Posted 9:21 AM by George Siemens
What is tomorow's classroom going to look like? Well, I don't know about the physical component, but I do believe that current trends in education and technology offer a vision of the process of education in the future.

Interaction for students can be defined in four categories:
1. Student with instructor
2. Student with content
3. Student with other students
4. Student with interface

I think the greatest percentage of interaction is instructor centered today. Instructors communicate (or lecture) in an effort to "pass" knowledge on to the students. I think technology will change this. As elearning develops, students will interact with content and students (i.e. acquire knowledge) outside of the class. In class discussion (if it is a blended learning model) will then focus on applying and integrating the information in actual settings. How does this differ from current models? Well, currently, the instructor is the conduit of information. Tomorow, the interface will be the conduit of information, and instructors will focus on higher order thinking skills in a class environment.

The third point of interaction will have a massive impact on learning. It is the concept of collaboration (not technology) that will cause the greatest stress to traditional teaching styles. Traditional "shovel information at 'em" teachers can do the same thing with technology. Collaboration, however, rearranges the educational landscape. Why is this so powerful? Collaboration forces students to increase time on task, promotes deep learning, involves critical thinking, and creates a sense of community. (In case you care, a community approach to learning is the only format that I can see that will allow the educational system to rejuvenate itself to embrace rapid change)...and collaboration most accurately reflects what is occurring in work environments today.

What is the role of an instructor in this model??
1. To motivate students to perform at their best
2. To facilitate learning
3. To guide students to resources
4. To moderate discussions to ensure learning objectives are achieved
5. A conduit for deep learning and integration (not for information only)