Society and the professional world continue to grow and change with the development of technology and the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In turn, this has had a tremendous impact on the educational sector, leading to many trends in the world of education. For teachers to properly engage their students, they must be aware of these latest changes and the major factors affecting learning in the classroom. Their understanding of these trends can help them create a more effective learning environment.
As teachers prepare themselves to implement these latest education developments, here are the five most important trends they should familiarize themselves with.
1. Technological Trends in Teaching and Learning
The explosion of technology in the last two decades has not left the education sector behind. Computers and the Internet have changed how students can access not only information but also the classrooms themselves. As of the fall of 2017, there were more than 6.5 million students enrolled in some distance learning opportunities at the degree-granting postsecondary institution.
The development of technological capabilities means that a variety of media and teaching-support tools exist to help students receive high-quality education via the Internet.
This trend presents many benefits and drawbacks for teachers and institutions that wish to continue to provide their students with the rigorous education they need.
For example, technology may not encourage students to learn soft skills. They may not have the built-in opportunities to connect with their fellow students the way they might in traditional-style classes. For example, leadership opportunities on group projects will not come as systematically as they were before.
Online platforms can also force teachers to change the way they teach. It can be challenging for them to change the approach of lesson plans to keep students engaged, making sure they can't see the instructor in person.
Fortunately, the advent of online classroom and technology-influenced instruction also provides a wealth of opportunities for instructors and their institutions. Many teachers immediately notice that they can offer greater flexibility in their learning schedules. Platforms can provide opportunities for students to watch live or recorded versions of lectures later. Teachers can appreciate this benefit for students.
The online nature of these courses can also enhance teachers' ability to provide accommodations for different learning styles. Advanced students may receive additional learning resources and challenges to encourage them to delve deeper into the material without disrupting the flow of the rest of the class.
Learning management systems can also make it easier for teachers to track how their students progress through the curriculum. They can see how their students have engaged with broadcast and recorded classes, therefore, they have a more efficient tracking system that allows them to provide more timely coaching as needed.
2. Soft Skill Training: A Major Trend in Higher Education
According to the Future of Jobs report, some of the most important skills in the workplace include critical thinking, problem-solving, people management, and creativity. Employers want to see emerging professionals who understand how to make tough decisions and demonstrate their leadership abilities.
In an effort to prepare students for their future careers, there should be training in schools to help nurture and develop students in these skill areas.
However, as already discussed, the simultaneous trend towards online learning makes it a challenge for many teachers. These teachers will need to find a way to balance the screen time involved in their classroom with the importance of encouraging students to work face-to-face to promote soft skill development.
However, institutions that uncover quality sources to encourage the development of these skills will find that this trend provides them with many opportunities for growth. In particular, these institutions will have a competitive advantage within higher education. Their students will be more employable, which will improve their alumni success rate, creating a good circle as future students look for schools with strong alumni success rates.
3. Student Tendency: Decreasing Attention Span
As technology has grown in popularity, the attention span for students has also changed. A study by Microsoft looked at attention span overall between 2000, which was the start of the mobile revolution, and 2015. They found that attention span decreased from an incredible 4 seconds - 12 seconds to 8. This decline has largely been blamed on the nature of technology and the constant excitement it provides to viewers.
Changes in attention span can also be used as an excellent way to differentiate between different generations. For example, Millennials, who largely grew up with this technology at their fingertips, have distinct characteristics from the Gen X and Boomers who came before them.
Most notably, Millennials report that when content is highly engaging, they tend to have longer attention spans than previous generations. However, when that material doesn't engage them, they become the first to tune the speaker.
To capture the attention of Millennials, the content presented to them must have excellent visuals and dialogue along with an interesting story that grabs their attention. This youth group cares more than other age groups about the narrative and visual nature of the material that interests them.
This difference in attention can also be seen in the behavior of Millennials compared to other age groups. Among young adults, 77 percent report that they will reach for a phone when they have nothing else to do to get their attention. For those over 65, how
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