Every year, we come across new trends and tech advancements in every sector. The business world has automated workflows, whereas the supply chain industry is digitizing operations. Likewise, the global upheaval and emerging technologies have led to significant developments in the education sector. People no longer have to travel to college to attend classes, all thanks to online schooling. It has made the learning experience more flexible and convenient.
Similarly, the rise in digital apps and hybrid learning is making education more accessible for students. Above all, innovators are rethinking the facets of data in the classrooms. The new techniques of data collection will offer alternative options for assessments and research-based instructional strategies. Fortunately, schools are embracing the future and making every possible effort to capitalize on these trends.
The change in curriculums will impact student’s perspectives on education and learning outcomes. After all, they align with the changing needs of the present generation. However, if you are clueless about this, let us show you the ropes. Here are seven education trends to watch out for in today’s global era.
1. STEAM Curriculum
For a long time, the education system followed the STEM approach. Educators emphasized science, technology, engineering, and math, ignoring other core areas, but not anymore. The increasing popularity in the areas of creativity and art has introduced a STEAM approach to learning. The ‘A’ is for arts that include the creative aspect of education. Schools have introduced art and design classes in the curriculum, allowing students to become creative.
Similarly, colleges have introduced social science and humanities programs online to unfold more career pathways for students. You can explore liberal studies online degree to learn about design strategies, culture, and workplace challenges. The online curriculum will make education effortless, allowing you to learn from the comfort of your home. Besides this, instructors have designed age-appropriate models to facilitate every student, offering the best learning experience under the STEAM approach.
2. Hybrid Learning
After the global pandemic and lockdowns, the demand for hybrid learning has increased, and the trend is likely to continue in the coming years. Hybrid learning combines in-person and online learning, meaning students can choose to attend classes virtually or physically. Hence, students have the flexibility to curate schedules depending on what works for them. For instance, if they can’t participate in the class due to work commitments, the recorded lectures will help them catch up.
Above all, hybrid learning is breaking geographical boundaries. People worldwide can enroll themselves in hybrid programs and participate in the classroom like other students. In short, hybrid education provides access to a new form of learning that is more convenient for students.
3. App Innovation & Gamification
Rapid digitization has become a game-changer for the education sector. Students have access to education-related applications, improving learning outcomes. At the same time, educators can decipher students’ interests and academic passions in real-time – all thanks to analytical tools. It unfolds learning patterns, allowing teachers to find the trouble spots.
Moreover, educators are bringing gamification in education to regain students’ interest in studies. Games such as “Mathalicious” and “Get the Math” provide real-life experiences, making education fun and interesting. Similarly, they have added the educational element to old-school games like scrabble and monopoly. Once students become comfortable with gamified learning, educators can introduce new apps to fine-tune their skills.
4. Bite-Sized Learning
The short attention span of students has always been a concern for the education sector. Well, students still struggle with long paragraphs of information and complex texts. After all, the learning content has never been interactive enough. Educators have finally understood this problem. Now, they are trying to meet the unique learning needs of every person. Teachers are introducing bite-sized learning to increase the effectiveness of learning.
They have divided the course material into small interactive sessions to ensure students don’t zone out. In addition, teachers use real-world examples in their lessons to keep the students hooked. It supports learner’s behavior and improves attention span in the classroom.
5. Cost-Management in Education
As technology is changing the educational landscape, the administration must engage in in-depth planning to make relevant investments. Only with appropriate and viable strategies can the education industry thrive and improve learning outcomes. In the coming years, we would see educational institutes investing in cloud technologies to store information and reduce costs. Similarly, the cost of printing papers and notices will decrease with the rise of blockchain in the education industry.
In addition to improving the efficiency of operations, educators will get a chance to rethink curriculums. Perhaps, they will switch from traditional learning styles to computer-based learning. They can give tablets to students with all the learning material to create tech-savvy future leaders.
6. Experiential Learning
Nowadays, students are drifting away from their studies. Many find ways to skip school while others can’t get their eyes off gadgets. Even teachers have complained about students zoning out in the classroom. To tackle this growing issue, educators have introduced experiential learning. This learning approach focuses on immersing students in real-world situations. In simple words, it provides a hands-on experience and opportunities for teamwork.
Now, you might be thinking, what experiential activities are out there? For starters, schools have introduced collaborative exercises. Students get a problem or debate that they have to solve by themselves. It helps them think while enhancing problem-solving skills. Besides this, role-playing has also become an essential element of experiential learning. Students act out different scenarios and understand how various actions and behaviors can affect outcomes.
7. Integrated Learning Solutions
Many schools have implemented digital learning models to give students the taste of modern education. They have introduced integrated learning solutions based on optimum digital infrastructure with textbooks at the base. Instead of blackboards, the classrooms have smartboards linked to an online assessment structure. It also presents audiovisual content, creating an interactive classroom learning experience.
Moreover, intelligent solutions like print books with audiovisuals can also improve learning outcomes. Voice assistance would read out the text to students automatically, reducing responsibilities from the instructor’s end. Besides this, integrated learning would make it easier for teachers to convey complex concepts and topics.
Final Thoughts
The education industry has to keep up with changing global dynamics to prepare future leaders. Likewise, they have to stay on top of tech trends to ensure the upcoming generation can navigate technology without any troubles. For that, educators have introduced hybrid programs, integrated learning, and app innovation. At the same time, they are trying to make education interactive and fun by introducing the STEAM curriculum and experiential learning approach.
