Future classrooms will be hybrid, a collaborative space with a new pedagogy that combines the benefits of physical interactions and the merits of innovative online learning tools.
The Covid-19 has literally pushed the future forward. With nearly 1.5 billion students worldwide forced to abandon traditional classrooms, the crisis presents an opportunity to blend technology into everyday education. In contrast to its complementary role before the epidemic, this shift has made e-learning the primary medium of education.
The integration of technology into the education system has given birth to a collaborative, student-centered and future education system that I firmly believe will remain here. The Indian government has also advocated for online learning, as evidenced by the new Education Policy (NEP) announced last year. As teachers, students and institutions continue to re-rank for the new normal, there are a number of trends that will continue to shape the future education system.
An elastic, hybrid education system
Future classrooms will be hybrid, a collaborative space with a new pedagogy that combines the benefits of physical interactions and the merits of innovative online learning tools. The innovative EdTech Learning Solution allows for customized learning, easy access to skills and huge networking opportunities. Touchscreen technology has enabled very young children to engage in technology-assisted instruction early in life. In India, the EdTech industry is set to grow to USD 30 billion in size by this decade
I predict that students will become co-creators of their own learning and that classrooms will be developed where they can apply the knowledge they have learned online to real life situations. Digital learning opens the way for students to create the entrepreneurial and job-specific skills they need for their future. According to the United Nations, digital skills will be required for nine out of ten jobs in the future.
New age technology-backed teaching
The advancement of digital means that new age technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, learning analytics, augmented reality and virtual reality will be an integral part of this evolving education system. Digital learning solutions equipped with AI are already revolutionizing the way we teach students with different interests and abilities. This allows teachers to provide additional support to students who may need it.
An emerging army of cybersmart students
Today, children are spending more time online than ever before, which exposes them to threats such as cybercrime, sexual abuse and cyber bullying. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2021, ‘Cyber Security Failure’ ranks as the fourth most important threat to the world. Keeping our kids safe is crucial, as they are vulnerable to threats online. They need to be educated about cyber security, digital citizenship and etiquette so that they are well-equipped and equipped to avoid online risks.
In addition to the government, the private sector can play an important role through their CSR efforts through capacity building and awareness initiatives and the establishment of cost-effective solutions. We need different, innovative thinking and strategies to surpass predators to improve our kids’ digital intelligence. Cybersmart conversations should be an integral part of the school curriculum and should include educators, parents and experts. There is a need to establish a supportive policy ecosystem with strong legislation and rapid remedial measures. The National Education Technology Forum (NETF), planned under NEP 2020, may look to host the EdTech tool on an open source platform with built-in cyber security resilience.
Rapid changes in online learning have also highlighted the disparities in access to e-learning. According to the Annual Status Education Report (ASER), by 2020, only one-third of schoolgirls in India were learning online, and a small group, 32.5 percent, attended live online classes. As we continue to develop our education system digitally, it is important to bridge this digital system with systemic change, such as implementing policies that ensure adequate infrastructure and end-mile connectivity and integrate technology into teacher training modules.
The future of education is collaborative classrooms, both digital and physical, supported by technology-driven pedagogy that will ensure a new team of cyber-smart students ready for the future.