Reviewing 2023 Bold Predictions

Happy new year! This post is a little late coming as I’ve had an “interesting” last few weeks in the Hooker household. I usually have my new predictions out by this time, but before I do that, I think it’s important to reflect before looking forward to 2024. As such, here’s a look back on my predictions from 2023 and how I did. Stay tuned later this week for my 2024 edition.

Prediction: Artificial Intelligence will make AND break classrooms around the country

Outcome: ChatGPT says YES

In January of 2023, ChatGPT and the AI revolution was just getting started, but there was a enough buzz around the topic to make my top prediction of 2023. I’m pretty sure my 2024 predictions will be extremely AI-heavy.

Prediction: VR mobile labs become reality

Outcome: Still not a reality

I do think there are some companies making end-roads in this space and now that Apple has announced the release of their highly anticipated (and pricey) Vision pro, it’s possible VR could grow in schools. However, until the price becomes more cost-effective, I don’t see this happening in the near term.

Prediction: Educators flock to K12Leaders

Outcome: The flock hasn’t quite come to roost…yet

We launched K12Leaders as a response to all the vitriol on social media towards educators. We wanted to create a safe space for educator voices to gather and share content without external noise. So far, so good. While my prediction that we would hit 25,000 users in a year didn’t happen, we did grow nearly 900% in a year and now have over 10,000 users on the platform. Some new features I’m particularly excited about include CoAuthor (an AI-blogging tool), Course builder (good for CE credit), and an upcoming not-yet-released conference proposal generator. Hope to see many of you on there in 2024!

Prediction: Elon Musk tries to become James Halliday

Outcome: Lost in Space. ALMOST nailed it (see edit)

I predicted that Elon would mimic the path of the fictitious character from the Ready Player One movie. I’m not 100% sold that this won’t happen in the future in some virtual realm, but I didn’t predict that Elon would be so pre-occupied with his changing of Twitter into X and the fall out from that. He’s also still working on getting his Cybertruck rolling (built right here in Austin), so education reform is probably not on his conceivable road map.

EDIT: Following this post, I received a message from my colleague from down under (Brett Salakas) who informed me that I had, in fact, nailed this prediction. Turns out Musk did start a small school several years ago for SpaceX students called “Ad Astra” and now has tasked that team with increasing their reach through an online school called “Astra Nova“. As of July 2023, this school has now 200 students and is growing.

Prediction: Remote teaching fills in the gaps

Outcome: No longer a remote possibility

We are now nearly 4 years removed from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw an exponential rise in online and remote learning. However, in the years that followed, more and more students in K12 went back to traditional, in-person instruction. That said, there is still a significant increase in students learning online in both K12 and college. As more and more remote work becomes the norm, remote learning will increase as well. Platforms like RexK12 providing remote instructors for hard to teach courses like computer science, will lead to a more hybrid approach in the future.

Prediction: The “Shopping Mall” School is launched

Outcome: Attention shoppers…

Some of my predictions take years to percolate and grow before they actually happen. That said, I was surprised to find this TikTok video back in May of a high school in Burlington, VT that takes place in an abondoned shopping mall. Sure, the escalators only work about 1/3 of the time (according to one student), but the potential is still there! Grab you shopping bag and come learn….

Prediction: Cybersecurity becomes cool again

Outcome: Not completely hacked

While I have seen an increase in discussion around cybersecurity (thanks to the rise in AI), it’s not exactly cool…yet. That said, more and more companies (like Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report) are dedicating time and resources to helping K12 schools on the subject. I think it’s only a matter of time before cybersecurity moves out of the IT realm and more into the classroom and every day vernacular.

Prediction: Wireless displays make classrooms truly mobile. 

Outcome: Still plugged in

I got all excited when I saw these wireless TV’s at last year’s CES event. Imagine a totally mobile display? No more wires or plugs, just move it where ever you need it in the classroom. As with most new technologies, the price of the early models are a little too much for schools to bear. However, the first flat-screen TVs were nearly $10k a couple of decades ago and now those are going for less than $200 in some cases, so the potential for full wireless is still there.

Prediction: Ready, Set, Fail HARDER!

Outcome: FAILED…but still launched

I knew I had a book in me at the beginning of last year, I just predicted the wrong book. As the AI revolution was growing, I started dedicating my time doing research, interviews, webinars and podcasts on the subject. Some 50+ interviews later, I had the “meat” of my book Learning Evolution. Packed with 50 different AI tools and perspectives from educators all over the country, the book hit virtual shelves in fall of 2023 and has been on Amazon’s best seller list twice. So, I failed to predict this correctly, but from failure, a new path was born.

Prediction: The Voyage for Learning sets sail in 2024

Outcome: Still onboarding

I just returned from a 2-week family cruise where I “may” have been doing some research around this concept (does that make it write-off? :). While there is no chance this will happen in 2024, I do feel like my concept that began in 2016 will be a reality in the next couple of years. Yes, I’ve seen other companies try this, but there is a couple of MAJOR components they are missing that causes them to struggle. I won’t share what those are, but let’s just say…I have a plan. And when that dream finally comes a reality, I hope many of you dear readers will be on board with me!

Reflecting on this past year, I would say this was one of my most successful in terms of prediction. This year will be filled with some bold ones and some not-so bold ones and yes, probably a bunch to do with AI. Stay tuned and I wish all of you a happy 2024!