The education industry exists in an ever-changing sphere, but with all the change comes opportunity. In recent years, many have been asking “Is education worth the investment?” or “Why is everyone talking about better education?” There are a few key factors that make these questions so popular and imperative. For one thing, we live in an increasingly information-driven society — more and more people expect to learn their skills on their own time.
Another contributor to this shift is economic growth and global competition — the demand for skilled workers is high and will only continue to rise in the coming years. In order to provide the highest quality of education, we must be continually improving our skills as teachers and as professionals. In addition, we should be striving to find ways to make our lessons more applicable to modern times.Know why everyone is talking about better education here: Diplomsklub.com.
According to the World Bank’s World Development Report 2013 released on July 2nd, we live in a world with unprecedented access to information — making it crucial that we find new and innovative ways to share our education. The report refers to this as “learning with or from others” — in other words, the importance of informal learning by watching others and building off of their knowledge. This type of learning is not only valuable for students in that it allows them opportunities beyond school walls but also for teachers who may not know all the answers.
Reasons Why Is Everyone Talking About Better Education?
1. Access to Information
As of late, the demand for knowledge is rapidly increasing. It is no longer enough for our educators to just possess knowledge — we must also be able to share that knowledge with others and to make it applicable in today’s society. The World Development Report 2013 states that “people can only gain access to information if they have the ability and motivation to move beyond their immediate environment.”
This certainly rings true both inside of the classroom as well as outside; more and more students today are accessing vast amounts of information through technology such as computers, tablets and smartphones. In order to meet their academic goals, students must be able to understand this information alongside other sources, including teacher-directed instruction or self-study materials.
2. Better Technology
With the advances in digital technology and the spread of mobile devices, there is a lot that can be done to help better integrate learning into the modern classroom. In just the past few years, teachers have had access to more educational technology than they’ve ever had before — making it possible to not only accommodate more learner types but also to make learning more enjoyable for students.
There are apps available on phones that allow students to upload and access information anywhere, giving them more flexibility of time and location. More recently, technology has been used to help deliver lessons in elaborate ways; for instance, special effects in film can be used by teachers in their lessons, bringing a new energy and excitement into the classroom. Taking advantage of the opportunities available through technology is vital not only for students but also for teachers.
3. New and Innovative Ways to Reach Students
In order to meet the ever-increasing demands of students, educators must find new and innovative ways to connect with students. Many schools have taken a more flexible approach to teaching; in some places, teachers have begun using simulations in lieu of traditional lectures, giving students a more hands-on approach to learning. Others have adopted new methods of teaching like flipped classrooms or flipped courses where the majority of class time is spent on projects and discussions rather than lectures.
This allows students to spend more time on what they need the most help with, saving teachers and students both time. Some schools are also using technology like smart boards, interactive boards and touch-screen devices to help engage their students in learning. All of these methods strive to keep the modern student in mind.
4. Importance of Learning Skills Outside of School
In today’s world, we live in a globalized world — people are much more likely than ever before to meet and interact with people from different countries and cultures. There are few skills more important than understanding how and why different people think, behave and communicate in the way that they do. Though many factors contribute to this, one of the biggest drivers is the desire for students to know how to adapt their knowledge to the ever-changing world around them — this is one of the key ideas behind “learning with or from others” as mentioned earlier.
Unfortunately, there are fewer opportunities than ever before for students to interact with people outside of school. As a result, they are missing an opportunity to expand their knowledge and become better citizens.
Another important aspect of today’s globalized society is that it has led us into a workplace and career field where there is greater competition than ever before.
