Shadia Malik
The Future of Education
Education has been important at all times and will remain part of our life, but methods of learning will keep on changing. When there was no paper, people used to write on stones, leaves, leather, and then cloth. Now paper and computers have replaced all old methods of learning.
There is no stagnation in human life and humans always desire to achieve more and more and try new inventions. We can expect that after twenty years learning environments will look the similar to today’s school system. With the innovation of distant learning methods, it seems like that the need for the learning institutions will diminish to some extent. There will be no physical existence of huge volumes of books in libraries, but rather people will be using palm size computers to read the volumes of books.
I feel the way things are advancing with technology that schools will have more advanced facilities. Technology will leave the computer labs and incorporate itself more into the environment and architecture of the school. There will still be computers, but will become even more advanced and accessible to more people. Every home will have a computer including foreign countries. The computer will become a smaller entity and be able to fit into the pocket of every student. Communication will advance between people to the point where someone will be able to track your location at any time of the day.
Instead of classrooms, people will be sitting in the kitchen and learning through their television. Science kits will be available to do science experiments at home. There will be extensive use of video conferencing, which will reduce transportation congestion and overpopulated schools.
All this technical advances will take away human touch, socialization, and family life, which will be a great set back to civilization. These technical advances should be availed, but these learning institutions should not reduce their importance. Human and physical communication has been and still is an important way of learning and innovation. Electronic media should exist but not replace paper media. People may supplement their knowledge through the use of electronic media, but not to use this as an alternative to the classroom environment.
I believe there will be schools twenty years from now. If you were to ask me if schools would exist 200 years, then I would be more hesitant to say yes. I think it will take a much longer time than twenty years for any sort of major educational reform to occur. It has taken so long to establish a school system, I think it will take just as long or even longer for it to disappear or for any large scale changes to occur.
If I could look at a larger time frame than twenty years, I think that in the school system there should be some type of firm structure. I believe this structure is a good foundation to build upon. For example, the structure we have now is a system of grades, and passing certain levels (ex. high school, college, etc.) to get to the next level. However, things now are more geared towards learning subjects, you have to learn math and English and math is considered to be more respected than art. I believe this structure is fine for the main frame of people to follow, but there should be equal alternatives if this type of schooling does not fit other people. For example, apprenticeship as in the old days is a good idea. If people feel they will learn more and learning under a mentor is better, this option should be available for them. They should also equally receive a degree by being an apprentice as a person graduating from college would, but all people should still be tested somehow to make sure they capable of the position they are taking in society. For example, if one person graduates from medical school and another person has been an apprentice to a doctor all his life and their end goal is to become a doctor, we should make sure they are capable of taking on that position. This capability can be tested through exams, real life situations, etc. For those people that don’t like any type of system, they should not be labeled as incapable. Instead, a sincere effort should be taken to understand why they do not fit into the learning systems and what can be done to assist them in learning. For example, perhaps setting up a special program in assisting them in their interests.
So now we have a school system, apprenticeship, and special individual programs. We have left out perhaps those people who are not interested in any type of learning system. We should try to place these people in a role in society that best fits their strengths and interests. We should really take extra care in attending to the needs of these types of people that have no interest in learning and truly understanding them. In paying more attention, I feel it will increase the sense of a community and have everyone feel included to the point where most everyone will be motivated to be an active member of their economy. Also, we have to take into consideration the end goal of education. I am assuming here that education is a personal goal and something to enhance the efficiency of an economy.
Considering a shorter period for educational reform, I would like to see some immediate changes in the current school system and make sure 1. schools are more closely monitored for what they are teaching, 2. schools and students have the needed equipment and facilities. 3. technology in schools is up to date, 4. kids are up to date with the latest supplies and technology, 5. teachers are screened to get the best quality, 6. schools are secure places for learning, 7. there is fair treatment of students, 8. there are more electives for people with various interests, 9. there is fair and ample preparation from one level to next, 10. there is a more open-minded curriculum attending to other languages and religions, 11. rules and disciplines of the school are efficient, 12. there is better food in school that is healthier and more popular, 13. classes are smaller and more on an individual basis, and 14. teachers become more available. I would also like to see teachers being paid more. However, most importantly, I believe discussion in schools should be increased. I feel if you can get more participation, you can get more out of the class. For example, in “Dead Poet Society” how through group discussion literature became more interesting. After the discussion, written assignments could be assigned in a manner that makes the material interesting. If the topic was math, perhaps during that discussion session they could concentrate on conquering one specific topic that day. People could try different things and adapt what they like and even bring outside knowledge and experiences.
In conclusion, twenty years from now the learning system will be about the same. There will be more electronic media than paper and degrees and diplomas may be replaced by work experience and on the job training. However, there is a learning process that would be at a great loss without the human touch.