What will education look like in the future? Through the chronicles of humankind, education has played an important role. It’s reshaped our history and enabled us to become technologically advanced. And our technology’s influenced every industry on the surface of this planet today. As you can guess, there’s no escape from modernization to survive in the 21st century. So, even education must move away from traditional methods and accept the paradigm shifts the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated. Today, students can access better ways to assimilate information. That’s why the future of education is marked by specific trends that are becoming more apparent during an ongoing global health crisis.
Some crucial trends every educator must be aware of
Education’s one of those industries in the world that continued to flourish during COVID’s worst attacks as well. Schools, colleges, and universities transformed physical learning into digital learning to help people resume their education. Today, educational institutes incorporate technology in countries worldwide to make learning fun for students. So, future schools will become large-scale projects that foster leadership and collaboration skills. And we need qualified educators to manage such classes. So, teachers must know about the below-mentioned trends. Let’s start with a basic one! A McKinsey survey shows that American schools spend $18 billion every year on teacher development. So, let’s begin.
1. Educating the educators
Today, teachers can earn higher degrees online to enhance their teaching potential. So, as an educator, you may pursue an MSE in Curriculum & Instruction online to make students more engaged in the classroom. You can attain this qualification to improve instruction in the school. You can collaborate with your coworkers and apply evidence-based practices to the curriculum. An MSE can also help educators become familiar with recent learning trends. Future teachers need learning too!
2. Active learning
Schools will become more student-centered in the future. Active learning involves engaging students with the curriculum with teamwork, discussions, and problem-solving. This learning model is customizable where projects make it easier to understand concepts and retain them. Teachers will create an active learning environment that supports collective experiences and dynamic schedules in the future. The trend of active learning can produce more well-informed students.
3. MOOCs
The influence of YouTube on our students’ education has motivated teachers to follow this pattern. That’s why we have Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) accessible to students online. This practice enables educators to record and upload videos to digital platforms and explain complex concepts from the mandated curriculum. These videos can be downloaded and then rewatched by students for better learning. So, a single lecture can benefit a student many times.
4. Data analytics
In the future, “data analytics” won’t remain an industry buzzword anymore. Analytical procedures in every industry are applied to improve outcomes. So, educators can incorporate analytics in learning as well to enhance their decision-making abilities about educational investments. Moreover, a study based on data-driven results can help teachers understand every student’s behavior more effectively. A teacher can generate a more welcoming academic environment with DDM applied in the future.
5. Lifelong learning
A 2019 survey indicates that 94% of employees are willing to stay if their employers invest in their continued education. The concept of “lifelong learning” shall dominate the workplace in the future. When companies attempt to reskill/upskill their workers, their productivity goes up. That’s another method of dealing with the rapidly aging population in the United States. Also, as the trend of automation becomes widespread, we will need to produce tech-savvy students quickly.
6. Artificial Intelligence
AI has become inseparable from EdTech now. It can automate some of the most basic activities in education, such as grading students. Teachers can have an automated procedure grade MCQs and fill-in-the-blank questions. This trend will allow our teachers more time to dedicate to preparing/delivering lectures. Also, students can receive some help from a robotic instructor regarding their syllabus. So, AI will dominate our learning schedules in the 2030s.
7. STEAM
In the future, STEM-based programs will be replaced by STEAM-based courses that have the power to revolutionize EdTech altogether! This trend includes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics with real-world problem-solving and a hands-on learning experience. It makes students curious about the knowledge they receive at school, thereby making a teacher’s lessons engaging for them. It teaches students the importance of collaborating with classmates in the classroom too.
8. Learning with entertainment
Combining education with entertainment makes learning easier for schoolchildren. In the future, we may observe educational institutes using videos, slide shows, and animations to teach people. Also, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have already replaced pen and chalk in some areas. So, using media in education helps students improve their soft skills while imparting meaningful knowledge effectively.
9. Gamification
Future schools will utilize gaming elements to make learning more engaging for students. It involves students in the process of learning by incorporating point-scoring the lessons. Students perform several exciting and engaging activities while learning and practicing effectively. This trend’s currently popular among K-12 students. But even the higher education sector can utilize this method to make learning ‘fun’.
10. Skill-based education
Which skills will students require to score fine jobs in the future? Educators are focusing on skill-based learning to prepare students for future employment opportunities. They have realized that book-ish education isn’t enough to prepare students for a practical lifestyle. So, receiving a skill-centric education enables students to advance in their chosen careers. That’s why the future of schooling promotes soft skills, e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication too.
11. Digital education
Let’s dedicate another subheading to the trend of digital education that’s become a massive household phenomenon since the emergence of COVID-19. Statistics indicate that e-learning facilities are far better than traditional classrooms for students and educators alike. It’s estimated students retain 25-60 percent of the information while learning online. Conversely, traditional education only helps them keep 10% of this knowledge. So, digital learning shall continue as a trend now.
Conclusion
Why do we need a modern school of thought in education? Statistics indicate that around 70% of today’s students are bored and stressed at school. Current students tend to associate negative feelings with the high-school experience. Thus, we need academics to become more flexible to help students learn more effectively in the upcoming days. We expect future educators to teach students in a personalized manner with more technology-dependent classrooms. Also, students will have the liberty to choose their lessons and study whatever they find interesting. The trend of digital education can become dominant and hybrid classrooms may turn into the new normal. These trends can reshape the future of learning.
