Education is one of the major mediums that can ensure that individuals receive the knowledge and an approved shaping that can help them tackle future problems.
Throughout history, education has always been taken seriously since it can help learners discover their potential and become reliable citizens. It was also more of an in-person experience than what we see today. Precisely, it required the teacher and the students to converge in a room for learning to occur.
However, with the goal of improving learning and teaching experiences plus increasing knowledge accessibility, the education field is always evolving. In fact, the education field was undergoing a massive transformation even before the 2020 pandemic.
Currently, it is easier to attain information, learn or engage in educative dialogues irrespective of the time and place. But what are some of the most vivid trends transforming the educational landscape today?
7 Emerging Global Trends in the Educational Sector
The major trends that we see in the educational sphere today include;
1. Online Learning
Also known as e-learning, online learning is a form of learning that occurs via the internet. Gone are the days when teachers had to reach a classroom to deliver a lecture. Today, teachers can deliver classes anywhere at any time. More so, students can study from anywhere at any time.
Online learning has also increased the rate of distance learning. Generally, virtual classrooms allow students to sign up for any course at any university of their choice. Online learning also served as a major alternative during the 2020 pandemic and to date, its influence remains undeniable.
The latest statistics also indicate that over 90% of students who engage in online classes are satisfied with the experience. To substantiate, the online education sphere is set to be valued at $319 billion by 2025.
2. Hybrid Learning
This is an educational model that gained popularity post the covid-19 lockdowns. Hybrid learning is an instructional methodology where an educator instructs in-person and remote students at the same time. Hybrid learning is an asynchronous learning technique that bridges the gap between students in a physical class and those connecting via the internet.
Hybrid learning systems offer a privilege to students to either study physically or online. This instruction approach requires the instructor or a college to set up the technology that can facilitate a hybrid learning culture.
This form of learning offers flexibility and convenience to students which eliminates the rigidity of the traditional learning system.
3. Technology in Learning
The advancement of technology is impacting the educational realm dimensionally. Precisely, the more technological advancements take place, the more they will continue shaping the educational sphere. Currently, different technologies like VR (virtual reality), augmented reality, smart boards and social media are changing the way students learn.
Technology-enhanced learning generally, enhances learning experiences and makes the impossible possible. For example, with the use of VR, students can embark on virtual tours where they can enter zones that are impossible to enter at that time or costly to reach.
In addition, technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality are optimizing training experiences in educational institutes and training centers.
4. Gamification
Once thought to be an entertainment medium, gamification is also applicable in the educational realm. Gamifying learning cultivates a range of possibilities in a classroom. Generally, gamification fosters a higher level of engagement and helps learners comprehend and digest the material more easily.
In addition, the gamification of lessons also makes learning interactive and fun. Gamification has proven to have a direct impact on learners’ cognitive abilities. It generally helps the brain process information better and also improves memory.
Like STEM learning apps, gamification lays a smart foundation for increasing learners’ interest in difficult subjects such as science. With that, more educators are identifying more means of gamifying their lessons to improve learning and teaching experiences.
5. Personalized Learning
Personalized learning is becoming more common today than ever. That’s because students have different learning abilities, struggles, needs, and interests that may not be considered with the traditional instruction approach. Generally, personalization in learning customizes learning to the learner’s needs.
The medium focuses on guiding a learner through the learning process. Personalization is also becoming a reliable add-on to the other active learning strategies that teachers can leverage today. That is to enhance students’ learning experiences.
6. Collaborative Learning
Distance no longer serves as a hindrance in education today thanks to collaborative learning. Collaborative learning is a medium of learning where students work on the same project simultaneously. This innovative learning trend facilitates learners across the world to work on the same assignment despite the physical distance.
The instructional approach also takes learners away from teacher-centered instructions which maximize learning engagement.
7. Homeschooling
Although it has existed for a couple of years, the trend of homeschooling is gaining more traction in the modern world. First and foremost, the unprecedented era of the Coronavirus increased the need for homeschooling. However, there are also other factors that are pushing parents to adopt this learning medium. Dissatisfaction with public or private schools and the need for tailored learning are making homeschooling a reliable option today.
All in all, there are many obvious trends in the learning and teaching sphere that are changing the face of education. From online learning, and flipped classrooms, to homeschooling, there is a lot that learners, teachers, and parents can rely on to attain the knowledge and skill sets they want.
