Looking back from 2070, we see that the twin crises of the post-pandemic era, teacher attrition and student disengagement, demanded a new conception of school. A review of the data from the early 2000s show what we faced: a series of graphic slides will set the scene for this session.

Transformation 1: Instead of focusing on delivering content, or 21st century skills, teachers in the 2020s began to focus on delivering visceral learning experiences. Recognizing the threefold character of the student experience (action, interaction and environment), Districts began finally to re-imagine the environments of learning. The $100B spent annually on facilities in the United States was seized as an opportunity to actively support teachers and students: In this first activity, we will put ourselves in the shoes of those Districts. Using questions, card decks and posters as prompts, we will re-invent schools to powerfully support teachers and students in creating visceral, emotionally engaged, learning experiences. The presenter will circulate as a catalyst.

Transformation 2: Focused on learning experiences, Districts introduced a minor transformation of an existing technology and now began to question the idea of school itself. Would it be possible to finally liberate students and teachers from school itself? In this second activity, we will identify this technology and focus on the questions and issues that ensue from this second possible transformation. Participants will be invited to post their thoughts on a series of boards identifying salient issues, with a final conversation moderated by the presenter exploring the possible disappearance of school closing the session. In this way, we address both the near and long-term future of school.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand data showing how school as we know it is broken.
2. Creatively tackle the question: what makes a better school?
3. Interrogate whether technology could supplant schools.
4. Identify questions and issues useful now in designing schools.

Roel Krabbendam, RA NCARB, Associate, Sr. Project Manager, AC Martin
Roel was born in the Netherlands, attended Cornell University and Sci-ARC, and has worked all over the world, primarily on educational projects. His 2018 book "school", describes years of research and a conception of the next generation of schools. He is a leader in the K12 design studio at AC Martin in Los Angeles, CA.