School of Future and Future of Schooling

COVID-19 outbreak in India gave a hard hit to all sectors of the economy. The education sector, which is the base for the growth of all other sectors, also faced disruption.

COVID pandemic gave a push to the online model of education. The use of technology in education proliferated much more than ever before. Learners were exposed to the digital format of education and a huge variety of innovative content.

The future of schooling and schools of future are both subject to intense debate especially after the announcement of the National Education Policy 2020. The broad understandings that have emerged are as follows: 

·  There is an incredible shift from physical infrastructure towards digital and virtual requirements. 

·  Skill-building is an immense requirement of the 21st century.

·  Edtech can't replace traditional face-to-face modes of learning in schools, which is the greatest equalizer in education. 

·  Differential and accelerated instructional interventions are required to reduce and overcome the impact of the pandemic.

There is more pressure on the government schooling system to expand its intake and build a strong educational system in India. There is a need for schools to become strong, inclusive, and professional education systems.

The schools of the future are going to have the following four qualities which will create a vibrant ecosystem for students and also help them to learn beyond school boundaries:

1.  Schools will use differentiated and innovative pedagogies and instructions to make enhance learners’ knowledge and enable them to become creators of job. They will use innovative methods of assessment to help unleash every child’s potential.

    The use of innovative technologies for teaching, learning, and administration purpose will promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which will be an integral aspect of curriculum transaction. 

2.  Future/Nature of jobs will also directly affect the schools of future. As future jobs will require new set of capabilities and virtual teams will be more prevalent, there will be a constant swing between super specialty and cross-disciplinary skills.

    Curiosity and lifelong learning will become important factors. Future schools should be capable of empowering learners and building future-oriented skills relevant for the job markets.  

3.  Rather than remain as closed classroom schools will encourage extended networks. Future schools will go beyond the school walls. It will take teaching-learning to informal settings such as visits to the neighbourhood, to museums or scientific laboratories, topic circles and eco clubs, etc.  

Learners will be more efficient, tech-savvy, connected to the roots and the world. More individual-centric methods will be used to help individuals in acquiring new knowledge or skills and make them job creators.  

4.   Schools will build stronger and more trusting relations with families and communities. The present scenario of e-parents-teacher meetings (e-PTMs), e-guidance to parents, and whole online interactions/communications with parents opened up a new world of possibilities, where grandparents, parents, family members, neighbors will play the role of powerful ally and support in the effective delivery of education and building a strong base of social and moral values among children/learners.

The future depends on the decisions we make today and the future of our country largely depends on the schooling system we follow today.

Future schools will build the character of the children and set them free to discover the world, shape it and contribute to making it just and equitable.

Written by Anjali Soni (Guest Contributor)

Reference

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/future-of-education-4-scenarios/