Omnipresent Education: Higher Education's Future

After reviewing several articles and reports that discuss higher education trends for 2024, I've identified two primary ideas that I think will shape the future of higher education.

With the evident shift towards hybrid class formats, individualized learning, technological advancements, and student well-being, my goal is to consider and explore the impact of these trends and changes over the next decade or so.

"In dealing with the future, it is more important to be imaginative and insightful than to be 100% "right"." - Alvin Toffler, Future Shock

You're probably familiar with the concept of the 'Internet of Things.' Well, consider this: The 'Education of Things' — the idea that education is omnipresent.

Idea #1: You can learn anywhere, anytime

As the access barriers to higher education are dismantled, student demographics change, and climate change continues to wreak havoc, the constraints of higher education are likely to fade away allowing for an "always on" approach that allows people to customize their learning experience.

Indicators:

1. Direct admissions enrollment policies
2. Climate change affecting our typical schedules
3. Rise of hybrid learning and enrollment of “non-traditional students”
4. Community colleges students stop outs related to work
5. Growing demand for customized learning

With the advancement of AI and blockchain technologies, educational opportunities can seamlessly integrate into everyday activities such as commuting, cooking, traveling, shopping, and working.

As students balance work, family responsibilities, and other obligations, the inflexible schedules and time constraints traditionally associated with college will become obsolete. Additionally, students will be able to build their classes based on skills and experience they already have, saving time and resources.

Real Life Example: ODEM

ODEM is an On-Demand Education Marketplace built on the Ethereum blockchain. The platform connects students, educators, and service providers allowing them to create their own educational programs.

What will the future of higher ed experience look like when there are no access, time, or physical barriers to learning?

Idea #2: Everyone is a teacher

The seamless blend of learning into people’s lives enables anyone to become an educator, sharing knowledge informally through daily interactions and experiences.

Indicators:

1. Faculty burnout
2. Government overreach on curriculum
3. 8-year-old drives to McDonald’s after learning on YouTube
4. Dropping of degree requirements and interest in Competency Based Education (CBE)

The increasing burnout among faculty paired with governmental policies dictating curriculum raises a critical question: Are we overburdening a finite group of individuals with teaching responsibilities? The ease of acquiring skills on sites like YouTube also allows us to reimagine the definition of expertise. This notion resonates with employer's focus on demonstrable skills over formal credentials.

Since physical barriers to learning no longer exist as speculated in Idea #1, opening up the definition of a teacher allows higher education to realign with local community needs, fostering skill development in students that contribute to those communities while simultaneously reducing the instructional load on institutions.

Real Life Example: Cities of Learning

"Cities of Learning is a territory-based web platform that enables cities and regions to create unique learning pathways for their youth using interactive maps, online learning playlists and digital Open Badges."

How will the higher education experience evolve when everyday life becomes a platform for teaching and skill-building?

Conclusion:

While it might seem like some of these ideas stand no chance of becoming mainstream reality, I believe it's incredibly important to push our understanding of current trends a step further and dream up a new future for higher education. The great thing about the future is that it hasn't happened yet, which means we still have the opportunity to shape it. Thinking about the future is crucial if we want to stay ahead of technological and cultural shifts.

Do any of these scenarios seem plausible to you? Are there other potential futures you can imagine based on the trends we're seeing today? The future of higher education is still in our hands, and it's up to us to envision and create a system that responds to the needs of tomorrow's students and society.