The gusty winds of education due to insufficient funding, advancing technology, and the need of tough jobs in the last few years has been a thing to think for many thinkers and experts. The economic health and capacity to innovate largely depend on the improvement in education. While the “how to” improve is still unfolding. But there are some trends that are aiming to change the face of education in the coming years.
Rethinking How School Works: Need for Change in the Traditional Way
There is a concentrated effort to reinvent the traditional classroom pattern and rearrange the entire school experience. A trend that is being driven by the impact of innovative learning approaches. Project and challenge-based learning methods are removing the limitations of the traditional bell schedule for schools that allow students to move from one learning activity to another more easily. The integrative nature of these traditional approaches has popularized the innovative application of technology and encouraged innovative designs of school models that connect each class and subject matter to one another. Also, as learning becoming more student-centered and fluid, some administrators and teachers have started to believe that schedules should be more flexible to allow opportunities for authentic learning. To change the traditional way of learning that takes place in classrooms is becoming more agile and open to trying new approaches. All of this is happening and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace in schools all across the country, so when you are looking at Townsville schools keep this in mind and see where the school sits with innovation across teaching.
Deeper Learning Approaches: Coping up with Advanced Technology
There has been a long-term prominence in the classroom on deeper learning approaches that delivers rich core content to students in innovative ways, which allow them to learn and then apply what they have learned. Problem-based learning and similar methods encourage more active learning experiences. As technologies such as smartphones and tablets are more willingly accepted in schools, educators are using these tools to connect the syllabus with the real-life applications. With the advanced examples of this trend, students are able to create solutions to press local and global problems and begin to execute them in their communities.
Collaborative Learning Approaches: Group Learning is the Solution
Collaborative learning, which refers to students or teachers working together in group activities or peer-to-peer, is based on the view which says learning is a social construct. It involves activities that generally focused on four main things, putting the learner at the center, highlighting interaction, working in groups, and developing answers to real-world problems. Collaborative learning models are successful, especially for shy students in improving engagement and achievement. Teachers also get benefits through peer groups as they engage in professional development and teaching opportunities. An increasing focus on online global collaboration around the world to support curricular objectives and intercultural understanding is an added dimension to this trend.
Consumers to Creators: Transforming Theory into Reality
A switch is taking place in schools all over the world as students are learning the subject matter through the act of creation rather than the consumption of content. A wide number digital tools are available to help this transformation. Indeed, a whole new level of comfort is growing due to the accessibility of mobile technologies. Many educators believe that sharpening these skills in students can lead to engaging learning experiences in which students become the authorities on subjects through storytelling, investigation, and production. Game making and development that nurtures learners as inventors and entrepreneurs are other components of this trend. Intellectual property issues will become a key component as learners will be active producers and publishers of the educational resources.
Blended Learning: Combination of Online and Offline Learning is the Key
Blending learning models are giving favorable experience to students all over the world. Online learning has been the most active model for students in recent years. Hybrid learning which is a combination of best practices from online and offline learning is on the rise. Well-funded institutes are solidifying this trend all over the world. Blending and hybrid model embracing schools are finding online method is different but at the same time complementary functions to physical institutions. Students can achieve mastery of content that too with online learning when designed and implemented correctly. On the other hand, teachers can focus on small groups less strong students who need support. This trend will continue to grow towards integrated online learning due to progress in adaptive learning, learning analytics and combination of cutting-edge digital platforms.
STEAM Learning: The Necessity of Art in Prime Education
The movement from STEM to STEAM learning has been taking root over the past few years and is moving forward on a positive note to truly meet the needs of the 21st century. Several key components were missed in STEM learning for many educators, parents, and employers. Thus, the need for STEAM learning has been essential for the education. STEAM is an educational method that mainly uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics as main points for guiding student dialogue, inquiry, and critical thinking. The end results in learners who take thoughtful risks, persist in problem-solving, work through the creative process, embrace collaboration, and engage in experimental learning. The innovators, leaders, and educators are in the making through STEAM learning.
Education is the key to future, and making it advanced will only help mankind in reaching a brighter tomorrow.