Questions we'll be asking ourselves before retirement?

The article and forthcoming book on librarians and 1:1/BYOD programs that Jennifer LaGarde and I are working right now will be a historical curiosity before the end of most current librarian’s careers. We oldies may remember a day before every child had a personal device - but vaguely.

I don't think this is far-fetched. My 28-year-old son does not know a world that did not have the Internet in it; my grandsons have always had iPad/iPods. 

So what questions might educators be asking themselves in wonder and awe in not too many years?

1. You mean there was time before all of us wore a computer everyday? 
2. Does your grandma tell you stories about reading paper books when she was little?
3. Students sat in desks facing one way in a classroom all day - and it wasn't called child abuse?
4. The stereotype of a librarian was a scowling woman with her hair in a bun making people be quiet and guarding books?
5. People sat at a desk when using a computer?
6. Everybody who was the same age was in the same class?
7. Kids didn't have schoolwork when school was closed due to weather?
8. All kids didn't have personalized education plans and everybody took algebra?
9. You had to be in a certain location to get on the Internet?
10. Movies came on physical media?
11. People actually drank soft drinks with calories?
12. School buses had human drivers?
13. You couldn't chose when to watch your favorite TV program?
14. Your phone calls weren't tracked by the government?
15. There were teachers who didn't like to use technology?
16. Schools didn't feed anyone who wanted it - breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
17. Students got letter grades instead of badges?
18. Seriously, going to a technical college was not as prestigious as going to a university?
19. People used paper outside the bathroom?
20. ____________________________ (Your question)

Some of these questions reflect wishful thinking. But I guess I've never seen much wrong with that.

What questions do you hope or dread people will be asking before you retire?

Comments

[Annette]

You had to possess a physical device on which to save your stuff?

You had to carry around a separate device to take pictures?

[Jim Randolph]

They'll still have printed books in the future. Both Captain Kirk and Captain Picard have printed books in the future!

[Bob Follmuth]

Classroom teachers used work alone without meeting with other teachers to plan lessons and assessments?
Teachers could still teach a lesson even without a computer and a projector?
You mean students couldn't have a video chat with their favorite author from England?

[Juan]

Getting a little bit controversial here:

Is it true that you didn't get any points or badges for reading a book or doing homework?

How did you know all those dates and names of historical characters without Wikipedia?

How did you understand each others writing before correctors spell checkers existed?

Were you really able to focus into a single face to face conversation before, without checking your mail or messages? Wasn't it boring?

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Annette,

I'm thinking that these questions are already being asked!

Doug

HI Ninja,

Maybe if they'd had e-books Kirk and Picard would have become generals.

Doug

Hi Bob,

I've got some young teachers asking these questions already!

Doug

Hi Juan,

These are great!

Doug

[Jim Randolph]

Oh my gosh. Kirk became an Admiral but hated it so went back to being Captain. They don't have generals in Starfleet, mister! And they were totally using ebooks and iPad looking things all the time, they just also liked to settle down with paper books once in a while. Don't dis the trek!

[Doug Johnson]

Apostasy! Sorry, guy. No offense intended.

I suppose this is the wrong time to bring up the fact that I like Jar Jar Binks too.

Doug