Dreaming About the Future
Take a moment to dream about the future with me.
Will students who take classes online be assigned academic advisors who live in their local areas, so they can still make personal connections with people who can help them with their educational plans?
Will colleges offer students leadership opportunities via systems based on the alumni network model? Will it be possible to type a zip code into a database to find the names of accomplished students who can handle hands-on leadership assignments in particular areas?
Will athletes join local soccer or softball leagues instead of playing for school teams? Will they get the same sense of belonging they’d have if they played with a group of teammates within a college institution?
Will “rent-a-robot” coaches help students polish their presentation skills for Public Speaking 101?
There is so much we don’t know about the future of education, but there is one thing that we can all acknowledge and keep at the forefront of our minds: A sense of belonging, whether facilitated by a robot or a human, will always be critical to the success of our students.
Continue to dream with me as we create a postsecondary system that works now and in the future!