K-12 Education To Evolve In 2018

2018 will be one of the most exciting years for the education industry as rapidly changing technology continues to make its mark on K-12 learning. Here are the five trends we expect to shape K-12 growth in 2018.

1. Schools preferring Integrated and Interdisciplinary Resources:

Schools have, in the days gone by, relied on teachers to make the most appropriate choices on the textbooks and resources for various subjects. While this has served us reasonably well, it could have outlived its utility. As classrooms are becoming more and more digital, there is a need for digital and audio-visual resources to align with the content in the textbook. Further, there is a growing realization that real-life problem solving requires an interdisciplinary approach and that this has to be inculcated in children from an early age. There is growing trend for schools to prefer integrated solutions where textbooks, digital resources and assessments are all aligned to enable a superior and easier teaching-learning experience. Solutions like Pearson MyPedia have been preferred by hundreds of schools across the country owing to its integrated and interdisciplinary approach.

2. Portable learning:

Learning no longer needs to be confined to a place or time; anytime and anyplace that suits the student is a good time to learner. Smartphone technology and world of mobile applications has made it possible for services like MyPedia Home App and Byju’s to be carried around on a mobile phone or a tablet.

3. Data driven instruction:

Just as it promises to revolutionize every sector in the future, data is set to change the face of education. Using technology and smart assessments it has now become possible to generate and analyses vast amounts of learner data and figure out learning gaps and opportunities. Teachers are increasingly able to access far deeper information about students than was ever possible even 3 years ago. This will give rise to smarter, more effective instruction in the future.

4. Parent unions

Social media has made it possible for parents to form strong networks and pressure groups. While this is a good development, we are seeing it taken to the extreme. Parents are mobilizing like unions and questioning everything that a school does from choice of uniforms and textbooks, fees and fee increases, extra curriculars, instruction strategies, etc. Some of this is surely well-intentioned and constructive; however parents have allowed politicians, the education bureaucracy and media enter this “battlefield”. This is not going to end well for schools, parents or students.

5. Increased focus on Health and Safety:

The unfortunate incidents of violence and abuse against children in schools have made government and society sit up and take notice. Parents are far more demanding, and rightly so, of proper security protocols and policies. Regulations have also been brought in to control these incidents. However, with the exception of some schools, others have been found wanting.