Next 25 Year Predictions

Facer and Sanford predict that distance will matter less by geography will still count. This seems like a viable prediction as it can already be seen today. As an example, I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 10 years. The Bay Area is home to Silicon Valley a place of constant innovation. However, the cost of housing in this area creates a hiring bubble. Finding the best and brightest is challenging when there is no where affordable to live. This bubble can only be burst by thinking about geography differently. Employers are embracing the mobile-distance employee. This would seem like a trend that will continue. As a distance employee for a company in Boston, the work at home scenario worked well for me in some aspects but not others. Geography played a role as time differences created a divide and mismanaged expectations (i.e. theres a 8am EST meeting you must work, 5am PST). Companies will need to think about the workplace and how to support workplace learning from a far. Technology will continue to improve to support this new trend.

Two predictions not directly mentioned

1. Reduced investment in public schools due to increased demand for private, bespoke k-12 education.
The authors do mention the increase in purchasing education, private schools etc. I would predict that this will increase and as a result create an even greater education gap for students who are in lower socio-economic groups. Those persons who are vocal about education reform are often not speaking about the education gap among poor and minority students. It is hard to believe that the gap will not be wider in 25 years despite advances in technology. As wealthier parents move their children away from public schools and take advantage of tools for purchase that provide their children more educational advantages it would seem inevitable that the students that are currently left behind will continue to be left behind. It is possible that these students will be the ones filling the lower paying, less skilled care giver roles that the author mentions.

2. Global Universities
I predict that the majority of universities will provide courses to a global campus. This can already be seen with some universities. Some schools currently struggle with over-subscribed classrooms. Students can not get into classes they need because of lack of space which results in delayed graduation. Also poor graduation rates. On-line college education will be the norm with synchronous and asynchronous learning technologies.