Neither EdTech nor Brick & Mortar: What is the ultimate solution to ensure full-fledged Education?
There is nothing called an “Ultimate” solution. And that is the reality that we first need to accept.
Last December I was in a discussion with some of the most experienced individuals in the Education industry, from different parts of the globe, and it seems that they all agree that there is nothing called a magic bullet, nor should there be something that resembles like an “ultimate solution”. Why? Because the world evolves fast. And with this fast-moving world, what we teach our upcoming generation has to be updated even faster. People had enough graduates entering jobs and not knowing what to do or how to be proactive.
However, combining EdTech, virtual learning, and Brick & Mortar schools have a higher probability of pushing solutions that will eventually lead to preparing the future generation for modern careers. What this could mean is being acceptable to the idea of Blended Learning.
Edtechs were on a surge even before COVID 19 hit us. The pandemic has aided the acceptance of EdTechs without a doubt but it does not change the fact that learners without certain advantages are left out without the support from their brick-and-mortar schools. Face-to-face learning and bringing students under one rooftop are still pretty vital for their own development and understanding their role within society. But we can neither ignore the reality that this pandemic has made us face — traditional schooling alone is not preparing young learners for a tech-advanced future.
A full-fledged education is supposed to prepare learners beyond academics and what their grade sheets portray. And the speed at which the globe is advancing, it is supposed to prepare a young learner to be aware of the development within them and around them. It is supposed to prepare them for their future professions, which do not even exist yet.*
And what can this mean for the future of education and learning?
Modification in the way education is delivered, has become crucial. Modifying what is being taught has also become imperative. Teaching learners what was being taught two centuries ago has proven to backfire the minute they enter the workforce. Replicating a physical classroom through video lectures has been observed to be inefficient in various cases but the unexpected benefits of virtual learning include access to various learning materials, learning self-paced, and attaining knowledge beyond borders.
What this also indicates is that traditional schooling, in collaboration with EdTech / virtual learning platforms that focus on educating the 21st-century skills has a higher chance of nurturing leaders for the world post-COVID-19.
What it also indicates is that what is being taught to the learners /the education being delivered need a constant update to fit the fast-paced world.
Sources:
· * The Future of Jobs and Skills
· The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever. This is how
