Horizon Report

A paradigm shift of the education system is underway as new technologies are emerging. The traditional classroom is being reinvented and innovative learning approaches are driving changes not only to the classroom, but also to the structure of the school. The integration of technology into the classroom is going to have a strong impact on the K-12 school system in the next five years. The areas of greatest impact will be policy, leadership, and practice.

Education policies that do not support the trend toward deep learning approaches are being modified to address the demand for increased emphasis on project/challenge based learning models and blended style classrooms. According to the Horizon Report, more emphasis is being placed on “real-world

One key trend, with a long-term impact, is the removal of the traditional bell schedules that draw a distinct line between disciplines (8). Interdisciplinary learning is a big trend that is blurring the lines of traditional separation of disciplines. The study conducted by the Horizon Report shows that this blending of curriculum will allow students to understand how technology intersects with any subject matter, leading to increased “collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge retention” (8). The trend toward STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art+, and mathematics) places emphasis on the students’ understanding of how the skill sets from all disciplines relate to each other in real-world applications. Studies show that interdisciplinary instruction has led to an increase in student performance. To illustrate, in a recent study the University of Florida found that “students who are engaged in music class do better in math” (18). The understanding that technology is the “connective tissue” binding disciplines together is a concept that is continually evolving (18). This intertwining of skill sets is applicable both to the education system and today’s industries thus driving the need for STEAM emphasis in schools. School leaders are changing the visions of their schools to meet these

Developments such as the use of personal devices in the classroom (BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device) are increasing in popularity. As stated in the Horizon Report, “the integration of personal smartphones, tablets, and PCs into the workflow supports an on-the-go mentality, changing the nature of work and learning activities” (36). Today’s teachers use these devices for interactive demonstrations, virtual tours, presentations, networking, note taking, and more. Mobile Future’s research shows that in the United States “43% of Pre-K through 12th-grade students use a smartphone” (36). With such widespread use, students already comfortable with these devices are able to competently use them in the classroom environment for more personalized student-centered