Do We Have the Right Models?

I spent most of last week in Kansas City at the EDspaces Conference and Expo, the annual conference put on by the Education Market Association. The theme and main topic of discussion among the attendees was The Future of Education Facilities. No matter where you were, you heard discussions about how to accommodate 21-century teaching and learning models, collaboration, the classrooms of the future, and preparing students for the workplace. Granted, that is what we have been talking about for a while now, but when you have that many people gathering to work toward a common cause, you will almost always come away with some new insights, ideas and unique ways to address the issues. I wish there was enough space to cover all of the innovative ideas and solutions that I saw and heard there, but that would not fit in even several columns. So, I am going to focus on just one of the presentations.

On Thursday morning, Jaime Casap, Google Education Evangelist, spoke at the Plenary Session. The title of his talk was “Iteration and Innovation in Education.” The reason I was affected by what he said is that I spend my time focusing on the mechanics and background forces that are, and will be, of great importance as we continue to improve the learning environment. But are we also considering some of the realities and asking all of the right questions? Here are a few of his thoughts that struck home with me.

  • The education system isn’t broken — you and I are proof of that — but we need to look at what is right with the present system and continue to tweak it.
  • Today’s students are members of the first true tech generation and their concept of learning is different. We must figure out how to take advantage of that?
  • In a world of constant iteration we need to teach critical thinking skills and we need to be teaching collaboration.
  • Predicting the ideal future classroom is not possible because the elements that will be involved have not yet been created.
  • Transformation has no end point, just a next version, and a next version, and a next version.
  • The future starts tomorrow.

It sounds to me like it starts right now.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Michigan School District Installs New Gun-Detection Platform

    Williamston Community Schools in Williamston, Mich., recently announced that it has installed the ZeroEyes gun-detection video analytics platform for its five schools, according to a news release. ZeroEyes is the only solution of its kind with a U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation and adds an AI gun-detection and intelligent situational awareness software layer into existing school security cameras.

  • Education Design Showcase

    Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 Education Design Showcase

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Education Design Showcase! Launched in 1999, the program celebrates innovative and practical solutions in planning, design, and construction.

  • Aims Community College to Build Workforce Innovation Center

    Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., recently announced that it has broken ground on its new Aims Workforce Innovation Center (AWIC), according to a news release. The facility for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and education has a scheduled opening date of fall 2026.

  • Clemson to Launch North America’s Largest College Campus Smart Parking Program

    Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., recently announced a partnership with smart parking and curbside management solutions provider eleven-x to launch a smart parking initiative for its population of 29,000 students and faculty, according to a news release.