Classroom education is evolving. The first thing that comes to mind is advanced tools and technologies, but the key is still the human component. Students must develop new skills to solve difficult problems, collaborate effectively and express ideas in new ways.
The connection between tutors and schools is essential for this. Parents and guardians want to be more involved in their children’s education and technology is used as a tool to connect them with educators.
Google’s IT education strategy
The last decade has been characterised by significant advances in computer learning environments, for example, by the growth of block programming. But perhaps most importantly, the drive to involve all students implies a new emphasis not only on what we teach, but how we teach it. These research-driven changes in teaching methodologies and practices will continue to improve our ability to inspire and engage all students. Thus, ten years from now, students will be provided with the computer skills they need to thrive in the global economy.
As can be seen in Google’s educational strategy, a successful computer course or any subject is one in which all students are linked to real learning and each student, regardless of their previous knowledge, learns to solve problems and express their ideas and solutions through tools and strategies that have a direct application in the real world.
Student-led learning
There are students who start projects on their own and end up with a team of 15 or even 30 students working to make the project successful. There are projects that start with 13 year old students and then get involved with adult professionals.
What basis should there be for effective student-led learning in schools?
It is mainly about the mentality of staff and teachers. We must forget what we know about teaching and the organisation of schools and start with what is really essential learning. We must start with the student’s personal goals and learning paths. This allows students to manage their own learning processes.
Effective innovation in the classroom
Effective innovation in the classroom is collaborative work by or with students.
For the school and educators to pave the way for effective innovation in classroom teaching, the school must have a culture of collaboration. Teachers and students must form an educational community where learning is continuous and knowledge is shared.
How has education evolved?
The biggest change is that we no longer teach as before because we want to make it accessible to more people. That is why it is important that our teaching services offer us an excellent user experience. In education, this is an incentive that allows a wide variety of students to imagine themselves as part of this field. We cannot predict the future, but we must work to build one in which all members of society feel empowered to participate in our increasingly digital world.
As well as creating new things, we probably need to make sensible decisions about how to use and organise new technologies such as social networks, artificial intelligence or quantum computing. Making good decisions about that requires that society is informed, and to achieve that, ICT education is needed. When things are going well, teachers feel confident in teaching these subjects and understand the purpose. When they are not doing well, we see unequal access to good education, both in terms of resources and access to competent and safe teachers.
Should schools focus on preparing their students for the workplace and the skills that employers demand?
Schools must take greater responsibility for paving the way for students in one of these ways. This responsibility, as well as the duty of care of schools to ensure the progress of students, led to this change of direction.
However, in terms of professional attributes and skills sought by the market, intellectual curiosity, collaboration, the ability to avoid ambiguity, inclusion and resilience stand out. These are “soft skills”, social and communication skills, character or personality traits, which without being specifically focused on a work environment, are fundamental to the good performance of a professional.
