Beyond the Blackboard Educational Medium Reform

Welcome to the future of education! Enter: Beyond the Blackboard Mission : To reform the educational medium into a simple, streamlined, unified learning ecosystem. Founded: 2008 Target population: High school and college students Current Size: 31 members Goal: To be present in majority of schools by 2017  A small group of college graduates with education in mind and technology in hand, seeking to change the educational communication process used in today’s classrooms.  An organization with fresh ideas and current technology being piloted in a suburban school system.  Primary technology and face of the organization is program called “The Portal”

The Portal and its purpose  The concept is to create a learning ecosystem that is unified across all platforms with a goal of being the replacement medium for the delivery of education in the school system.  Program designed to interact with major operating systems including Android, iOS and windows.  Primary use is currently in tablets with an app in development as a quick dashboard Further thoughts: The mission statement of Beyond the Blackboard (BtB) is evident in their Portal program through the nature of its exclusive software. Similar to Google, BtB strives to be an open, free thinking organization with simplicity in mind. The BtB organization should be observed in the coming few years to see if they leave a footprint behind in education or end up being just another “neat” idea.

Tomorrow’s Education Now Review of literature

Several Directions  Scenario based approach--education over the next 25 years  Education around the emergence of technology like the iPad  The strengths of media sharing  Game based approach--MMORPG’s with virtual reality A Deeper look … Next 25 years theme MMORPG’s Media Sharing Use of Ipad in classroomIndividualized learning becoming a growing trend Diversity in delivery of learning and information

Economic/Policy Trends  Technology becoming increasingly vital to a school’s success and reputation  According to 2007 Survey of Technology Spending, “51% of all respondents reported an increase in IT budgets” (as cited in Betts, 2009, p. 11)  Demand: Latest technology in the classroom  Supply: Funding for IT and technology  While initially the cost of setting up these new technologies may be high, the increased enrollment will continue to bring increasing revenue (Betts, 2009). ---The bottom Line---  More research needed on how technology effects learning and the funding behind this new direction for education

A brief look into scenario building and scanning Futuring: The Final Frontier

 Pros: Endless directions for the future to take; anything is possible. Foresight of limitations to aide in preparation and planning.  Cons: Element of the [unknown]—inability to prepare for disasters. If done thoroughly, becomes a time consuming process. Scenario Building

 A flow chart representation of scanning as it is described in The steps for futuring. The steps for futuring. Journal of Extension, 42(3). Scanning Research fortified Idea Social Expertise Economic Expertise Technological Expertise Environmental Expertise Political Expertise Idea Analysis Accurate Plausible Scenario Scanning begins with an idea that may or may not be possible in the future. Research that includes expert opinion is done to fortify the idea. The idea then becomes analyzed by local and national data centers before becoming a more accurate and plausible scenario.

A Typical Class in 2017: The Learning Ecosystem Students enter the room carrying their devices and sit in small groups Teacher is poised and ready holding a small instrument Students connect to Wi-Fi enabling access to “The Portal” Teacher conducts class using wall screens around the room, presenting topics for discussion Students engage in small group discussions while researching information on their own devices and share info with each other Teacher presents a video on the wall then writes notes on the wall that simultaneou sly appear on each students device Some students add to the teachers notes while others tweak and slide the note into a folder on the screen desktop for later studying Interactive learning occurs Following class, students disconnect from Wi-Fi returning their devices to the social machines they are

Barriers and Gateways To the Vision:Portal Challenges/DifficultiesOpportunities/Contributions Strong, reliable Wi-Fi access in every room of a school is necessary. Vision portrays a modern, attractive, and competitive school for longevity with revenue. Device availability to every student, if some forget or do not own one, then school needs to provide devices as applicable. Convenience in nearly all aspects of information delivery with libraries of information at the fingertips. Devices will need to be powered which will require outlets and power cords if necessary. Group work is streamlined, easy, and fun with instant information sharing and access to each other’s work. Teachers will need training on the parent software as well as be fluent on student’s end. Less time spent on tedious tasks like note copying passing out papers and more time spent learning and sharing. Students will need 24 hour access to cloud storage where assignments and homework can be posted meaning server upkeep is required. Endless possibilities with the teacher having simultaneous wall and device synchronization, including presentations, activities, etc.

References [Used in this presentation] Betts, K. H. (2009). Re-examining & repositioning higher education: twenty economic and demographic factors driving online and blended program enrollments. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 13(4), Sobrero, P. M. (2004). The steps for futuring. Journal of Extension, 42(3).