Education exists as one of the most impactful and transformative fields today. From early childhood education all the way to the higher education landscape, education professionals are hard at work shaping the minds of future generations and preparing the future leaders of tomorrow.
But the education field is not immune to challenges: inequality, lack of resources and poverty are just some of the problems that education professionals are navigating today. In light of the efforts to improve the field of education overall, there are a variety of predicted trends coming to the future of education.
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Let’s explore a few of the trends that are projected to shape the future of education — and that might enable you, as a future education leader, to enhance humankind through ethical, effective teaching methodologies.
Discover the Future of Education: Trends to Look Out For
As our world evolves due to advancing technology, societal advances and economic changes, so does the education field. Here are a few trends for education professionals to be aware of:
1. Increasing Technological Integration in the Classroom
Technology and education practices are intrinsically linked. As technology evolves, so does the education landscape. Teachers in K-12 classrooms are already utilizing digital textbooks, cloud-based tools and interactive whiteboards, as well as voice assistants, virtual reality devices and 3D printers.
Accessing these cutting-edge technologies allows teachers to empower their students in ways that far extend traditional curriculum-based learning — giving students the chance to immerse themselves in hands-on learning opportunities that are transferable to practical and professional situations.
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2. Updating Curricula for Personalized Learning
The field of education is shifting from a one-size-fits-all teaching approach to more tailored, personalized educational experiences, and adapting teaching methods to accommodate individual learning needs is quickly becoming a priority for teachers and education leaders.
Personalized learning initiatives include adjusting the curriculum to allow for self-paced learning. The benefits of personalization in education are proven to include empowering students to be active learners, increasing motivation, improving standardized test scores and reducing drop-out rates.
3. Prioritizing Globalization in Education
We live in an interconnected age — technology enables us all to collaborate with and learn from talented individuals with diverse backgrounds. In the education space, teachers and leaders will increasingly be called to cultivate a global perspective in order to connect with and reach students who come from many walks of life.
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Approaching education policy and practices from the lens of globalization gives educators and students alike the ability to gain a wide range of perspectives regarding other cultures, which leads to increased knowledge and empathy as well as reduced discrimination and racism.
4. Increasing the Emphasis on Social-Emotional Learning
A social-emotional learning approach challenges traditional forms of punitive justice and instead, focuses on teaching students how to manage their emotions, navigate diverse challenges and identify solutions to problems both inside and outside the classroom.
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When students feel heard, seen and understood, their potential to remain engaged, retain information and ultimately, thrive academically soars. For this reason, academic institutions are predicted to offer more opportunities for support, such as mentorship and social development resources that promote literacy and leadership skills.
5. Expanding Access to Education in Marginalized Communities
Most educators are acutely aware that the pathway for future leaders to effect meaningful change begins with their access to high-quality education. But many communities — both in developed and developing countries — unfortunately experience a lack of basic educational resources due to racial, gender, economic and ethnic discrimination.
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Policy changes need to be enacted in order to bridge the education gap in marginalized communities, and in the future, policy makers are expected to allocate more resources in order to research the impacts of systemic barriers and further advocate for educational equity.
6. Allowing for Informal Learning Environments
While some traditional school environments prioritize a one-teacher approach to education, more and more institutions recognize the value of informal learning initiatives. This looks like encouraging collaboration between departments and students to provide a more holistic, well-rounded perspective on subject mastery. Informal learning is rooted in the belief that learning can happen in a variety of environments, not just the traditional, lecture-style classroom.
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Researchers encourage leaders and policymakers in the education arena to develop more dynamic, interactive spaces where students can learn and grow with peers. These collaborative learning spaces will encourage participants to learn from one another’s knowledge base, engage in problem-solving and master team-building skills.
Shaping the Future of Education: Peabody College at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development is dedicated to translating discoveries into more effective education practices and policies. Through hands-on learning opportunities and expert faculty who guide our students, we are passionate about producing leaders who will generate positive change throughout the nation and beyond.
At Peabody College, we are dedicated to:
- challenging our students to enter the field ready to make a real difference in the health of humankind;
- providing guidance and mentorship so that you can pursue your dream career post graduation;
- focusing on your growth as an education policy and practice professional with the aim of giving you the skills needed to make real impact in the world.
Are you ready to develop the skills and tools needed to enhance humankind through data-driven education practices? You have come to the right place.
We invite you to request more information; to explore our programs and engage with our team to answer all your questions about choosing a transformative graduate education degree at Peabody College. You may also take this opportunity to review our admissions requirements and start your online application today.
