21st Century school?

Let’s forget about constraints for the moment and think about how technology could change education in Guernsey.
 
As I walk through the door, my personal data-tag tells the system I’m in school and allows me through the public access areas and into the main school.
 
I go to my base classroom where I meet my year tutor who is available to discuss any immediate problems. I also pick up an in-school tablet from it’s power slot and log into my personal account.
 
Automatically I can see all relevant emails and announcements which keep me up to date with the workings of the school, my year group, and the various subjects I'm currently studying. It also gives me the teachers feedback from my last submitted work (whether homework or in class assignments) and allows me to assess my current progress in terms of the curriculum and by marks. My progress is also accessible by my parents, so no faking good results when at home!
 
My schedule for the day shows that I have a maths lesson I’ve booked in classroom A7 starting in 10 minutes, so I head off there now.
 
All classes are shown on a monthly menu and it is up to me to book a place in a lesson. It is also up to me to ensure that I don’t drop behind in any subject although the system will bar me from other lessons if I get too far behind and won’t allow me access to them until I’ve caught up. It also alerts my year teacher for the subject and my form teacher, both of whom will no doubt be contacting me very shortly to see if there’s any problems which they can help sort out.
 
On entering the classroom, the system notes my arrival time and also notes that I'm accessing the on-line lesson. The whole of the year’s curriculum is broken down into modules, each with lessons and assignments on line. So I plug in my headphones and log into the next session for maths. As I’m a bit behind I want to skip a couple of lessons but the system won’t allow me access until I’ve done all of the previous sessions and completed the assigned work to a minimum level.
 
The lesson is professionally recorded to a high level and is delivered by an excellent teacher. There are several to choose from and my choice is helped by the system generated reviews based on results. A lot of the lesson is interactive so I can’t doze or not pay attention; otherwise I’d just get stuck and have to repeat the module. If I really get stuck, there is a maths specialist in the room who is available to answer questions or help in any way.
 
I finish the module early and so log in to see what live sessions are available today. Every day we have guest lecturers who are specialists in their subject and excellent presenters who give sessions on specific topics or else run Q&A sessions. I book in to attend a session to be held in school today and also book a place in classroom 3C for another session being held off site at another school but which will have a specialist teacher in live attendance here.
 
The system also gives me advanced warning of other sessions which would be useful for me to attend given my marks on this particular part of any subject. As well as curriculum subjects, we also get to listen to motivational speakers and specialists in other areas which might prove of interest. Some of these sessions are national and some international, with world leaders in their field talking to a wide audience.
 
History is a favourite subject and I’ve already completed the year's work and been allowed to progress onto the next year's curriculum as I’m more or less up to speed on all other subjects. If I were too behind, then I’d have to get those subjects up to speed first before I could progress my history.
 
This lesson is also over quickly and I can check on my progression for the year both in terms of curriculum and in relation to my expected progress. The system can automatically predict my anticipated grades from my previous work and can show if I’m keeping on track. My predicted progress is automatically adjusted if my work keeps improving so I can always see the results of my success.
 
As I’ve got some spare time, I decide to look at those areas where I’m weak, as highlighted by the system. The interactive work helps boost my system scores a bit but sadly I can’t do the homework again.
 
If I get really behind, constantly achieve low scores, or don’t book enough lessons, then I’m allocated to a small remedial class or given one to one tuition. This ensures that nobody gets left behind.
 
The system insists we all pursue a balanced curriculum and offers a selection of non-core subjects which we can choose to follow. 

We’re also required to attend a number of physical exercise classes a week but these are run by professionals, set to user specific levels, and are made fun. These also include dance and drama classes as well as the more usual sports.
 
Lunch time is school wide but I can take a break whenever I want in one of the lounges available. These are monitored spaces and of course logged by the system. If I spend too much time here, too often, I can expect repercussions.
 
At certain stages and for all core subjects we all have to sit formal tests. These take place in a set location using allocated computers with no internet access available. Alternatively I could choose to handwrite my answers but it’s then up to me to scan my paper into the system so that the examiners can access them on line for marking.
 
If I constantly under perform in these test conditions, then I’m given extra one to one tuition in exam technique and coping in these stressful situations.
 
What I never have to cope with is poor technology. Old kit is phased out on a rolling basis and the main system is bullet proof and never goes down. There are always enough tablets and computers to go around and we have on call tech professionals to sort out peripheral problems.
 
Although I can’t take school equipment home, I can access the system from home every day from 8am until 8pm. If I don’t have a computer then I can pre book one of the phased out machines to take home. As the Education department has an Island wide free wi-fi network I don’t need to worry about accessing the school system and my computer will be recognised and allowed access. 

My parents can also log in and see my personal progress files and any emails sent to them by the school.
 
Preparing my school work isn’t a problem as I have access to the same sort of software as is used in the wider world. Most of it is open source so it is significantly cheaper than using proprietary software but nevertheless it gives me more than what I need for my work. Word processor, spreadsheets; I can even record myself if I want to include audio or video in my work.
 
I can use the system to prepare and update my on-line CV which I can also forward to prospective employers or universities. Of course there is assistance available so that I can generate the best possible output.
 
Education has been turned upside down by technology. 

Teaching itself has also been revolutionised. Lesson planning is a thing of the past and lesson delivery is restricted to those with excellent delivery skills to match their high level specialist knowledge. These teachers are paid extra on a “per view” basis with users providing rating scores by their improved performance.



We still need the same number of teachers but their skills can now be used for more focussed ends and usually on a one to one basis. They are also used to teach small remedial groups and to provide general pastoral care as they do at present.

At any time I can book a one-to-one session with a teacher to discuss any of my concerns. Generally these sessions will take place outside of the normal school day but will usually involve the teacher in directing me to the lessons I need to repeat or  perhaps some general subject matter on learning or presentation which might help me.

The System puts a lot of emphasis on personal control but also checks that I am  taking responsibility for my own education. It also recognises those areas where I am lacking and automatically alerts a teacher to arrange personal intervention.

I know that I'm more in control of my future and of my training and feel that I am now an active participant in  my education rather than just a consumer.

Of course there are people who are unable to self direct their education or cannot work effectively on line and this is where a house teacher can provide personal tuition .

All of our lives have been changed by the introduction of this system where everything is so much more efficient and little time is wasted. Disruption is kept to a minimum as such pupils are immediately directed out of the room and an appointement is auto made with their tutor as soon as possible. In the meantime, the student can only access remedial areas of the school.

Will such a system ever exist in Guernsey?

I doubt we have the capacity to create it nor the cash to pay for it.

Think of it as a Vision.