1 - Identifying stakeholders
Society changes as well as the way we learn. Schools must adapt to these changes and provide the best education possible to meet current and future needs.
Education is more than what comes out of the relation between teachers and learners. The first stage of the toolkit is to connect to different groups of stakeholders. It is important to have all stakeholders on board and to give all people involved a feeling of ownership of the innovation process.
The following people have an explicit or implicit role to play and they should be involved in creating a Future Classroom Scenario:
- Teachers have the most complex role to play. They do not only have to interact with students, but also must bring into practice the curriculum and the priorities of the school governing board. They also communicate with parents who want the best education for their children. Teachers need to adapt to the infrastructure of the school. Despite the challenges, quite often a limited group of teachers are the core factor for innovation in a school. The challenge is to mainstream advanced practices.
- Students increasingly want to learn in an active and less academic way and learn in a real life context. Many want to have a say in how learning is organised and in many cases, they also expect more integration of the technologies that they have grown up with.
- Parents want the best for their children and not only expect high quality education and good examination results, but also want them to learn to thrive in real life and in the online world.
- ICT coordinators promote and manage the use of technology in a school. ICT management has become very complex with more and more mobile devices, wireless internet and safety issues.
- Head teachers are concerned about the quality of the school, and (where this happens) good inspection reports. They want a stable learning environment and, like Ministries of Education, want students to perform well in national exams and international comparisons like the OECD Pisa tests.
- Employers want schools to prepare students for the needs of business and commerce. They want schools to focus on 21st century skills like collaboration, creativity and digital competence – without neglecting traditional knowledge, skills and understanding.
2 - Innovation Team
To lead and follow up the process of innovation in general and to implement Future Classroom Scenarios, schools should establish an Innovation Team. This core group meets at regular times to implement the different steps in the best way.
The Innovation Team at school should have pedagogical representatives (teachers), as well as representatives of the school management and technical staff. The idea is also that the team reaches out to the other stakeholders mentioned above during the different stages of the creation and implementation of the Future Classroom Scenarios.
Suggested workshop activities
At the beginning, the focus is on interacting and communicating with different stakeholders. Some examples of activities:
1 - The innovation team
The Innovation Team of the school presents the overall idea of the Future Scenarios and the Future Classroom Toolkit to the teachers and maybe parents.
2 - Classroom activities
A. Students make a list of their priorities for education and present them in class.
B. Students organise a survey and compare results of different stakeholders taking part e.g. teachers, students, parents. Sample questions:
- What should the priorities for investments be in your school?
- What would be your top priority for new investment at school?
- Are you in favour of Bring Your Own Device? Why/not?
C. Students make a drawing of their ideal school or classroom.
D. Students interview Human Resources managers in local businesses.
3 - Staff and school activities
A. The school invites a panel of representatives of local employers, students and teachers discuss what business expects from education.
B. The school organises a parents' meeting and collect their expectations and views on education.
C. Change roles. Students, teachers see through the eyes of other stakeholders and list their priorities for education. Afterwards the lists can be shared and discussed.