The Long-Term Vision of NEOM

July 17, 2024

In the latest episode of The Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller sits down with Mike Cobb, the Futurist in Residence at Forsyth Country Day School and a former member of the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. This insightful conversation delves into Mike's remarkable journey from working in independent schools in the United States to participating in the groundbreaking NEOM project.

Mike shares his transition to NEOM, a futuristic city project in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing its ambitious vision and goals. NEOM aims to revolutionize education with personalized learning experiences, cutting-edge technologies, and a strong focus on teacher-student relationships. Mike highlights the use of facial recognition, biometric feedback, AI robotics, and social robots in enhancing the educational experience.

Designed to support NEOM employees and their families, the NEOM Community School provides a unique, flexible learning environment from infancy through the 12th grade. The school focuses on building relationships and giving students agency in their education. Its spaces are designed to be flexible, incorporating natural light and blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor learning. Additionally, the school's scheduling is tailored to meet the needs of employees, offering extended hours and opportunities for personalized learning.

Takeaways

• NEOM is a futuristic city project in Saudi Arabia that aims to reimagine education and create personalized pathways for students.
• Teacher-student relationships are still the most important factor for success in education, even with the use of innovative technologies.
• NEOM utilizes facial recognition, biometric feedback, AI robotics, and social robots to enhance the learning experience.
• Mike's experience in NEOM has shaped his perspective on the future of education and his role as a futurist in residence at Forsyth Country Day School. The Neom Community School in Saudi Arabia was designed to support the employees and families of Neom, starting from infants to the 12th grade.

Mike is a visionary and results-oriented educational leader with a track record of successfully steering schools towards organizational excellence. With over 34 years of experience, he has served in various roles, including accomplished classroom teacher, division head, admissions/enrollment leader, and Head of School. He is also an international speaker and has been a key education leader in the forward-looking NEOM project in Saudi Arabia.

Sound Bites to Ponder:
"The relationships between the teachers and the students were still the number one indicator for success."
"We were doing some really cool things using again facial recognition, but we were also using things where we were looking at biometric feedback to look at engagement for students in class."
"We blew up the traditional 45-minute class schedule and created a dynamic schedule that allowed for authentic learning and student agency."
"Relationships are still the most important thing in education. AI can free up time for teachers to focus on building relationships."
"The Neom Community School's spaces were designed to be flexible, bringing in natural light and blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor learning."

Follow Mike Cobb on Social Media:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dmcobb1/
Website: www.neom.com/