The evolution of modern education: What's changing and why it matters
Imagine students using augmented reality headsets to explore the human circulatory system and traveling alongside the red blood cells or envision them creating and programming drones for disaster relief operations in a robotics class. It is possible in the new age of modern education which has tools and features at its disposal to help students excel in the classroom and beyond. The 21st century technology, combined with the focus of India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is setting the pathway to transform the country into a vibrant knowledge society with learning mechanisms that are designed to promote a learner's journey. But, what is actually changing in the conventional classroom and why should it matter to the rest of us?advertisementTHE STUDENT DILEMMA
One of the major challenges that students face in an increasingly globalised world is establishing their own place and identity in a world full of clones. Many come from different cultural, religious, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds, but face the dilemma of being lost in the crowd due to public education that was famously termed by American Reformist Horace Mann as 'The Great Equaliser'.Mann's observations hold water since education itself has become accessible to everyone, and is helping every new generation learn not just languages, history, maths, geography etc, but also how to communicate confidently, think critically and perform creatively. Textbook learning, which was a norm until the 20th century, is now fast losing its sheen. Information is available at the fingertips of every person within the earshot of an audio-visual medium, especially the mobile phone. advertisementWithin such a scenario, students are now struggling to be seen and heard as individuals with unique and irreplaceable skills that will help them carve a niche in the modern world. MODERN DAY EDUCATIONModern day education has been in the making for a long time. Slow at first, it caught pace during the 2020 Covid year; it has taken off with a vengeance since possibilities of limitless learning surfaced during the lockdown years. Technology took centre-stage, and classrooms expanded into the horizon, where knowledge knew no bounds.Every school jumped on the bandwagon of adopting modern tools at their disposal to impart an education that was engaging for the modern learner who had less attention span and even lesser patience to sit through long lectures. Students - exposed to digital tools - are demanding to learn using new tools, and are expecting their teachers to be well-versed with the mechanisms to help them learn complex topics. It was imperative for teachers to upgrade their skills to make learning experiential by using interactives and simulations to keep students engaged and interested. It was also important for them to upgrade to leverage dashboards for personalised learning and facilitate learning at one's own pace. Flexibility, inclusivity and relevance became the buzzwords as the conventional teacher-led classrooms transformed into teacher-facilitated spaces. advertisementExperiential learning demanded additional resources and a long-term commitment, while maintaining a balance between eco-friendly options, and keeping pace with the newer tools flooding the markets on a daily basis. Within this ecosystem, it was only timely that India's National Education Policy brought in a fresh approach to new-age education, aiming to transform the country into a vibrant knowledge society enriched with technology-driven learning mechanisms and holistic approaches.WHY IT MATTERSThese realities, when laid out with clarity, emphasize on the need to give more than just textbook learning and grades-oriented output to students. Holistic development - where academic excellence is balanced with skills, community connect and ethics - has become a necessity which promises to give an edge to individual students based on their areas of interest and strengths. Many schools have now started to focus on all round development of their students, promising them not just great results in decisive exams, but also excellent skills to thrive in the bigger, real world. Among pioneers in this method of education were schools under Global Schools Group who enthusiastically embraced holistic approach through different offerings customised to each campus. They may have named the pillars differently, but the foundational element was to give students the tools to excel in sports, innovation, creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, community and care and universal values. The idea was to allow many avenues to students, and let them choose their area of expertise and interest, so that the career paths would be varied and within their grain. advertisementSchools also started fueling the spirit of exploration and self-discovery through inquiry-based programmes, through initiatives that empower students and staff to contribute new ideas that can make positive changes to the world around them. For example, the Thinking Thursdays at GIIS Hadapsar, which are dedicated to STEM and learning activities and Mobile Library Project at GIIS Ahmedabad aims to inculcate a love for reading in children through different methods. Ideas of multiculturalism and global citizenship - key attributes of 21st century citizens - are also being harnessed upon. This is a requirement of the modern world, where globalisation has brought us in close proximity - hammering in the need to understand each other's world view and teaching individuals to adjust to the requirements of those around them. advertisementSuch culturally sensitive pathways are bound to give competitive individuals an edge to carve successful global careers for themselves. As education continues to evolve, its true success will lie in nurturing well-rounded individuals who can thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape-making learning not just a means to an end, but a lifelong journey of discovery and growth.The evolution of modern education marks a transformative shift from traditional textbook learning to dynamic, technology-driven, and student-centered approaches. With innovations like augmented reality, robotics, and personalized learning, education is no longer confined to rote memorization but instead fosters critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. For me, as Country Head of a school group with a global footprint, this is the most exciting time to be part of a revolution which will change the world in the years to come. I look forward to observing it, as well as being an equal participant in it, with great anticipation. I am sure the future will be bright for everyone. Inputs from Mr Rajeev Koul, Country Director of Global Schools Group, headquartered in Singapore, and having 64 campuses in 11 countries.Must Watch
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