Trends in Education 2020

Gone are the days when education was limited to using a blackboard, duster, and chalk to complete the syllabus. Now teachers are slowly shifting their focus from teaching the same curriculum for years to inculcating new knowledge and skills; basically, nurturing students not just to get better jobs, but helping them grow as individuals.

In 2020, the education landscape is becoming more student-centred, and classroom designs are becoming more flexible to promote more collaborative learning. With the advancement in technology, teaching methods are also relying more on digital knowledge than just textbooks.

In this era of disruptive technologies, what’s in store for academic institutes in 2020? We have put together some key education trends that will shape and influence schools and colleges in the coming years.

Let’s get started.

8 Current Trends in Education in 2020

The trends in education are predicted in advance. But due to the changes in the current environment, trends are coming up faster than ever. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has now forced institutes to go digital — online education as a trend isn’t new, but now the lockdown has acted as the catalyst to put it into action.

Similar to this, various changes will dominate the specialized education space in the year 2020. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Here are the top trends in education to watch out for in 2020:

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) in a classroom has been a big topic in ed tech for quite some time now. In 2020, it’s expected to be a priority for forward-thinking academic institutes. The way colleges make use of AI will vary.

For instance, many institutes are using technology to automate administrative activities such as the admission process. According to a post on University World News, AI can change how colleges recruit domestic and international students by creating algorithms. These algorithms will predict the applicants most likely to be accepted, and the enrolled students who will graduate and become engaged alumni.

Moreover, with the help of this technology, teachers get more free time as AI tools take care of mundane tasks such as grading, creating tests, etc.

2. Professional Development of Teachers

Earlier, a teacher was seen as the never-ending source of knowledge. Their role was to be thorough at every little thing they taught their students. While this is true even today, a teacher’s responsibility isn’t limited to just being comprehensive but also adapting themselves to newer and better ways of training the class.

Just as students are expected to adopt new learning methods and subjects as a result of the rise of technology, similarly, teachers will have to step up their game by embracing new roles and responsibilities.

Thanks to the pandemic, we can see this change right now as well. Going from typical classrooms to conducting lectures in Zoom/ Microsoft Teams,  teachers in India have to brace themselves for online learning and teaching. An article published on Deccan Herald states that teachers who are unwilling to learn and accommodate these new challenges will be rendered redundant.

3. Data Finds a New Home 

As technology gets more involved in our lives, traditional textbooks have started adding digital ad-on. Now, to bring the costs down, schools are predicted to buy digital content to promote the self-serve model, especially for specific subjects. The idea is to allow students to avail an entire skill-based course from a reputable source while providing a tutor just for support.

4. Personalized Learning

It’s the generation of personalizations, right from the recommendations for what to eat and what to see, to where and how we consume data. Platforms like Netflix and Amazon, along with Zomato, promote personalized convenience by removing restrictions related to location, device, and timing.

Education, too, is not far behind from delivering personalized education, especially since the speculations and debates around the traditional lecture process that doesn’t work for every student.

This is primarily because every individual has their unique strengths and weaknesses, and grasps concepts at their own pace. In a traditional classroom setting, going at each student’s pace is impossible.

Hence, with the help of technology, students will get access to study material online, including documents and videos, allowing them to learn about concepts at their speed, anytime, anywhere.

5. Immersive Education

With the help of extended reality, which is a mix of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, teachers can provide immersive learning to students, no matter where they are. For example, with the help of a BR headset, a lesson about ancient Egypt can come alive, as the student walks around the digital version of that time zone.

Not only does this make learning fun for children, but it also encourages them to immerse themselves in the lesson.

6. Project-based Learning

It is 2020, and we are finally moving on from the days when students sat passively at desks while professors lectured endlessly, expecting the class to soak up all the knowledge.

This year’s trend in the educational sector is project-based learning wherein students will collaborate, think critically, and work in a group to develop innovative projects and come up with answers to complex questions.

Colleges are bringing in companies that offer students with industry-relevant projects. This helps ensure students get to adapt to a new way of learning while ensuring they are in-sync with what the corporate world is looking for.

7. Bringing in the Genius Hour

Did you know engineers at Google are allowed to spend 20% of their time working on any project that they want? The company believes that by enabling people to work on something that interests them will eventually lead to better productivity. We are sure you have heard of Gmail or Google News—these projects are creations by developers that blossomed from their 20-time projects.

Similarly, schools and colleges are expected to have the Genius Hour, where students are free to learn what makes them curious. This hour will look more open-ended and less organized.

This hour’s purpose is to take a break from a rigid, test-driven, and ‘achievement-focused’ learning environment. With this extra time, students will have the chance to explore their ideas and follow their instincts—without being assessed or monitored.

8. When STEM becomes STEAM

For the longest time, academic institutions have focused on inspiring kids to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM).

The last few years have increased the popularity of the STEAM approach to learning. This is because various industries want professionals who are disciplined in the areas of creativity and art as well. The “A” stands for Arts, which includes humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts, design, and new media.

Today, businesses want to recruit candidates who do not just have technical knowledge but also can think creatively, come up with innovative solutions to solve problems, blend in with different cultures, and more. The STEAM approach helps meet this requirement.

Conclusion

From using technology to teach to ensuring teachers can upgrade their skills, from moving on from traditional classrooms to creating an environment where students can learn what they really want to, the educational landscape in India is expected to accommodate new trends and level up to stay relevant in the changing times. We hope this blog has helped you get a detailed understanding of the top trends that can shape the academic sector this year.

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