The Forthcoming of Higher Education by Alexis

The Forthcoming of Higher Education by Alexis - May 2020 Scholarship Essay

In comparison to 50 years ago, education looks nothing the same. Technology and curriculum have advanced in ways unimaginable. This can only mean the same for what is to come 50 years from now. Obviously, technology has contributed a huge role to the shift in how students are educated. As technology continues to advance, it is inevitable that the way students learn will completely change. From collaboration to lectures, education will vary in more ways than imaginable 50 years from now.
As for students working with one another, the advancement of technology will completely abolish the need for physical contact. Even in the last couple months, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the need for physical, in-person learning in unnecessary. Students will be capable with working with one another worldwide. Not only will this be a great convenience, it will also open a world of opportunity for students to interact and collaborate with essentially anyone in the world. Rather than being in a confined classroom with students that have nothing in common, students can be grouped together based on their interest and skill level to help them get the most out of their education. This style of personalized learning will challenge students based on their capabilities. Students will be able to modify their learning process based on their own preferences. This will create excellent conditions for optimal learning.
As well as collaboration, education will also me much more accessible. Many students are unable to participate in traditional learning due to personal situations and with the advancement of technology, this problem will be eradicated. Students will be able to learn from wherever, whenever. The use of technology will provide diverse approaches to learning with will be suitable for students with unique situations.
In the future, education will be seeing much less classroom experience and more “real life” scenarios. Students will be able to go out into different settings and work hands on which will allow them to get a better feel for what they will be working with in the future. This will provide students with the ability to develop skills not typically gained sitting at a desk or listening to a lecture. Not only will this help with experience, but students will be much more engaged. A big issue with lecture classes is that many people end up getting distracted or losing interest which results in a completely ineffective style of learning. With hands-on experience, students will be forced to engage and typically, it will be something of interest to them. Studies have shown that students are much more engaged in learning curriculum when it is something that interests them. With the increase in interest, students will be motivated to do their best to achieve their goals.
Finally, the entire concept of testing will be transformed 50 years from now. Today, exams that students take in college classes are not fully capable of assessing a student’s capabilities and evidence of learning. The way that students will be assessed may differ from subject to subject, but it will no longer be in the form that is currently used today which asses how capable students are at memorizing content. Students will be tested on their application of knowledge through experience in the field. Not only will the form of testing change, but also the way they are implemented. The way they are implemented will be much more desirable as they will be objective, fair, and most importantly, effective.
Unlike 50 years ago, students aren’t writing out their papers with paper and pencil or researching using newspapers and rifling through pages of encyclopedias. The form of education is constantly seeing change, even from year to year. One can only imagine how the style of education will look 50 years from now, however, one thing if for certain, and this is that it will be much different. The advancement of technology will continue to contribute to the adaptation of learning and continual growth in effective learning strategies. Students will be able to cooperate with one another, have personalized and flexible learning, participate in a more advanced and effective way of testing, and engage in hands-on learning. Students will continue to take the next step in their education as well as take advantage of all of the technological resources available to them.