Caroline Springs, Australia Caroline Springs is an example of a modern day collaborative. It is a new town development in which is being planned entirely around education. Even the line between school and home is blurred. Each house is being planned with what are called learning rooms that families will manage their own individual learning linked by the internet. Life-long learning includes the entire family.
Education is integrated at all levels.
The reality is that virtual schools are popping up all over the internet providing opportunities for high school diplomas to university doctoral degrees. A colleague of mine is obtaining her doctorate in education at a Florida based institution while working in the Baltimore public schools. We can only guess at this point, but we need to be ready to respond appropriately. In quickly summarizing, a few challenges facing us in regard to realizing the vision of a true Community of Learners include the realities of realigning traditional institutional territories and goals, transportation and locational issues, communications, cost and partnership management.