When the world came to a sudden standstill because of the pandemic, schools scrambled to plan how to continue holding classes. No one wanted to leave an academic year hanging. Although some were worried about losing profits, many were concerned about how the students would cope if lessons would be put off for a long time.
Thankfully, platforms for online interactions have already been present at the onset of the lockdowns. Despite the rush, classes were able to migrate online. Although temporary learning setups are now in place, we can’t help but wonder how education would evolve in the future.
Online classes at present
Currently, we are seeing the possibilities of doing remote schooling. Although there are positive points, some are still apprehensive about the quality of education the children are getting.
But this may be because we have not been prepared for this setup. For so many years, education has always been imagined in the traditional classroom setup where there is a teacher who will instruct, guide, and oversee the students. For this reason, the teacher to student ratio in schools matters in rankings. The conclusion is the more teachers there are, the greater guidance the students will receive. Large classes are not encouraged, although this happens a lot in the primary and secondary levels in public schools. This dependence on the teacher is primarily because learning methods for so many years have been designed so that someone will have to personally instruct and guide the student.
With the situation now, we have at least seen that the development of learning modules meant to be studied at home as a step in a direction that holds a lot of potential for homeschooling. Homeschooling had before been reserved for children with special needs, like those with incapacitating illness or those in show business. In higher education, certificates and diplomas obtained from online classes have been viewed as less than those obtained from on-site learning, which is why it’s also easier to enroll in online programs compared to those held on campus.
With advancements in technology and a mix of non-traditional learning methods, the homeschooling setup of today can further be improved in the future.
Collaborative Robots
The use of collaborative robots or ‘cobots’ is already relatively popular in factories and various workplaces. It would not be a far shot to imagine their potential in the field of learning. What is a cobot? As its name suggests, it assists humans in different operations. Some have advanced programming that could detect problems through sensors and monitors and adjust their functions accordingly.
Having a cobot assist in the learning of children could make home learning easier. Cobots could coach the learning pace and possibly correct the work of students. Currently, the use of robots in learning may not be widespread because of their prices, but it holds many potentials for the future.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is already being used in the field of learning. It allows learners to experience situations that would otherwise be dangerous to train in. This is often used to test decisions and quick reflexes when faced with a threat or is in danger. In the past, a situational analysis could only be read, and the individual can rationalize the imagined scenario. However, if the reflexes and the coordination of the senses are honed, augmented reality is the best way to do the learning.
The Montessori Method
The Montessori method is not exactly new. It has been around since the early 1900s. It encourages students to learn via experience, and it promotes independent learning. Although guided by teachers and parents, students are free to select activities that best suit their learning styles. If applied to remote learning and augmented by technology, its potential is vast. Learning can even be facilitated by training parents who will just need to do minimal supervision.
Kids Yoga and Mindfulness
Yoga and the practice of mindfulness have now spilled out of the realm of adults. When they started, these practices were used as balms to the souls of individuals who have been burnt out from too much work. Practitioners, however, have seen their positive effect on the general well-being of a person. As yoga and mindfulness have redeemed and changed the lives of adults who were already scarred and callused by the daily grind, they hold greater potential to influence children whose minds are still developing.
Education is important in shaping how the children view and analyze the world when it’s their turn to run it. It is just appropriate for the methods of learning to adapt to the changing world. Traditional classroom learning may lose its relevance in the future.
