Education is the key to a better future, and must evolve like the future itself.
Aptly put, education is the fundamental base of our growth. It gives us the knowledge of this world and everything pertinent as well as simply in it. Education gives us our life skills.But how is this education evolving? Quite interestingly, education has always been on a path of evolution.
This evolution, like any other evolution, has always been kind of subtle; with strict syllabus and code of conduct forever being an essential and defining element of it. But it is changing. Modern times slowly maturing into the domain of post-modernism being a fact, education along with its established systems and format has been on the path of evolution; a very drastic one at that too.
Modernism saw two wars engulfing the globe and then with Derrida shining the light of deconstruction, education had no option but to traverse the path of dynamic changes. Being dynamic, the changes took their sweet time to get incorporated into curriculum; and herein it was the 21st century which boosted this process.
But like all evolution as well as their incorporation, it is not there yet. While not quite there yet, the changes and new setups are slowly on the rise in the horizon. It is not just an expectation anymore to have a dynamic and interactive academic setup, it is simply a wait worth waiting for.
Understandably, purists might be destabilised by the drastic as well as dynamic nature of the changes which are coming up, thereby making it an absolute necessity to actually try and understand the changes as well as what necessitated these changes.
So now that we know changes in education are quite on the roll, both how it is imparted along with how we perceive education itself, it is imperative we go for a glance at the evolving changes themselves.
1. Diverse places, diverse time: convenience redefined
This is a major perk evolving out of the developing 21st century technologies. With technology reaching the heights of convenience, students now have the certain scope to learn at their own convenience.
And this convenience encompasses not just the time, but the place as well. With online platforms evolving to the level of producing the facility to interact face to face from anywhere, students can simply sit at home and opt for a discussion with his or her professor online.
Along with the convenience of place, comes that of time. Notably, this is not just about studying or attending an online lecture at a convenient time, but to actually be able to space out the course at a convenient pace.
While the former is cursory, the latter is defining towards the individual growth of a pupil.
2. Personalisation, because everyone is unique
As can be easily expected, evolving nature of study equipment and tools has had a huge impact on the academic sphere. Positive ones at that, the scope for personalised education has increased manifolds.
Some pupils are not as adept as others, especially if we consider different subjects and their individual scopes. While some might be strong in one, there is nothing wrong in not being as good in another subject.
Now with expanding technological resources, students get what they exactly need. Academic lectures and discussions, as well as the assessments can be individualised; thereby creating a scenario where extra care is afforded for those weaker, while the adept gets to move on to more advanced topics.
3. Freedom of choice
Much like above, this delves deeper into individual approach. With newer and more dynamic education methods, a student will even be able to modify the scopes of a subject; suiting them to their personal needs and choices.
Old master setups of curriculum demanded basic knowledge of every subject. But with an enterprising new setup like above, students can actually focus directly and more appropriately on topics related only to their career choices.
4. Projects define the era
The future of working sphere is evolving hand in hand with the academia. To be more exact, it is the evolving work culture which is partially demanding the evolution of education.
Yes, projects are the new demand. And this 21st century education setup is adapting itself brilliantly to project based learning. While an upward boom of project based learning can be further expected, it is important to note that this is in fact preparing the pupils for their actual on-field job role.
5. Field experience: preparing for the finale
Much related to the one above, simply expect more of on-field training even during basic education and academic courses.
This aids in preparing a certain mental setup. A mental preparation to be able to handle on-field projects, ingraining the same even from a tender age goes a long way. The contribution can be seen much later; later during their future professional life.
6. Data and its detailed interpretation
Mathematics has forever been of crucial stature. And yet, with computers covering most of the statistical analysis; the basic calculation and working with mathematics at a professional level is going down.
So what is it transforming into? Data and its analysis is the future of on-field requirements; and they are to be addressed immensely even during basic education setup in the upcoming future.
While computers have rolled into the world of compiling data, analysing it and even predicting the future trends; human effort in interpreting as well analysing the compiled is key to smooth functioning at the work sphere.
7. Evolving examinations
A much needed revolution is on the horizon in the question of examinations. While the old school setup demanded regular exams and assessments, modern educationists realise its limitations.
Rather than the age old system of mugging up for exams, interactive methods which will contribute with a deeper and functional knowledge of the course and the subject are being formalised. This promises of knowledge, unlike the existing promise of just scores and results.
Digital classrooms and introduction of smart board.
With the advent of civilization man has created new ways to make life better for its future generations. Changes in educational experience through the modernization of education technology is one such way. In today’s classroom we often no longer find the need of dust boards and chalks. Instead we are introduced to what is known popularly as a smart board. A smart board is like a smart phone, only much bigger and in the form of a board up on the wall of the classroom.
This device has revolutionised the learning experience in the 21st century. The smart boards have easy access to internet and study material and can be connected with any phone or laptop. It displays colourful slide shows of study material, pictures and videos and even moving images and animations.
This keep the children amused and also heighten their overall learning experience. They can now, not only hear about what they are learning but see it come alive in front of their eyes. The smart boards also help to lessen the burden and work pressure of the teachers since they teach everything there is to teach through audio-visual formats displayed on the screen.
Quiz rounds and examinations can also be programmed into the smart boards which makes the process even more effortless and convenient. Recently a school in Bangalore has introduced a robot who will be fulfilling the role of a substitute teacher. The robot is much smarter and more accurate than any normal teacher and can surf several internet portals at the same time so as to give correct answers for every question asked by the students during class hours.
It is being predicted that in the near future each and every school will be run autonomously by robots and machines and modern technology, and there would no longer be any need for human teachers for the job. Although the process is a bit mechanical and far more professional and unflawed, the children seem to enjoy the modern technological advancements and tools.
With books bring replaced by e-journals and e-books, everything has gone online. Now knowledge is only a mouse-click away and any information is accessible at our fingertips. With libraries lying abandoned without any readers coming to borrow books, soon or later books might even become obsolete with us being the last of the generation to utilise them.
However, no matter how much educational technologies evolve, it is difficult to imagine a world that is taught by machines and will turn humans into machines with sharp brain development but no emotional and psychological upbringing whatsoever.