Traditional classrooms "could soon be history

Citation

(2001), "Traditional classrooms "could soon be history", Education + Training, Vol. 43 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2001.00443hab.014

Traditional classrooms "could soon be history"

Traditional classrooms "could soon be history"Keywords: Teachers, Homeworking, Information technology

The traditional classroom could become a thing of the past within the next two decades, with children working independently from home. The role of teachers could also change dramatically, as the delivery of information and activities such as testing, assessment and marking will be carried out by machines. The teacher's role will then be to mentor, monitor and motivate. The forecast comes in a report by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, into the possible impact of information and communication technology on school education. The report was prepared as part of a contribution to the Department of Trade and Industry's Foresight programme.

The report suggests that, in an increasingly connected society, learning will need to focus on how to acquire and use information, rather than the learning of facts. Skills such as comprehension, evaluation and presentation will become increasingly important. Much post-elementary learning could be done without classrooms, with pupils working independently, using a range of devices from home or local community facilities. School premises will become smaller, community based and used mainly as communication centres and for group activities which develop social and behavioural education. Each child could belong to different classes, depending on subject and level of ability, communicating and working with others of similar ability around the world.

Brian Arthur, head of engineering policy at the Institution of Electrical Engineers, said: "Because measures introduced now could have far-reaching consequences, informed debate is needed to ensure that any changes to education and its role in society are made consciously, not by default. The report is intended to be provocative and to encourage debate of the issues."