Learning places

Looking back has me looking forward.  In the article,

Educations love affair with consuming technology written in 2014, it discusses technology consumption.  So COVID-19 has created a situation where kids aren’t allowed in schools and for many years we have believed that schools are the place where learning takes place.  Now, might be the time to really look at where does learning take place.  Technological reach, in more immersive ways, is more possible to any place and with that, learning could take place everywhere. Unfortunately or not, our kids are consuming more through technology than ever before. 

If we look at learning places and expertise instead of schools and buildings...what does that look like?   Right now kids are learning in their homes at a level that a month ago we would have thought impossible.  Are there perfect classrooms decorated with perfect bulletin boards?  No!  Are there human home's with messy rooms...a few.  What is a classroom?  Does it have to be located in a specific building? NO.  

Let's imagine learning places.  Let's imagine no boundaries within a city. Let's imagine teachers teaching their passion.  Doctors aren't doctors of everything, they specialize, they excel.  Is it time for educators to do the same?

Learning places and learning spaces.  When we think of all the places that have amazing learning potential we come up with amazing possibilities that lots of students never get to. Museums, National Parks, Zoo's, Factories, Capitals, Forests, Deserts, Stadiums, and the list can go and go and go.  Why do we  teach about animals without being there?  What about being IN what we are learning?  During this COVID19 time we have learned school buildings are not a necessity for learning.  We have learned technology can help but can't replace learning professionals as well.

Different schools have different ratings.  Parents want kids to go to best schools but often there are imaginary lines that prevent that.  Ponder that for a minute...imaginary lines determine quality of eduction that students receive.  If learning spaces were where teachers were and any kid and parent could join, would that be equitable?  Could busses still be run...of course.  Why aren't we using technology to open these spaces up? Teacher's are in need of a push to move to a learning environment and COVID19 has created the shove.  With immersive technology like Augmented Reality, learners can be engulfed in the environment but in order to do that we have to accept that the need for the old school building has changed.

So what do we know?  We know parents know their children best!  We know teachers know how to help children learn!  We know kids have exposure to more information than ever before!  We know most children get tired of school midway through the process.  Let's eliminate teacher's least favorite subjects and let them specialize in their passion.  Let's build networks of learning experts that are so regarded they have more youtube followers than gamers.  

Can we do it?  I hope so...will it take businesses and parents willing to do what is best for our future, yes.  Will it take teachers embracing the new frontier and moving past the idea we should go back to what it was, yes!  Will it be easy, no!  Will it be challenging like nothing we have seen, yes.  Let's set this generation up to be the greatest learners from our willingness to change.  Let's not re-invent the wheel, let's create a new way of transportation.