The Unpredictable Next 50 Years by Aspen

The Unpredictable Next 50 Years by Aspen - May 2020 Scholarship Essay

We can speculate all we want about what life, and more specifically, education, will be like in the next 50 years but we will never truly know until it happens.However, just about everyone predicts that life will rely much more heavily on technology. I also think that education will have a more technology based curriculum. As technology advances, it has become more convenient for teachers to teach students with their new technology rather than their old supplies. Students also rely heavily on technology in their day-to-day life, whether it's with phones or television, which sometimes means that they learn better with newer technology. Technology is typically widely available for students and teachers so it makes it easier for them to have the equipment needed to learn in a heavily technological environment.

Many schools have transitioned to online learning during this pandemic which is proof that it is very much possible for school to possibly be moved to online in the future. There have been accommodations for students who cannot afford all the materials required for distance learning, but schools have been willing to help bridge the gap that prevents them from accessing that technology. Schools could continue to invest in laptops and microphones to offer to students in the future if they did ever decide to switch to completely online classes since they would not have to spend so much money on facilities and in-person learning expenses. As new technology is created, teachers and students can find new and efficient ways to learn. Another advantage of distance learning is that students can access their classes anywhere that wifi is available. This would result in no delays or school closings due to weather since students would not have to leave their house. Even if schools in 50 years are still in-person, online classes could still make up for the weather-related delays and closures.

Although technology and this pandemic have shown the world that schools can function through distance learning, education in 50 years may still look similar to the way it does today. I think that education is perfectly fine the way it is right now, with a decent blend of technology into our learning. There are things that I think are better without the help of technology, like reading tangible books and writing notes by hand. Although, my mind may change in the future when new discoveries are made to help students learn more effectively. As much as I, and many others, have pondered questions about the future, it remains unknown to us until we live through it ourselves.