The KnowledgeWorks Foundation developed an interactive map together with the Institute for the Future , depicting a series of potential forces shaping the future of education in the US (timehorizon 2016).

Trends, hotspots (key trends) and dilemmas (new challenges requiring – what we would call – a third alternative approach) of various kinds, which are considered to have a potential future (and often already current) impact on the educational context are laid out on a matrix-like map. As such, two axes form the framework for structuring the information: a series of 6 driver categories and 5 areas of impact.

drivers: grassroots economics, smart networking, strong opinions, sick hero, urban wilderness, the end of cyberspace

impact areas: family & community, markets, institutions, educators & learning, tools & practices

Each trend, hotspot or dilemma can be clicked upon for a short description, a real-world example and opportunity for discussion. Examples include: participatory pedagogy, unbundled education, new localism, networking IQ, cross mentoring for urban survival, bio-distress, the extended child, serious games, social cities, explosion of learning agents etc.

note: Over at MediaSnackers there is an interesting podcast-interview with Barbara Diamond, Senior Advisor to the KnowledgeWorks Foundation about the map (Thanks for pointing it out, DK!)

Related posts:

1. future of science and technology
2. Elina Hiltunen: weak signals & future signs
3. future of cities: interview with Bill Mitchell

This entry was posted on Friday, August 24th, 2007 at 11:19 and is filed under future, methods & techniques, trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.