Previewing the Horizon Report for K-12

I've been reading through the preview of the NMC Horizon Report 2014 K-12 Edition and thinking about some of the key trends that were identified for driving technology in schools over the next few years.  Here are a few notes I've made based on the report.

Rethinking the Roles of Teachers (1-2 years)

• Teachers are expected to use technology for delivering content, supporting learners, assessing students, collaborating with other teachers, organizing and documenting their work and for reporting. 
• Many schools are rethinking the primary responsibilities of teachers.
• Teachers are engaging in professional development using social media and online tools and resources.
• Teachers are using social media to build learning communities.

The Shift to Deep Learning (1-2 years)

• There is a new emphasis on challenge based, active learning both inside and outside the classroom.
• Educators are using tablets and smartphones to connect the curriculum with real life issues.
• Active learning approaches are more student centered, allowing them to take control of how they engage with a subject.
• Connecting course material with their own lives will lead to students immersing themselves more in the subject matter and becoming more excited about learning.

Open Content (3-5 years)

• Open educational resources are growing in breadth and quality.
• Content is free both in economic terms and in terms of ownership and usage rights - open content is freely copiable and remixable.

Hybrid Learning Designs (3-5 years)

• Online learning components are frequently used.
• Increased focus on collaboration with the classroom.
• Using both the physical and virtual learning environment allows teachers to engage students in a variety of ways and extends the learning day.
• Hybrid models enable students to use the school day for group work and project baed activities, while using the internet to access readings, videos and other learning materials in their own time.

Rapid Acceleration of Intuitive Technology (5+ years)

• Natural user interfaces allow users to engage in virtual activities with movements similar to what they would use in the real world.

Rethinking How Schools Work (5+ years)

• A change to the traditional classroom experience and rearranging of the school day.
• Project and challenge-based learning requires school set-ups that enable students to move from one learning activity to another more organically.
• Learning is becoming more multidisciplinary, connecting classes and subject matter to each other.
• Schedules will become more flexible to allow opportunities for authentic learning experiences to take place.

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