within a decade....
schooling must change
!!!
With federal spending on social services slashed and AI technology becoming exponentially more capable by the day, there is a real risk that we may lose the next generation of young learners to a widening digital and opportunity gap.
Traditional curriculum models will leave students unable to develop the soft skills needed to thrive in an AI-augmented world (George, 2023).
It would be a disservice to all Americans for their schools to continuously rely on ineffective, siloed learning. Stagnancy on this matter will create an unprepared, risk-averse generation unable to problem-solve creatively.
AI tools will reshape every industry, including education. Assuming the number of computers in classrooms continues to increase, students with access to generative AI and data-driven tools will be able to rapidly prototype solutions and iterate their ideas with far greater efficiency (Edward & Ahmed, 2024).
As a result, VBL programming augmented by AI could deliver even higher returns on community-centered problem-solving (Spector et al., 2023). Beyond enhancing local projects, these tools may also help scale student ventures more effectively by improving operational efficiency and reducing costs associated with customer discovery and prototype testing (Zheng et al., 2023).
In an educational environment that normalizes iteration, AI can serve as a powerful co-pilot, supporting students to take risks and develop more sophisticated ventures.
artificial intelligence
will augment vbl for those with
access
private investment
in public education...
...will grow in the next decade as financially strained schools and state governments will become more candid to receive money to align instruction with employer demands for workforce-ready skills.
In an era where corporations have embraced a broader mission beyond shareholder value, CSR programs focused on education will expand their reach by directly funding public schools and districts to develop future talent pipelines (Salon, 2020).
Major employers will look to high schools and universities as critical partners in shaping a resilient, entrepreneurial workforce (MindSpark, 2023). When companies proactively invest in skills-building, they create tangible shared value through high employee retention rates and long-term community stability (National Skills Coalition, 2020).
As with Iowa’s STEM BEST, businesses nationwide can promote community-based experiences that simultaneously meet educational standards and employer needs. In this environment, corporate investment will increasingly flow toward VBL programs that embed competencies employers report as essential for future success.
venture-based learning will integrate interdisciplinarily
- unconfined to a
business elective
Venture-based learning will be integrated within multiple subject areas instead of being confined to a traditional entrepreneurship or business elective.
Linn-Mar’s Venture Academics program illustrates this clearly: it has successfully integrated VBL into the high school curriculum because its project-based work is directly aligned with Iowa Academic Standards across disciplines. Students earn required credits while engaging in community-centered ventures. The program also extends instructional time to three-hour blocks instead of the typical 45- or 90-minute periods, creating flexibility to tailor instruction to the learner (Morris, 2022).
VBL like this is supported through interdisciplinary collaboration amongst teachers. As districts continue to prioritize “21st Century Skills” and student engagement, interdisciplinary VBL will become a promising model for curriculum innovation connecting academics to real-world problems.
pbl training will soon not be enough for teachers
Many teachers already have experience supporting inquiry, teamwork, and iterative projects thanks to prior training in PBL approaches.
However, VBL will drive demand for teacher upskilling that goes beyond existing PBL competencies. VBL prioritizes partnerships that go far deeper than traditional guest speakers or occasional career days, and educators will need to learn how to manage relationships and expectations with local businesses and organizations while co-designing ventures for students.
School districts will increasingly look to external partners to offer this specialized training. VentureLab, driven by its “educator first” empowerment model, is especially well-positioned to lead this capacity-building effort.