You’ve probably already heard that “children are the future” and the condition of this future depends on the ripple effects of what happens today. This is why the education industry must be handled with extreme care. Unfortunately, the 2021 education crisis that was ignited by the coronavirus has proven that the global education system still needs a lot of work. The only backbone of the education industry in the Covid-19 era has been technology.
Technological innovations have allowed students to keep learning online after school closures in states with high infection rates. Still, a lot of work needs to be done to prepare for the future of education. There are many trends in the pipeline that give you a glimpse of how schools will be in the future. These trends are all about improving the learning process and making the most impact on the lives of students now and in the future. GAMSAT preparation course providers have fast tracked moving into the digital age of GAMSAT learning.
1. Blended Learning
There has been a lot of hype around online learning this year. However, statistics have shown that a completely online program isn’t as efficient as an in-person learning program. A more effective approach is blended learning. As the name implies, blended learning is a combination of online and in-person classes. Blended learning programs are perfect for students in core science and medical science programs. The theoretical aspects of their work will be done online while the practical parts will be done in physical locations rather than virtual ones. With blended learning, the job to instruct isn’t solely the responsibility of the teacher. About 50 percent is from the teacher and 50 percent is self-directed by the students. This form of learning will continue to increase in popularity after the pandemic.
2. STEAM Takeover
It’s no news that students in science, technology, engineering, and math programs have always enjoyed special treatment compared to other students. In the coming years, this special treatment is only going to increase. The present and future workforce require people who are good in STEM subjects. So, schools, governments, and private institutions will continue to invest in the future of STEM. However, there is a growing interest in arts and STEM is slowly becoming STEAM. This means science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Some schools are already creating curriculums that combine sciences with arts. These arts make it easier for students who have difficulty understanding STEM to grasp the knowledge. Advocates of STEAM claim that it is much better than STEM.
3. Self-paced Genius Hour
These days, schools across the globe are adopting a method of teaching that offers students an hour to work on any project of their choice daily. The project is usually self-paced and it can be absolutely anything they want. The goal is to nurture creativity and boost their computational thinking skills. It is typically called the Genius Hour and it is a good way to boost engagement in the classroom. It is only going to become more popular in the years to come. This system takes a playbook from collaborative and personalized learning, other emerging trends in the education industry.
4. Digital Revolution
The digital revolution has already started in every industry including the education sector. According to the Washington Post, American children between eight to twelve years spend almost five hours on social media daily. Older kids between 13 and 19 spend over seven hours on social media daily. As the digital revolution continues, these students need to be taught about using the Internet for more than social media posts. They are being taught to research and use the Internet responsibly. They are also being taught to develop a healthy relationship with social media and other digital technologies. Students are also being taught advanced tech skills. It’s no longer enough to know how to operate a computer. Students are now encouraged to learn coding and other forms of software engineering.
Conclusion
The top three education trends of the future are already in play today. The only thing left is the widespread adoption of these methods of teaching. All these approaches to education help with retention and they also teach students how to become independent learners. It also focuses on personalized learning that allows students to focus more on their interests.
