04th Jun2020

Learning in the 21st Century: Key Trends in Education

by James Smith

Achieving success in your academic undertakings has seen a massive shift in recent times. These days, we measure educational achievements with new metrics than we did in previous centuries. For instance, in the 1800s, annual school calendars consisted of two terms—the summer and winter semesters. Of course, the need for formal education was quickly gaining prominence in the world. However, parents required the assistance of their children in doing household chores and participating in the harvest season. The 1900s brought staggered but consistent growth in gender representation in schools. Still, education systems have undergone numerous notable advancements in different aspects. This article addresses 3 significant trends in the sector.

Modernization of Educational Achievement and Goals

In the past, the primary focus of education was to ensure that the population was literate. The main goal of going to school was to acquire skills such as reading, writing, and doing basic arithmetic. The job market was shallow in terms of requiring intensive skills from the labor force. Nevertheless, the most demanding professions consisted of doctors, lawyers, members of the clergy, engineers, and architects. If you aspired to join any of these occupations, then you would need to put in significant effort in school.
In the 21st century, new careers are made in each decade, and they require skilled personnel to fill up the positions. So, the education industry has adapted to the shifting trend in labor requirements to focus on creating a new breed of workers. The new paradigm shift attempts to teach problem-solving and decision-making skills in students. Additionally, collaboration and communication remain integral parts of life after school. Every profession stands on the shoulders of others. Hence, the individualistic approach of learning has come to an end.

The Globalization of Education: International Learning

In the past, international learning institutions were meant for the children of a select group of specialized professions such as diplomats and members of the military stationed in overseas bases. Their main aim was to ensure that the students would receive the same quality of education as their peers back in their native countries. However, recent statistics show a growing number of such schools, along with the children attending them.

You can find a sizable population of these schools containing students hailing from the local country. Typically, the syllabus taught in these centers correspond to countries like the US and the UK. For such students, they would require specialized attention such as essay help that is similar to their peers in the originating countries. So, these learners attend these schools in hopes of gaining admittance into higher learning institutions stationed in the states where the curriculum has its roots.

Moreover, we have also seen a shift in more standardized testing. These days, you can take up a professional course and earn a certification in your native country that is recognized in other nations. So, pursuing your university degree in one could mean that you are qualified to seek a job in another. This trend has seen a more intense focus on ensuring that education systems are on par all over the world.

Incorporation of Technology in the Education Sector

Technology has made its way into every industry. Plus, it is responsible for the shifting landscape in what we require from our workforce. As the copy typists lost their job because of the introduction of computers, many jobs continue to disappear as other spring up because of the advances in technology. Education is keeping up with the new trends by incorporating the new age tools in the learning process.

  • It is commonplace to find a lecture room filled with students taking notes on their laptops.
  • Instructors issue assignments to students via the internet and collect them through the same medium.
  • Some schools have embraced the use of computers and the internet in carrying out examinations.
  • Online repositories of books and other academic literature are slowly phasing out the need for physical books.
  • The introduction of distance learning ensures that a student can attend a lecture occurring on the other side of the planet.
  • Access to education content does not rely on attending a school as the internet provides a convenient way of receiving instructional material at any time.

Indeed, we have come a long way from the days of segregated learning between boys and girls. Nevertheless, the future of education will continue to change as it attempts to remain relevant to the current trends dominating the global landscape of occupations.

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