Preparing for the Future

OECD summarises 6 future scenarios of education. These include:

The “status-quo extrapolated”

Scenario 1: Robust bureaucratic school systems

Scenario 2: Extending the market model

The “re-schooling” scenarios

Scenario 3: Schools as core social centers

Scenario 4: School as focus learning centers

The “de-schooling” scenarios

Scenario 5: Learner networks and the network society

Scenario 6: Teacher exodus – the meltdown scenario

Details of these scenarios are included in this PDF:

http://www.oecd.org/site/schoolingfortomorrowknowledgebase/futuresthinking/scenarios/38967594.pdf

When I think about the current education system in which I work and related it to these scenarios, I would predict that in 2020 scenario 4 could seem probable.

In this scenario:

‘Schools are revitalised around a strong knowledge agenda rather than a social agenda, in a culture of high quality  experimentation, diversity and innovation . New forms of evaluation and competence assessment flourish. ICT is used extensively alongside other learning media, traditional and new. Knowledge management moves to the fore, and the very large majority of schools justify the label ‘learning organisations’ (so equality of opportunity is the norm), with extensive links to tertiary education and other organisations.’

I predict that many businesses will invest in Indonesia in the future and as a result there will be a market for high tech businesses. This would be the logoical route to take considering the type of students we attract and links into to our school ethos to

‘provide learning experiences through which knowledge, skills, attitudes and action encourage the development of creativity and problem solving capacities to achieve excellence in the interconnected world’

The scenario which is preferable to me would be a mix between scenario two, three and five; A school which enables shared responsibilities between different schools and  communities with sources of expertise from institutions of further and continuing education. This school will utalise learning networks, quickened by the extensive possibilities of powerful, inexpensive ICT. Learning will be relevant to real life and encouraged by reforms of funding structures, incentives and regulation enabling pupils to learn professionalism.

Using future scenarios as an approach for thinking about the future is very useful, it enables you to relate to your pupils and have empathy for the world they will work in. Reflecting on future practices ensures that as a teacher your teaching techniques are relevant and helpful for learners of the future. As a leader in education this strategy can empower you to develop a niche of learner spaces in order to maximise learning.