New ways to educate
According to Katie Puckett from The Possible, work “will be structured around projects, not processes”, and this is also true of education.
From simply imparting knowledge to memorise, education is now ‘problem-based’, or ‘active’ — giving students problems to solve, encouraging active involvement in their education. Developing new methods to engage students with the acquisition and retention of the right information is much more successful than the traditional education system.
We’re also seeing the boundaries of curriculum beginning to change. Previously, knowledge was divided by subject. We’re now evolving into more topic-based and holistic approaches that include real-world use and application. This learning approach emphasises communication, critical thinking, and creativity— all crucial skills for the future of our workforce.
In traditional education, the teacher is the “sage on the stage”. The dawn of newer models have made teachers the “guide on the side”, but this role is also expanding and changing into “meddler in the middle”, according to educator Erica McWilliam. Students are now taking charge of what they learn and how they learn, which is evolving the role of teachers.
Today’s teachers are learning with students and challenging them to expand their understanding of the world.
This shift into meddler in the middle aids with another crucial skill to teach today’s students in preparation for the future: collaboration.
Collaboration, without guidance, leads to misunderstandings between students and disdain towards working with others. If taught as a skill, collaboration allows students to gain empathy for different perspectives and renews their interest and creativity when tackling projects.
The ability to work well in a team is incredibly important not only for today’s workplaces but also in academic institutions. When teachers put together students of different strengths abilities, and these groups are engaged with their project, that’s when the students acquire the most knowledge of the subject overall.
One specific learning strategy is encouraging group discussions. This ‘collaborative social reasoning’ method developed by Tzu-Jung Lin helps students develop the necessary skills to help them thrive in group work, as well as build up critical thinking and social skills.