Different perspectives on physical space now affect work and learning protocols

It is commonly accepted that today’s internet based connectivity creates expanded concepts of where work can be done, and where learning can occur. But what we don’t quite envision as yet, is how such a dramatic change will evolve over time, and what new ways of relating to physical space may come to pass. Envisioning the future is hard; we often try to “shoehorn the new” into the old packaging.

Here is one approach of changing a school building to reflect an environment more closely resembling the opening out of online space which can at times seemingly supersede the limits of 3 fixed dimensions of place.

Remaking interior spaces at school buildings based on new perspectives on what the space should be used for, seems a good idea, and a worthwhile series of “try this and try that” to find out what might work.

However, it’s hard to see how this would address the use of a space outside the building, which might be wherever the student and teacher happen to be in physical space. (miles away?…hundreds of miles away?) .

And while different interior spaces can support virtual connectivity, and virtual worlds, that’s not the same as really understanding how to do education when “location” can be ethereal or technically “nowhere” in “real space”.

Apple recently moved into a sort of space ship looking billion dollar building, whose swooping shape resembles a bit that “new look, new function” school building. But it also confronts similar questions as to what function physical location should play in a time of ubiquitous virtual connectivity.

School buildings, and office buildings are huge investments in “plant”, and it just seems wrong somehow that we might have to consider some portion of it as obsolete sunk costs. But past advances of our technology have made obsolete long lists of formerly expensive factories, tools, and ways of living. And no doubt will continue to do so.

Apple corporate employees reportedly will have to return to the office three days a week. The mandatory days are Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus a third day that can be defined by each team.

 

Despite the new deadline, it’s unclear whether Apple will stick with its new plan or whether the date set for returning to the office will be changed again. Apple’s corporate employees have been working from home since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A few employees returned to the office in late 2020, while others have settled on more permanent and flexible remote working arrangements.

 

Apple has faced criticism for its insistence on requiring in-person work for employees, particularly since the company’s policies are more restrictive than other Silicon Valley companies. Back in May, Apple’s director of machine learning Ian Goodfellow left the company due to his disagreement with the in-person work policy.

 

Goodfellow now works at Google, which is much more flexible than Apple when it comes to working from home, and other Apple employees have decided to follow the same path.