The world is witnessing a rapid rate of digital and technological advancements, changing lives and the way we do things. The ongoing health crisis has led to an unprecedented surge in digital initiatives and online interactions in all fields.
However, education systems have not evolved in response to these changes. As Sir Kenneth Robinson, the internationally renowned British speaker, author, and educationist, says, the current system of education was "conceived, designed and structured for the industrial revolution of the eighteenth century." He goes on to say that to meet the current and future needs of the world; we need a revolution in education and not merely reforms.
Education is increasingly moving online
With governments, schools, parents, and children grappling with the uncertainties related to school reopening during the pandemic, learning from home has become the norm rather than the exception.
As a result, the pace of digital transformation has picked up with a majority of educational institutions resorting to online teaching. The need of the hour is to offer high-quality, student-centric learning experiences by:
- Adopting flexible curriculum
- Offering personalised learning
- Focusing on core competencies of each child
- Closely monitor each student’s engagement as well as learning progress
- Offer individualised support for online learning
A novel approach to teaching and learning
We are in the middle of Industry 4.0, where smart networks are being built with the help of intelligent devices and interconnected systems. The incredible rate of technological advancements has led to tech visionaries claiming that Industry 5.0 is already on the horizon. While the future is unpredictable, educationists need to gear up to:
- Prepare students to tackle unimagined societal challenges
- Empower learners to use technologies not yet invented
- Equip them with new skills for jobs not yet created
The current ‘generalised’ education systems are failing to ignite the passion in students for learning or to meet the individual needs of each learner.
Preparing children for the future
The World Economic Forum published a white paper in January 2020, highlighting the need for making students future-ready by replacing the traditional classroom approach with innovative teaching and learning solutions.
Education experts, including Sir Ken Robinson while advocating a radical rethink on how children are educated in ‘standardised schools,’ are creating a strong case for ‘thinking anew.’
The current education systems that follow a 'linear' approach to learning are no longer able to prepare children to face emerging challenges. With typical class sizes varying between 30 to 60 going between the United Kingdom, India and Singapore, offering personalised learning through a traditional curriculum is challenging, to say the least.
A revolutionary approach to education is where students learn virtually, and teachers leverage smart Edtech platforms to seamlessly connect with and engage learners. Such an online learning system makes personalised learning possible with smaller cohorts of six children per class and ideal student-teacher ratios. With an inclusive approach and flexible curriculum, personalised learning systems can help create the right conditions for each child, where their natural talents and creativity can flourish.
A smart Edtech platform can help educators create these conditions and empower each child to be future-ready.
