Teacher of the Future by Isabella

Teacher of the Future by Isabella - May 2020 Scholarship Essay

If you were to jump into the DeLorean Time machine and go back 50 years, you would end up in the "Far Out" era of the 1970s. The '70s were defined by bell-bottom pants, disco music, and the beginning of the infamous Jaws franchise. For some, it is hard to believe that just 50 years ago, students learned out of textbooks instead of videos, and watched their teachers scribble on chalkboards instead of Promethean boards. In such a relatively small amount of time, extreme advancements have been made to the educational system all around the world. Education, in most instances, has become almost entirely technology-based with computers and other smart devices taking the place of century-old pen and paper. In 50 years, the educational system will be almost unrecognizable and redefined to meet one goal, efficiency. Schooling will be entirely technological, completely skill-based, and will be shortened to a lesser amount of years.
Given the accelerated speed in which new technology is being created, there is no telling what new gadgets will be available in 50 years. There could be the use of Virtual Reality headsets to give students simulated hands-on opportunities, without leaving the classroom. Or maybe, Artificial Intelligence robots will take the place of teachers. One thing is for certain, pencils and paper will be a thing of the past. In present-day schools, the use of loose-leaf is slowly diminishing with exams, homework, and textbooks available online. The handiness of technology is evident in its lack of limitations and easy accessibility. 50 years from now, there will no doubt be extensive damage to the climate, and schools might find that the use of technology over paper is not only handier but also better for the Earth. No matter what the technology, students will most definitely be seen staring at a screen rather than packets of paper all day.
Unlike now, where all students learn a generalized curriculum, in the future it will become more personalized. To obtain maximum efficiency within schools, the curriculum learned will be more personalized and skilled based. Students will begin schooling with general learning, but as they develop interests and hobbies, their education will become more customized to their specific interests. For example, if a student shows interests and strength in a subject like science, his path of the curriculum will heavily be science-based. The specialization of the curriculum will prove to be beneficial, as it instantly prepares students for the real world earlier than now, where you have to wait until college. The specialized curriculum allows students to go directly into the field of their choice as soon as they possibly can, as they will be very familiar with the skills needed from a younger age.
Finally, I believe that education will be shortened from an average of 13 years, to under 10. For primary and secondary learning alone, students on average will spend 13 years, from Kindergarten to 12th grade, learning repetitive material. While each year students will increase their education, a lot of the material learned can and will be combined in a single year, rather than spreading it across many. The first five years of elementary school are crucial in the development of a child, and will likely not be changed, but from the middle to high school, the material we learn is often repeated and rarely ever expanded upon. The educational system will most definitely find a way to merge topics learned from sixth through eighth grade, and from Freshman to Senior year realistically and effectively. This new period of learning will allow students to once again gain experience in the real world faster, making their role in society more efficient and valuable.
There is no telling what new ideas will come in the next half a century, but what is certain is that there will be a big change to the way we teach the youth of the world. Either through strictly technology-based work, specialized curriculum to best fit the individual, and or a shortened learning time. Either way, education will become more efficient and effective for society in the future.