Learning when, where, how and with whom I like?

Working life has changed dramatically in recent years. Employees today increasingly have a choice: the choice between working from home or being physically present in the company, the choice between open-plan offices, individual offices and retreats - depending on their mood. One could speak of «whim-based working». What does this mean for the school that prepares our children for the working world of tomorrow? How can «whim-based learning» take place?
In my search for an answer, I came across the concept of «extended learning worlds». This pedagogical concept combines analogue and virtual learning. Its basic idea is that learning with the support of the internet opens up the classic closed learning environment and expands it - in terms of content, socially and spatially. So is the school of the future just an occasional meeting place for pupils who are interested in a particular project?

Individualised learning paths, learning locations and learning times

This is what learning could look like in 2025: It takes place in a cloud, where data about students is stored - exam results, for example, and competences achieved. How does the data end up in the cloud? On the one hand, the pupils themselves document their academic and personal development; on the other hand, teachers and parents also work in the cloud. The teacher creates tasks on individual topics and organises them according to skills. The students work on the tasks independently, the teacher evaluates the content and assigns new individual tasks to the students.
A typical day could look like this: the student enters the school, consults with the teacher, defines their individual learning path for the day, week or month and sets off on their learning journey. This can bring them together with other pupils in classrooms or in a café for an intensive exchange in the group, so that social learning remains a component.
However, their path can also lead them to a lecture, a face-to-face discussion, a learning game or digitally to video tutorials, Skype meetings or online learning games. The learning path can also lead to silent work at your own workplace - in your own room at home, for example, or in your grandparents' living room. Supported by mobile devices that allow access to knowledge anywhere, new places become places of learning. Learning is also becoming less time-bound thanks to the concept of extended learning environments. This requires schools and parents to be very open, as pupils can largely organise their lessons themselves. They come and go when it suits them. They may need support and guidance, either individually or in groups. Just as is increasingly the case in the world of work today.
We don't know where schools are heading. And everyday school life won't change overnight. But one thing is certain: digital devices have long since found their way into everyday school life. How quickly and how much they will change it remains to be seen.

On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life.