Education Trends Of 2020 That May Restructure Schooling!

Learning isn't restricted to within-the-classroom academic exercises anymore. Today, when students and teachers all over the world experience the ripple effect of coronavirus pandemic, school leaders are constantly brainstorming to ensure children keep learning. Adoption of newer technology and adapting to it with the aim of a seamless transition from the classrooms to home learning could set new education trends.
How to fight the impact of coronavirus outbreak on our child education? The question troubles parents and educators who’re worried about lockdown affecting their child’s learning curve. The current situation has given us massive insights on shifting the trajectory of education from schools to homes, from content dissemination to purposeful, interactive learning.
Top 5 Education Trends of 2020
1. Hybrid homeschooling
Given the need of the hour, hybrid homeschooling seems like a sustainable education trend, coalescing traditional homeschooling &formal schooling. Schools could provide short-term learning objectives or instructions to children (like reading a book, solving trivia and worksheets)to complete within a set time, with the help of their parents at home.
The collaborative learning model strengthens family relationships where parents & children learn together. It also develops the habit of regularly learning/studying at home. Students get more time to play with siblings, explore different resources, etc., while parents& teachers collaborate to play the role of guides, tutors, and course monitors.
2. AR-VR Transformation
Some schools are already using AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) to engage & motivate kids to study. AR animated content breathes life into boring textbooks by adding 3D/4D elements. For instance, 4D AR flashcards in biology give students an insight into what animals look like, simultaneously providing information on their origin, behaviors, and habitats.
Likewise, VR is an immersive education trend that transports kids into a completely different world, using tools and apps. E.g., Google Expeditionstoolallows children to virtually visit famous cultural sites around the world without actually leaving their seats.
Such tools add visual appeal to complex topics, by presenting facts through 3D models, simultaneously engaging different senses (listening, viewing, feeling, etc.,) to help students retain information for a long time.
3. skill development Through Blended Learning
Looking into the future, employers will be seeking skills like adaptability, problem-solving, resilience, communication, emotional intelligence, etc., along with knowledge. Inculcating so many skills using only one teaching method is no more a prudent decision.
Blended learning is an approach that encourages the combination of traditional classroom practices with computer-mediated activities and online content/training, thus, ensuring that learning is continued beyond the classrooms. It allows students to harness and use multiple tools, technologies, and resources for self-learning and skilling while enjoying flexibility in decision-making.
OTT media(Over-The-Top media services) like TEDEd, EdCast, YouTube, etc.,(for visual content), reading platforms like Amazon Kindle, Juggernaut, and learning apps (NCERT mobile application, Udemy, Byjus, etc.) not only lower the cost of curriculum delivery but also ensure that kids are learning anywhere & everywhere while enjoying themselves.
4. Wellness Programmes
Knowing that schools represent an extremely diverse population, weaving wellness programs into curriculum generates awareness regarding health, fitness, one’s own body, and surroundings in different sections of the society. However, such wellness programs should not just focus on physical fitness, but also on mental, emotional & spiritual wellbeing.
They must cover important aspects (like how to live a healthy lifestyle, the origin and prevention of different diseases, stress management tips, etc. to help individuals cope with emergencies).
A well-tailored wellness program delivers relevant knowledge, greatly improves the student’s morale under extreme situations & has lasting effects on society.
5. Micro-assessments
While smaller class sizes and personalized interventions foster individual attention and life-long learning, micro-assessments evaluate student's understanding (how receptive & responsive they are to pedagogy). Skill-based evaluation, structured feedback, question-answering, surveys, classroom polls, application cards, etc., aren’t just beneficial for students, but also educators. They highlight the challenges that may have gone unnoticed by teachers and lets them address these later. Educators also get opportunities to explore new instructional styles, tweak existing pedagogies & seek additional resources for self-learning, thus, growing better in their role.
Combining micro-assessments with homeschooling & blended projects facilitates two-way communication between students and teachers, ensuring both are on the same page during class while learning is consistent and smooth.
Despite gaps and learning challenges, digitization is gradually and steadily shaping school education into an engaging & collaborative experience, supported by experimental learning, autonomous choices, skill development, and strong student-teacher bonding. These education trends can be innovated to make learning more consistent, smooth, and effective not just now, but in the years to come.