School is
something we all have to go through, with 12 years of formal education that
provides the platform from which we can enter further education at a university
or college, and as the world we live in is changing before our eyes, the
education system must adapt and incorporate relevant technologies in order to
best equip students.
Project-Based
Learning
Rather than the
traditional classroom teacher-student model, many good schools now adopt active
learning strategies, which usually take the form of projects. The students
would be divided into small groups and they would normally be given a free hand
to choose the project topic, and with the teacher acting more like a
facilitator, the students are guided rather than instructed. Learning through
projects develops the following skills:
- Critical
thinking skills - Collaboration
& teamwork - Planning
- Overcoming
obstacles - Presentation
skills
The students learn
how to self-learn, using technology to help them find the information they
need, plus they are encouraged to be creative in the way they present their
findings.
Digital
Technology
The children of
today do not know what life was like before we had the Internet, and as digital
technology plays such a large role in our lives, children need to be very
competent using all forms of digital platforms. Take an international
school in Bangkok
as an example, they would have at least one computer lab, where students learn
about Ms Office, Photoshop and other well-known programs, plus they would be
given basic instruction on how to design and build a website. Each student
would be shown how to create an email account, and the older students would
receive and send work assignments electronically, which are skills they will
need in the adult world.
Computer
Science
There should be
one subject that deals with the theory and practice of computers, incorporating
the latest technologies and encouraging further learning. Students would know how
to create a poll on an online forum, create a report or graph, plus they would
understand various operating systems (OS), such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android
and iOS.
Career
Counselling
When students
reach Year 9, they should be talking to a career specialist about potential
careers, in order to find out where their interests lie, and this can help the
learner to plot a path to further education that should lead to the right
university courses. If a secondary student does not think about a career, it is
likely they will study subjects that will not be very useful when they embark
on a career, which is a waste of time and money.
The Environment
This is one sector
that has emerged in school curriculums over the past two decades, as it is
essential that the young people of today are aware of climate change, as well
as learning how to be eco-friendly. Environmental studies are incorporated into
the British and US curriculum, and by the time a student reaches Year 10, they
would have a deep understanding of the global pollution problems, plus they
would know all about eco-friendly practices.
Education must
keep abreast of current technologies, which demands regular amendments to the
curriculum, and this will ensure that the following generations are equipped to
achieve success.