Checking-in On The Future: The book 2059 is a glimpse into the future of education. Published in 2025 and looking ahead into 2029, 2039, 2049, and 2059, the book outlines an attainable future for education driven not only advancements in technology but also through intentional, pedagogy and organizational preparedness. This 4-part blog series is a check-in on the future presented by the book. NOTE: As a self-proclaimed Sci-Fi nerd, I have added imagery closely related to the future dates presented in each blog. Can you name the movie(s)?
My prediction for 2049 was a total restructuring of the educational system: the end of the traditional school building and the birth of the Community Learning Hub . These hubs represent a shift from age-based cohorts to Competency-Based Progression, integrated deeply with local communities.
In 2026, the “Matthew Scenario” from my dissertation (from 2016) — a learner using mobile portals to overcome electrical grid limitations—has become the blueprint for the global workforce. We are currently in the midst of a Workforce Transformation where 40% of workers are independent contractors, a topic I have been exploring for over a decade as both researcher and practitioner. This “Gig Economy” is the catalyst that will eventually turn our schools into the decentralized hubs of 2049.
The 2026 Check-In: We are progressing toward this future by breaking down the First and Second Industrial Revolution-focused instructional silos and seeing an increasingly globalized curriculum evolve. In 2026, we are seeing the Rise of Editors. Students are no longer treated as “widgets” but as CURATORS of synthetic content. The “return on instruction” (ROI) in our current projects—leveraging partnerships with local industry—is laying the foundation for 2049’s decentralized reality. Our task today is to ensure students have the Soft Skills—empathy and collaboration—that will be a critical currency when knowledge is ubiquitous.
Thank you for joining me on this journey as Education-Futurists. Our efforts to think forward and prepare for a positive educational future is critical in shaping what comes next.
Please let me know how I can serve you more… Contact: Micah