the largest benefits of education technology were seen as allowing more engaging learning experiences (chosen by 36 percent of the participants), enabling self-directed learning (31 percent) and preparing students for the tech-centric job market (30 percent).

However there were also some concerns surrounding the use of technology in the classroom, with 36 percent of respondents saying they feared it could lead to a loss of traditional skills and knowledge, such as handwriting. 34 percent were worried that students already spent too much time on devices already, and 28 percent said that the technology could be too distracting.

A lack of proper tools was named as the top barrier to achieving positive education outcomes through technology, with inadequate training for teachers on the technology they would be using, and inadequate technical support also ranking highly.

cross posted on www.techradar.com

Mike Moore is News & Features Editor across both TechRadar Pro and ITProPortal. He has worked as a technology journalist for more than five years, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers. He is interested in hearing about all the latest B2B and B2C news, analysis and opinions, including how companies are using new technology to help forward their work and make their customer's lives easier.

For the past several years I’ve made an attempt to make some bold predictions on the future of technology and its impact in schools and society. They range from semi-realistic to too-silly-to-be-true, but ironically, some do come true. Before I post my list for 2020, it’s always good to look back and judge how I did. After all, the internet never forgets, so I might as well own my mistakes.

Prediction: Virtual Reality takes fright…er….flight in the classroom

Outcome: Getting close

While some would say this post is a bit of a softball toss considering VR has been around for more than a decade, recent explosions in inexpensive hardware has made it much more attainable. I still think we are only scratching the surface of this prediction and will be interested to see how it progresses in 2020.

Prediction: The Universal Translator will make learning a foreign language obsolete

Outcome: No lo creo (translation: I don’t think so)

Like most new things in tech, the first generations of these translators are still pretty awful. I don’t think the foreign language department or language immersion schools have much to worry about…yet. However, my guess is people that worked for Blockbuster thought similar things about Netflix and Redbox….and you see how that ended up.  Not very bueno.

Prediction: Alexa will accidentally burn down someone’s house

Outcome: Nailed it…unfortunately

Yes, this was a strange and morbid prediction loosely based on my story from the previous year of “When Smart Homes Attack“. However, about 2 months after I posted this, a retired firefighter actually returned to his home and found that his 3rd gen Echo Dot had set ablaze. While this wasn’t exactly what I predicted (my thought would be that some sort of stove would turn on by accident), it does raise awareness of the power of AI as we put it into our homes.

Prediction: Netflix will launch an EDU Version of its service

Outcome: Still out of service

While many other video streaming companies are out there vying for clicks and views, the major player in paid video streaming is still not taking my calls or emails to launch NetflixEDU. Sounds like a wasted opportunity to me or more than likely a way to avoid major copyright infringement by them. Some how, it has to work though…

Prediction: Restaurants will post non-device zones similar to non-smoking areas

Outcome: Going unplugged is trending

My blurry pic at a recent restaurant banning phones

It’s becoming more and more of a status symbol for fancy restaurants to block and ban cell phones to the supposed joy of patrons. However, it’s not just fancy restaurants doing this as I snapped this quick pic of a BBQ joint outside of Ft. Worth over the holidays. (blurry because as I took out my phone, someone yelled at me)

Prediction: Someone will write a blog/paper using only predictive text

Outcome: It has been predicted

This one was definitely silly, but I thought I would put it out there in the universe and even tried to write a sentence in predictive text. I will say, that my Gmail is getting smarter and smarter at completing my sentences for me (at what cost? who knows…) but we are still a few years off (maybe?) at this happening over an entire blog post. Yes there are tons of social media bots out there doing this to manipulate us daily (reminder folks, it’s 2020 – election time), but not a blog post. However, someone at the New Yorker took my idea an ran with it in this October 2019 article titled “The Next Word“. Close enough for a win for me!

Prediction: A couple will get married over Facetime

Outcome: Still illegal, but not for long

In doing some more digging around this prediction, technically it is possible to have a proxy marriage and Facetime could facilitate that. However, that still hasn’t happened. That said, it is interesting that there are a WIDE variety of Facetime marriage counselors out there…which is interesting.

Prediction: There will be a FortniteEDU for schools

Outcome: Won the Battle Royale

I might have cheated on this one a tad as I know Mike Washburn was working on this behind the scenes. I chatted with him a bit last month while being interviewed on his recent OnEducation podcast and while we didn’t bring the topic up on air, he mentioned some recent developments on this front.  In December he posted a link on his twitter account (pic below) to Epic Games reaching hosting an Interactive 3D contest for teachers with likely more ideas to come.

Prediction: A SMART toilet will save someone’s life

Outcome: Not fully flushed-out yet

I’m a CES nerd, so when I saw these trending last year, I thought there might be a chance someone would buy one and have it save their life via early detection.  As of this writing, it hasn’t happened yet that I can find, but someone did write just a few weeks after my prediction about the future of these devices and our health. This prediction isn’t totally down the toilet yet(although my puns are starting to stink).

Prediction: LearnFestATX will again break the rules when it comes to a conference

Outcome: It was a game-changer (and ender)

LearnFestATX Dueling Keynote – Ann Kozma vs. Matt Joseph

Little did I know when I wrote that post that it would also mark the end of my 13-year tenure with Eanes ISD. However, we did do some pretty epic things to finish out the event including the still-never-attempted “Dueling Keynotes” using silent disco headphones. What a great way to end my run in the district and kick off the #NextChapter in my career as speaker/consultant. I’ll miss that event and iPadpalooza that came before it, but predict there might be other exciting events to lead in my near future…..stay tuned. 

Prediction: Robotics enter mainstream curriculum

Outcome: We will See-3PO if it happens

I think this ground swell is continuing to grow and we’ll see more and more examples of teachers using inventive ways to use coding and robotics to showcase student learning. I’ve been lucky to advise on one of the companies (Trashbots) and have seen them really work hard at seamlessly integrating STEM into mainstream curriculum without a ‘heavy lift’ for classroom teachers. I’m excited to see where the future of this ends up in our schools.

Prediction: THIS will be the year my children’s book series actually gets published

Outcome: Progress, just not published

I predicted this for 3 years and finally started down the path to production. By soliciting the help of best friend, fellow educator and amazing artist Chris Parker (@kreyus), I might have finally overcome the final roadblock holding this project back. Hoping for a summer launch of this new series as well as…wait….don’t want to give too much away. 

So there you have it. Overall, 2019 wasn’t a bad year for my predictions although there were some surprises. I’ve got some ideas brewing for 2020 and will have those up in the next week but here’s a hint: It’s time to be BOLD.

cross-posted at https://hookedoninnovation.com

Carl Hooker has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator. As Director of Innovation & Digital Learning at Eanes ISD, he has helped spearhead the LEAP program, which put one-to-one iPads in the hands of all K-12 students in his 8000-student district. He is also the founder of “iPadpalooza”- a three-day “learning festival” held in Austin annually. He's also the author of the six-book series titled Mobile Learning Mindset, a guide for teachers, administrators, parents and others to support and embrace mobile learning in our schools. Read more at Hooked on Innovation.

What technology can we expect to see more of in 2020? That was the topic of discussion at the Tech & Learning Leadership Summit which took place December 2019. Leaders from across the United States came together to share the newest technologies being used in their districts.  Here's what they shared: 

Emerging Trends

AR and VR
Augmented and virtual reality are being used to expose students to cultural experiences they may not have the means to experience otherwise

Tele-Classroom Robotics
Schools using robots for tele-classroom experiences have found that it provides more Social Emotional Learning than what they had imagined 

eSports
This is growing across districts. As a result there is competition between districts on what is offered. Local Military are interested in recruiting eSports players to support them in areas such as drone operation.

Voice activated devices
Districts are seeing more and more value in voice activated devices. The focus must turn to addressing recommended use and privacy concerns.

Fiber optics owned by district or state
District or state owned fiber optics can provide more resources among schools systems.

Data privacy
This is a concern around what we can do with data and ultimately need to do in order to help our students.

cross posted at The Innovative Educator 

Lisa Nielsen (@InnovativeEdu) has worked as a public-school educator and administrator since 1997. She is a prolific writer best known for her award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator. Nielsen is the author of several booksand her writing has been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times,The Wall Street Journal, Tech&Learning, and T.H.E. Journal. 

Xello, the K-12 college, career, and future readiness program, today announced the addition of Xello for Elementary. Created to engage elementary aged students, Xello for Elementary aims to encourage self-discovery, create career awareness and nurture future-readiness skills.

Xello for Elementary employs these tactics to give students an early start in becoming future ready: 

• Encouraging Self-Discovery: Students celebrate what makes them unique by identifying their interests, skills, and achievements
• Creating Career Awareness: Through self-directed explorations, students discover and learn about a variety of careers.
• Nurturing Future-Readiness Skills: Students acquire age-appropriate skills and knowledge needed to smoothly transition from elementary to middle school.
• Exploring Options, Building Knowledge: Students define their interests, skills, and aspirations while learning about career possibilities and educational pathways.
• Identifying Goals, Self-Reflecting: Students identify their goals and have the opportunity to build on the knowledge acquired at each age and stage.

“The early years are absolutely critical in helping students discover their strengths and interests. One of the goals in our school district was to find a solution that would provide students with engaging resources for exploring their goals,” said Dana Jackson, Executive Director of Counseling Services at Grand Prairie Independent School District. “While most college and career readiness tools only focus on middle and high school, Xello has filled the gap with their new Xello for Elementary product and we’re looking forward to offering our K-5 students a well-rounded, engaging experience.”

Xello for Elementary is available in English and Spanish in the U.S. In Canada, it’s available in English and French. These options allow students to learn in their preferred language. The program has been tested with educators to ensure that it fulfills age-appropriate learning objectives and includes lessons that align with regional and national learning objectives, like the ASCA Mindsets & Behavior Standards for Student Success. The program is fully accessible, exceeding WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards, and built with original content written at a third-grade reading level.

To learn more about Xello for Elementary, visit http://www.xello.world/elementary

The National Future of Education Technology Conference® (FETC®) has announced the six content tracks for 2020, two of which―Future of Ed Tech Library Media Specialist and Future of Ed Tech Coach―are new tracks being introduced for the first time. FETC 2020, the 40th anniversary event, will feature more than 600 total sessions organized around the key roles in education leadership, providing all attendees with the opportunity to select the most relevant content and maximize their learning. The conference will take place January 14-17, 2020 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Fla.

The six content tracks for FETC 2020 are:

• Future of Ed Tech Library Media Specialist―This new track will inform participants about the resources and training tools available to incorporate technology into programs.
• Future of Ed Tech Coach―In this newly-created track, participants can get the latest insights and strategies on instructional technologies, personalized learning materials and pedagogical methods to mentor and train educators in their schools and districts.
• Future of Ed Tech Administrator―This track, designed for leaders in schools and districts, will deliver technology-based best practices that can be used in administrators’ efforts to lead initiatives that embrace technology, engage learners and build capacity among entire teams.
• Future of Ed Tech Information Technology―With sessions for every role in the technology department, this track provides takeaways to address cybersecurity, AR/VR, cloud computing and more.
• Future of Ed Tech Educator―In this track, teachers will discover innovative digital learning tools for the classroom—from game-based learning to online learning strategies and coding—and learn practical tips to take back and implement in their schools.
• Future of Ed Tech Inclusion & Special Education―Special education leaders, support staff and educators will find specific and relevant content in this track. Participants will learn about effective practices for using technology to support the academic and social-emotional growth of all students, including those with disabilities.

In addition to the hundreds of concurrent sessions across the six targeted tracks, FETC 2020 will have numerous learning and networking opportunities for participants of all roles and interests. The conference will kick off with an opening keynote from best-selling author Daniel Pink and will feature a STEM keynote from Justin Shaifer, founder and executive director of Fascinate, Inc. 

Registration is now open for the 2020 Future of Education Technology Conference. For additional information and to register, visit fetc.org/register or call toll-free 1-800-727-1227.  Educators who register before November 1, 2019 will save up to $150 by securing the Super Saver rate.

As Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. became CEO of IBM in April,1993 he faced an existential decision: break up the company or keep it whole. Before deciding, Mr. Gerstner asked employees and customers for advice. The overture, however, was prefaced with this caveat: “no credit will be given for predicting the rain, only for building arks.” Mr. Gerstner wanted solutions. Not blame.

Juxtapose 11.2 million unemployed/underemployed and 10.2 million disenfranchised youths in the U.S. workforce against 7 million “open” jobs and a three-pronged workforce forecast becomes clear: more “rain” is expected, more “arks” are needed and the rapid adoption of new technology means “it is not clear where humans will fit in” warns Erik Brynjolfsson, Director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. 

Dr. Klaus Schwab, co-founder of the World Economic Forum, knows precisely where humans fit in. “Talentism is the new capitalism”, he says. For a proof point on the relevancy of Dr. Schwab’s theory, ask Amazon executives how important talent availability was in the firm’s recent search for a second headquarters.

Most companies ignore Dr. Schwab’s advice. Jake Schwartz, CEO at General Assembly, offers two reasons why: “a surprising lack of visibility and long-term planning around skill/talent needs and recruitment strategies that look for new skills in conventional places.”  Jon Reed, co-founder of Diginomica, a digital strategy firm, adds “the real problem is a lack of imagination in skills development, retraining and sourcing”.

Since 2007, I have focused on talent and reskilling issues, including writing a book about the topic entitled The U.S. Technology Skills Gap. While more work must be done, including the creation of a long-term national education strategy grounded to career success rather than test scores, I am impressed with the armada of “arks” being imaginatively built by companies large and small. 

Since 2001, the Ford Motor Company’s Next Generation Learning initiative has created 541 academies in 307 high schools that have changed the lives of nearly 20,000 young people preparing them for college, careers, lifelong learning and leadership by honing their “STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills. 

Have you heard of “new collar” jobs which require more than a high school degree, but not necessarily a college degree? In 2011, IBM partnered with the New York City Department of Education to create a grade 9-14 “school within a high school” called “Pathways in Technology Early College High School.” After six years, and often sooner, “P-TECH” students earn associate degrees in applied science, engineering and computer science at 100 schools around the world. 

LinkedIn claims most tech jobs are located on the coasts. That creates a talent problem for millions of firms located in “fly over” regions of America. Employers in Kansas City, Missouri met that challenge by forming a regional talent co-op (www.kcrising.com) that recruits job candidates to the area by first promoting it as a great place to work and live. Once attracted to the region, candidates and co-op members compete aggressively for the best jobs.

A reskilling handbook for every CES 2019 attendee is a report from The Business Roundtable entitled, “Work in Progress, How CEOs Are Helping to Close America’s Skills Gap. It recaps what 61 companies are doing to solve the skills enigma.

Paraphrasing a witticism from 20th century commentator Will Rogers, “Technology don’t mean nuthin, it’s people that count.” Firms that embrace the reskilling of human talent will thrive and prosper in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Those that don’t will become irrelevant to their employees — and their customers. 

CES is a platform for manufacturers to announce and showcase their latest tech, often giving a glimpse of trends to come within the industry.

For this week’s show, connected PCs (specifically notebooks and 2-in-1 tablets) are expected to be center focus for many vendors. We have seen major PC manufacturers like Asus, HP and Lenovo recently enter the LTE fray with the help of ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs, joining vendors like Microsoft, which has made cellular versions of its Surface line since 2014.  The move to offer these always- connected devices speaks to the proliferation of smartphones as a daily (sometimes hourly) tool and our always-connected lifestyles.  

The introduction of Qualcomm Snapdragon chips looks to bring this feature to more mainstream audiences, and possibly give Intel a run for its money down the line. Qualcomm recently upped the ante, announcing its new Snapdragon 8cx Compute Platform, specifically designed for PCs and now supporting Windows 10 Enterprise.

There still does not seem to be a consensus for what to call notebooks and 2-in-1 tablets that are capable of connecting to the Internet without WiFi in the same fashion as our smartphones. Some of the terms you will see from retailers and manufacturers include mobile broadband, LTE, cellular, and always-connected, which may hinder some consumers from understanding what the device is capable of, and why they are expected to pay a premium compared to non-connected devices.  For these devices to succeed, they not only need to solve a problem — staying connected on-the-go — but to market that solution effectively to consumers.

For Qualcomm, the genesis of mobile computing goes back to the end of 2016, when it announced a partnership with Microsoft to create Windows 10 mobile computing devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors.

In spring of the following year, Qualcomm announced its plan to bring its ARM-based Snapdragon-powered PCs to market, touting longer battery life due to a more energy-efficient chip design, lighter and thinner form factors aided by a reduction in battery size, and the ability to connect to cellular networks.

Asus, HP and Lenovo were the first OEM partners to announce devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, making headlines at the Computex trade show in summer 2017.  The devices would not hit the U.S. retail channel until well into 2018, with slow adoption among brick-and-mortar retailers.  However, recent adoption at Best Buy suggests 2019 will see more of these always-connected device hit shelves.

Qualcomm Snapdragon chips are not the first or only chips to allow for LTE-connectivity on mobile PCs, but are helping to usher in cellular capabilities to mainstream consumer devices.  A current drawback for the CPUs are their current lack of power (considering similar chips power smartphones), which makes it hard for consumers to justify spending the same amount on an always-connected PC as they would for a mid-range notebook with an Intel Core i5 processor.  

However, Arm holdings, the company whose design is used to create the Snapdragon chipsets, made an announcement last year that could potentially prove to be a major disruptor down the line. The company released a roadmap for its processors covering the next two years, showing a performance trajectory of its x86 chip that is directly compared with Intel’s Core i5 series, with a predicted jump in Arm’s performance in 2019 and 2020 with the respective releases of its Deimos and Hercules chips.  If this comes to fruition, we could be looking at lightweight, always-connected PCs with all-day battery life that match, if not exceed, the performance of mid-range chips like the Core i5.

As smartphones continue to push against the dominance of PCs, vendors will continue to push back with innovations aimed at keeping the devices essential in productivity and entertainment. Portability, all-day battery-life and uninterrupted connectivity, all features we associated smartphones, will continue to proliferate within notebooks and 2-in-1 tablets this year.  Consumer demand, adoption and satisfaction remain in question, but its looks like Qualcomm aims to tackle these head-on.

This week at CES 2019, look for Qualcomm to put its newly announced Snapdragon processor front and center, and to promote partnerships like its recently announced venture with Mozilla to bring FireFox to its Snapdragon-powered PCs.  Vendors will likely be taking advantage of the timing to announce their own lines of always-connected PCs equipped with Qualcomm’s latest processor, touting thinner and lighter devices capable of running all day, while also keeping users connected on the go.

Dustin Downs is an industry analyst at Gap Intelligence.

It’s that time of year when we like to make resolutions, change part of our diet, and set out with some goals for our personal and professional selves. For me, this time of year marks an annual tradition of making some bold predictions that I think might come true in the coming year. Last year was by far my most successful year of predictions coming true (or mostly true), so with my new found (false) confidence, I’ve decided to really step it up this year with my prognostications.

I realize that some of this may seem far-reaching, but hey, I said “BOLD” right?  Also, in looking back at some of my previous years, I noticed that my time frame may have been off by a year or two, but they still came true….eventually. (For the record, I don’t count those as accurate predictions)  These predictions are a mix of technology, education, and some fun. Part of what makes this interesting is your feedback, so please drop your bold predictions in the comments below the post. Even if it’s crazy!

Virtual Reality takes fright…er….flight in the classroom

This past holiday, my lovely wife surprised me with an Oculus GO VR headset. This all-in-one headset doesn’t require a computer or a phone to use and within a few minutes of use, I immediately become both motion sick and mesmerized with possibilities in Education. Even though the graphics aren’t quite there yet, just the experience of riding on a virtual roller coaster or even looking out the window of a 97-story building immediately immerse you in the world.  Imagine what that could look like in a classroom?  I know that Google Expeditions and Nearpod 360 Cities do some of this, but the world I’m envisioning has interactions with the students. Imaging taking part in the American Revolution or being able to be a member in the audience during Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro“?  Or better yet….why not put yourself in the shoes of the actual conductor?  With the now lower cost of these all-in-one devices and the mobility (no more lugging around a huge desktop) I can see a near future where Interactive VR plays a role in the learning experiences of our kids.

The Universal Translator will make learning a foreign language obsolete

This past couple of years, Google and other companies have really tried to capitalize on the idea of having a Universal Translator (think Ohura from Star Trek). The current versions of this are still fairly clunky, but I can see a not so distant future where learning a foreign language might not be that important. This doesn’t mean that all those LOTE (Languages Other Than English) teachers will be out of a job though. With an effective universal translator, knowing the culture and customs of foreign lands will become even more important should you accidentally say or gesture the wrong thing.

Alexa will accidentally burn down someone’s house

Ok, so this one is a little morbid, but is it really that far-fetched?  I wrote this post last year about When Smart Homes Attack about how my kids almost froze and starved to death because I changed the wireless router on a snow day. There are a TON of smart home devices coming out of CES this week (including this awesome SMART block of wood) and with the “Internet of Things” taking over homes across the country, there are some inherent dangers. Like imagine someone asking Alexa to play Turn up the Heat by Justin Bieber only to have it accidentally fire up the fireplace or stove? I see a future Black Mirror episode or crime novel in our future where someone hacks the smart home to kill its inhabitants.  (Ok…this is getting way too dark now)

Netflix will launch an EDU Version of its service

I’ve been pitching this to higher-ups at Netflix for the past couple of years, but all my emails and tweets go without a response. It seems to me that this is an opportunity for Netflix to expand its service to the educational market. My daughters already have their own customized channels full of educational content like Bill Nye and Magic School Bus. Netflix even offers one-time educational screening permission for certain programs and movies. We don’t want an educational environment where kids are just mindlessly consuming content, so this would have to be done with some fidelity, but I think there could be a potential use case where the teacher acts as the moderator of customized content for each student under a EDU subscription. Instead of binge watching…there would be binge learning! 

Restaurants will post non-device zones similar to non-smoking areas

It seems that more and more we are facing an internal conflict of too much screen time (remember the smart wood I mentioned earlier?). Associated with us being glued to our screens is the feeling that we are doing too much “nocializing” (going out with friends only to be on your phone the entire time) rather than actual interaction. Don’t believe me? Walk through the airport sometime and see how many strangers are interacting with each other. Our district just went through a lengthly process evaluating our own use of technology in the classroom. The major concerns around screen time in schools is a valid one especially when you couple it with the heavy use of screens at home with kids after school. One of the major outcomes of our research was that we need to really educate and promote the purposeful use of technology in and out of schools. This isn’t just a school problem, it’s a social one. I predict that this year, in response to this, we will see restaurants begin to set up non-device zones for those that choose to not have their devices out. The only exception will be for people using their phone to read this post. (Ha!) 

Someone will write a blog/paper using only predictive text

Imagine the world of the future and we can have access to our new home app using a mobile device?  (that was all written with predictive text…scary isn’t it?)  Surely someone will use predictive text to send a love letter, submit a college paper or even write out their wedding vows (see next prediction). Felix Jacomino actually crowd-sourced his predictive text poem a couple of years ago for his Ed Tech Poetry Slam. Here’s an example of a comedian who has re-written the Avengers script using predictive texts using an online tool called botnik. This could be a terribly lame prediction (begin predictive text) but it would also make the best way to play with some friends.  Um….okay? 

A couple will get married over Facetime

A couple of years ago I became an ordained online minister in order to be the officiant at my buddy Chris Parker’s wedding. It seems to me, that if for $50 and an online application I can become ordained, then surely some couple out there can be married without being physically in the same location. In doing some quick internet digging, it appears that getting married over the internet is still not legal. However, my guess is that with modern laws being updated all the time and with the hustle and bustle of our modern lifestyles, someone will get married via video chat. Some questions I would have around this would be: Do they have to put it online so there are witnesses? Can the officiant be virutal as well or can they be married by a virtual assistant (A.I.)? How do you kiss the bride? I can hear it now: “Do you have the Ring (camera)?” 

There will be a FortniteEDU for schools

Remember when people laughed at the thought of Minecraft ever making its way to the classroom? A Microsoft buy-out later, MinecraftEDU has made it into our schools. Imagine a Battle Royale where you have to solve math problems to get weapons or complete a simile to get a shield potion? Doesn’t seem that far-fetched now does it? If anyone can make this happen, my money would be on Mike Washburn who has already done some work in this space. He was the first educator I can recall showing and presenting the educational values of Minecraft way back when. C’mon Mike! Make it happen! 

A SMART toilet will save someone’s life

Yes, these are a thing. It seems hard to imagine, but considering there is now something called “Poo Purri”, it doesn’t seem that far fetched. In fact, Kohler just announced their high-end smart toilets complete with mood lighting and built in speakers. While that’s cool, futurist Michio Kaku predicts in this video that smart toilets have the potential to detect a finite amount of cancer cells before it grows into a tumor. How incredible would that be? Also, I’m posting this because I have some guilt from an earlier prediction claiming that a smart home would kills someone (there’s always a balance, right?) These toilets will have an impact in schools and public sector jobs too as they will have the ability to detect drugs/alcohol in student-athletes or politicians, which could get real interesting… 

LearnFestATX will again break the rules when it comes to a conference

Last year, as we transitioned from iPadpalooza to LearnFestATX we went into “beta” mode to test out some new concepts to engage adult learners. Admittedly, not all of them were great. However, a few of the ideas were HUGE successes that we plan to feature along with other unique engagement mechanisms this June. From silent disco keynotes to the “What’s HOT in Ed Tech” challenge, this summer’s event in Austin will hit you on all fronts. This year’s theme is “Ready Learner One” with a play on classic video games from our past. So if you’re ready to Dig Dug deeper, be sure to register now as this is should to be a Knock Out!  (FYI – we are also accepting calls for proposals until Feb. 8 – accepted presenters can be part of the fun for FREE) 

Robotics enter mainstream curriculum

Largely due to costs and complex programming, robotics has remained an after-school program or secondary elective. However, with new models of robotics like Sphero and Trashbots hitting the market at an affordable price AND coming with easy-to-use curriculum integration tools, this will be the year that robot goes from a “fun Friday” activity to mainstream. I may be cheating a bit on this one as Fred Benitez recently shared some science teachers at our middle school doing that very thing with Sphero and Anatomy: 

THIS will be the year my children’s book series actually gets published

Third time is a charm right? I’ve had this false prediction on this post for the last two years and I think it’s time to make it happen. I even bought a website for it this past weekend so it better become a reality even if no one buys it.

There you have it. Twelve different bold predictions (a record for this post) on things I believe will happen during 2019. Like I stated at the beginning, I would love your thoughts on crazy, bold ideas that could happen in our near future as well. Comment below and thanks for reading!

Happy New Year everyone!

cross-posted at https://hookedoninnovation.com

Carl Hooker has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator. As Director of Innovation & Digital Learning at Eanes ISD, he has helped spearhead the LEAP program, which put one-to-one iPads in the hands of all K-12 students in his 8000-student district. He is also the founder of “iPadpalooza”- a three-day “learning festival” held in Austin annually. He's also the author of the six-book series titled Mobile Learning Mindset, a guide for teachers, administrators, parents and others to support and embrace mobile learning in our schools. Read more at Hooked on Innovation.  

As technology advances, costs are decreasing and access is increasing. This combination may allow for more widespread adoption of tech programs that are beginning to gain a foothold in education. Here are some predictions for technology in education for 2019 and beyond:

1. The continued push for coding in the classroom—Coding resources are becoming more plentiful and accessible. Code.org, for example, offers free, high-quality computer science activities. Coding in the classroom will continue to grow, particularly with younger students.

2. Virtual reality fades—Unless a less expensive method of delivering virtual reality resources in the classroom surfaces that can also provide high-quality and varied content, virtual reality, in its current form, may be on its way out.

3. 1:1 devices—The arrival of the Chromebook made it possible for students to have a device around $200. I predict cheaper devices will allow more schools to adopt and maintain 1:1 programs in the near future.

4. Learning with video games—This has been tried before. Does it work? It depends. Video games that are fun for students but also have an educational purpose could be significantly beneficial. The games found on Code.org and Minecraft for Education are examples of how this can be done right.

5.  Increase in blended learning environments—This may be more of a long-term prediction, but it’s on the horizon. This could mean students completing most work outside of a traditional classroom and then meeting in person with a teacher to conduct in-person discussions and for hands-on projects to extend online learning. There are many possibilities for blended learning in both synchronous and asynchronous learning environments.

6. An increase in data-driven instruction—Web apps that track student data to drive instruction are already being used. As more are developed and become more affordable, I predict that many will jump on the bandwagon and begin intently tracking data. The fear is that teachers will be teaching (more so than they are already) almost completely to standardized tests in an attempt to prove that they put the district’s data tracking system to good use. While tests are important, there’s more to education than assessments.

7. Wearable technology—I predict this trend will continue to grow. Wearable devices could be excellent classroom tools if implemented carefully and correctly. The main barriers now seem to be price and training. Wearable technology also has a whole host of benefits in the area of special education.

8. 3D Printing—Prices are already becoming more reasonable for 3D printers and supplies, and I could foresee every school having a 3D printer for its STEM classes. The benefits of learning and implementing the design process are significant.

9. Robotics—Similar to 3D printing, the design process of making and tinkering with robots and robotic components is beneficial to students of all ages and can spark student interest in STEM careers. The best part is that cost doesn’t necessarily prohibit integration. Some robots can be constructed with as little as five dollars’ worth of materials.

10. Increased vocational training—With mounting student debt and a sometimes difficult job market facing college graduates, I foresee an increase in students enrolling in vocational programs in their high schools. There are many jobs, for example, for trained mechanics, communications technicians, IT specialists, Web designers, cable installers, plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

Steven Lahullier is an elementary school technology teacher at the Robert Gordon School in Roselle Park (NJ) and doctoral candidate in the Educational Technology Leadership program at New Jersey City University.

The journey of the educator is much like a quest. We strive to successfully gather the necessary skills and knowledge loading our brains and backpacks (teacher toolkit) with what we think will best benefit our students. But like any journey our supplies and frame of thinking need to be constantly refreshed, a state of constant change (innovativeness). Our supplies might be a new instructional strategy or program, but often the newest thing is perceived as a form of technology.

What is it about technology that compels us to believe it is a necessary component for a well-rounded education? We inventory how much of it we have, how many times it is used, and ask ourselves if we need more of it? Maybe we should stop and ask ourselves exactly what is it that we are talking about.

Perhaps you are feeling a little overwhelmed about trying to keep up with the latest technology and the newest thing for your classroom or school? Did you know that the pencil, the original 1:1 device, took nearly 100 years to be widely adopted in education?

It seemed that with each new decade, the 20th century brought some new thing for the classroom.

But the critical eye would notice that much of these tools would remain, overlapped in purpose, for a long time. Much of our instructional practices today have been informed by these tools, rather than good pedagogy informing how to use these tools. We must allow technology to amplify good instructional practice, rather than tell us what good practice is. Overtime cost of new technology have been reduced leading to an increase in accessibility, but accessibility does not equate to need.

To accept that incorporating emergent technology into our students’ educational experience is indeed a major step for successfully preparing for our future. But beyond that, the struggle comes between deployment and employment of new technology. To deploy is to distribute, but to employ infers activity in which one engages.

We use the word technology in the most simple sense to mean a tool used by mankind to achieve certain goals. Yet, the modern dictionary focuses on a different aspect of the word, pointing out that technology transcends a physical object and infers application, capability, and methods of accomplishing a task, in short, new technology might be thought of as a better workflow.

Educational institutions at every level struggle with the effective and efficient uses of new devices, new strategies, new workflows. Schools easily assess the quantity of instructional hardware but often express concern that the devices are just not being used. We must move past the 20th-century bravado which pointed to the quantity of computers we possessed and grow to foster learning communities where technology is simply the workflow we use to produce powerful learning experiences and the platform we employ to provide our learners with voice. Yes, we still boast about quantity, we have just changed our language and now say “we are a 1:1 school.”

Our concerns about how, when, and why instructional technologies are being used are merely symptoms of a greater problem, we need to foster a culture that embraces innovativeness. The word innovation refers to something new or to a change made to an existing invention (product, idea, or field), like the invention of the telephone led to the innovation of the smartphone. Can we begin to think about schools as inventions in need of innovation? We must frame our thinking around our school culture, as a collective understanding about where we are and where we need to be.

A school culture that embraces innovativeness is a group of people who chose to frame their thinking around change. Recognizing the need to dynamically approach innovation, in the form of tools and interventions, and realizing they will never arrive at a place where they can rest on the laurels of past successes. The idea of innovativeness is both exciting and scary: cutting-edge applications of emergent technology, embracing failure as a necessary component of the learning process, trying new things and falling in love with the process… but this mindset becomes an expectation, the way we now operate is, no cruise control, no this-is-the-way-we-have-always-done-it, we now are always changing.

[Game-Based Learning Yields Empathetic Understanding]

So why choose this path? Why choose a state of constant change… the way of innovativeness? The path has been chosen for us. In the case of emergent technology, we cannot assume a static approach to teaching and learning is productive, we must consider technology to be dynamically changing, and thus triggers consequent changes in how we function. It is difficult to confront, but we know that our high-tech smartphones and tablets are the lowest form of technology our students will ever know. Simply integrating new technology will not change our practice, adopting a positive approach to innovation will lead to a paradigm shift. Innovativeness is the pedagogy for the future.

Image Credit: Chris Stein, a superstar Teacher, and illustrator Extraordinaire!

cross posted at micahshippee.com

Micah Shippee, PhD is an out-of-the-box-doer, a social studies teacher, and a technology trainer. He works to bridge the gap between research and practice in the educational sector. Micah explores ways to improve motivation in the classroom and seeks to leverage emergent technology to achieve educational goals. As an innovative "ideas" person, Micah likes to think, and act, outside the box. Micah is motivated and energetic, taking a creative approach towards achieving goals. As an Educational Consultant, and Keynote Speaker, he focuses on the adoption of emergent technology through the development of an innovative learning culture. Micah believe that innovativeness is the pedagogy of the future.

Tim Ferriss, the renowned and often maligned podcaster and author, doesn’t make resolutions for the new year. Instead, he likes to reflect on the year that has been and look at what events in his life brings him joy and what events do not. Using that data, he then makes sure to schedule more of what brings him joy in the year to come. Not all of us have that freedom, but I do like the intent behind his reasoning in doing so.

For me, I too don’t make resolutions, I make predictions. Predictions that are not always that likely to come true, but may not be that far-fetched when it comes to technology and our classrooms. Consumerism and pop-culture certainly play a huge role in the creation of this list. For instance, the Netflix series Black Mirror and the book Ready Player One definitely had some influence on this year’s list as both propose alternate, but possible futures.

As Tim does, it’s always good to go back and reflect before moving forward. If you would like to go back and look at the previous 5 years worth of predictions, look here. While I try and stick to education and technology’s influence on learning, I do sometimes stray to the world of pop-culture, politics, and everyday life.

And with that, I present this year’s bold predictions sure to go wrong in 2018:

AR will help us “see” students’ level of engagement

A few years back, the Melon Band was looking for funding on Kickstarter and I wondered what the possibilities would be for kids in school. The premise- you can actually see what your focus looks like via an app on your smartphone. Now extrapolate that technology out a few years and add a level of augmented reality. I predict there will be a future where the teacher can hold up their phone or a tablet and instantly see what the level of student engagement is in their class. I bet with some upgrades, you could even change your voice to the Charlie Brown teacher voice, “Wah wah wah wahhhhh” and watch their engagement tank.

Digital badging will replace college degrees

In a future world where you need to be adaptable in an unpredictable work force, being badged as an expert in several different areas could be highly marketable. Rather than spending 4 years working on one field of study, why not spend a few weeks or months getting credentialed as an HTML5 coder or a social media guru? The other benefit (besides saving more than a trillion dollars in student loan debt), would be that current employees could use badging to continue to grow, learn and improve on their craft as well as other topics they are passionate about. The flexibility and targeted focus of micro-credentials could help a company improve in areas where they have weaknesses not by hiring more people, but by improving their existing work force.

A school will fully implement AI to help with learning disabilities

Sugata Mitra had the idea of putting a “computer in the wall” to help kids teach themselves through student agency back in 2005. While this concept showed that kids with proper motivation can learn just about anything, there were still some holes to fill. With artificial intelligence and enough data points, we could get to a future where schools and classrooms can immediately learn a student’s behaviors and preferences that help them learn. The role of the teacher would be more of a project manager and instructional designer for each student in their class as they use the data to create experiences that help their students expand their future ready skills both as an individual and as a member of team.

“4D” technology will help kids truly experience history

My friend and colleague Tim Yenca (@mryenca) just returned from a trip to Disney World and recounted his experience with the Pandora ride there. The ride involves the use of virtual reality goggles and physical experiences (such as the feel of the beast you are riding actually breathing on your legs) to immerse the player into the world. With improving VR technologies and high-end resolution, it’s only a matter of time before that experience is combined with some of haptic suit (via Ready Player One) to have your students truly experience an event in history. Imagine, being in the theater when President Lincoln was assassinated? Or being on the ground when the troops stormed the beaches at Normandy? That’s the kind of experience that you can’t get from reading a textbook.

A Presidential pardon will happen via Twitter

Really? Is this that hard to envision in today’s political climate?

Shout out to Lisa Johnson (@techchef4u) for getting this idea started at the last iPadpalooza when we took 12 speakers from around the country and threw them on stage for 3 minutes without anything (no props!) except their words and microphone. I’ll admit this isn’t that bold of a prediction as I know there will be a version of this at Tech & Learning Live in Chicago (May 11) and also a soon-to-be announced exclusive after hours event during this year’s ISTE. Stay tuned for more details on that….

A ride-sharing app for parents will be invented

I have to give credit for this to my own local group of amazing community parents who brought up the need for this at a recent tech talk. Our students have tons of after school activities that they attend. You see a parent pick up their own kid to take them to the same place you are going with your kid after school. Rather than having parents play chauffeur to their kids and never have time to run other errands, why not coordinate all of that in an Uber-meets-NextDoor type app? This app would allow parents in a community to coordinate driving kids to similar activities thus cutting back on traffic and helping connect people with similar interests. Of course, the old fashioned way to do this would be just to go talk to another parent about this, but who does that these days?

Oprah will run for President

Just making sure you were still paying attention, but she did deliver a powerful Golden Globes speech!

Drones in education could be a thing

While the rules and regulations around drones seem to be ever-changing and all over the map, the role of these devices in our future is certainly going to be disruptive. Knowing that these devices will play a part, what do we need to teach kids about it? How can we use this technology to give us a different view on learning? This is more than a lesson on how to build a drone for sure. The sky’s the limit….(get it?)

“The Learning Festival” aka LearnFest launches with some unexpected twists

This past year was the last of our iPadpalooza event. The rebranding of this event into “LearnFest” has been a long time coming and this year will only feature a smaller prototype version of the event (LearnFest launches to the public in June of 2019). That said, there are a couple of ideas we’ll be trying that I can promise you have NEVER been done at a conference or learning event. Keep alert for special invites to this year’s event by following the @TheLearnFest twitter account or this blog.

My new children’s book gets a publisher and is actually published!

This is less a prediction and more of a call for help. Maybe I should launch it on Kickstarter….

A Boba Fett movie will be announced

Just making sure you read until the end. It’s been rumored but this is the year it becomes official!

Happy 2018 everybody!

cross posted at http://hookedoninnovation.com

Carl Hooker has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator. As Director of Innovation & Digital Learning at Eanes ISD, he has helped spearhead the LEAP program, which put one-to-one iPads in the hands of all K-12 students in his 8000-student district. He is also the founder of “iPadpalooza”- a three-day “learning festival” held in Austin annually. He's also the author of the six-book series titled Mobile Learning Mindset, a guide for teachers, administrators, parents and others to support and embrace mobile learning in our schools. Read more at Hooked on Innovation.

Here are three major trends from the nonprofit CTO Forum that they predict will have significant impact on edtech:

● Artificial Intelligence. AI is dramatically expanding the limits of what is possible today. As intelligent agents, bots, and autonomous vehicles are bringing huge changes in many areas of life and industry, so machine learning and AI will continue to enrich and expand experiences in teaching and learning.

● Internet of Things. Analysts expect there will be 25 billion connected devices installed by 2020, and companies will invest nearly six trillion dollars on IoT solutions over the next five years. While IoT has tremendous potential for changing the way students learn and interact with the physical world, there is still a lot of work to be done—especially around security and infrastructure.

● Blockchain. The technology underpinning the bitcoin digital currency has become one of the hottest topics across various industries. Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the digital economy and is finding applications in a wide range of areas, including certification, badges, assessment, and PD.

Step inside the new THINC College & Career Academy in LaGrange, Georgia, and you notice right away that everything seems different from a traditional high school—from the design of the learning spaces to the activities that take place there.

The building itself has the feel of Google HQ—brightly colored carpet tiles, lots of glass walls, and stylish furniture that can be moved around easily to create collaborative workspaces. THINC is located on the campus of West Georgia Technical College, where students can earn dual-enrollment credit. “Most schools have been pushed into this ‘box’ design that can be reproduced easily,” said Ashley Smith, an architectural intern at Smith Design Group of LaGrange, who helped design THINC’s learning spaces. “We wanted to give the space a fun vibe that would be stimulating for teens—something they would be proud of and that would inspire them to be creative.”

The school’s furniture also plays an important role in its design. THINC’s planners wanted tables and chairs that could be moved around easily and arranged in flexible groupings to facilitate student collaboration. They approached a local company, Loy’s Office Supplies, which recommended the EDU 2.0 line of furniture from Bretford.

THINC is a “bring your own technology” environment, and the school offers laptops and Chromebooks for students to use if they don’t have their own mobile device. Throughout its classrooms and common areas, the school contains community docking stations and tables with video monitors where students can plug in their devices and share their screens as they collaborate on projects. There are also many soft, comfortable chairs with built-in power outlets where students can work independently or in small groups.

A NEW KIND OF LEARNING

The school’s innovative design and technology-enabled furniture will facilitate a new kind of learning experience, in which students will be rolling up their sleeves and diving into hands-on, career-based projects.

For instance, in the engineering pathway, students will be working with engineers from construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar to design and build parts for machines used in forestry. Students in the mechatronics pathway will build robotics for use in the auto manufacturing process at Kia. Students in the marketing pathway will operate their own retail store on campus. College and career academies such as THINC allow students “to explore all the different pathways that are available to them,” said Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle during a July 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school. “That turns on light bulbs for students and gives them a conduit and a purpose for success.”

Dennis Pierce (denniswpierce@gmail.com) has been writing about education and technology for nearly 20 years.