What do you think education will look like in 50 years? by Marissa

What do you think education will look like in 50 years? by Marissa - May 2020 Scholarship Essay

So far, going to school is all we have known. Teens and young adults between the ages of 15 and 21 can easily relate to their school experiences with little if any, difference. It seems as if we all lived the same childhood. Surprisingly enough, students only one year younger seem to have it completely different. The new experience heavily incorporates technology along with an unusual approach to solving problems. If a one year difference in age can seem so drastic to us, how will it be 50 years from now? As the years go by, education will evolve into a more collaborative environment, as well as a technology-dependent curriculum.

Currently, education is considerably different than what it used to be 50 years ago. To understand where we are now, it is important to remember the past. In the late 1960s, the teaching technique was considerably different. Everything was handwritten and concepts were taught only through teachers, and text books. It was about working hard, and no shortcuts could be taken. Students were also more respectful of teachers because of their discipline. With a more chaotic atmosphere in the classroom, this leads to teachers to take measures into their own hands to uphold the classroom structure. Instructors would publicly punish misbehaving students to humiliate them into obeying instructions. Eventually, these punishments were banned. Consequently, this caused students to be more rebellious. The same article states, “One survey done by Marybeth Harrison shows that respect for the teachers from students has dropped from 79% to 31% in the last 50 years.” (The Gift of College) Once again, teachers have to find ways to keep the attention of the class, and the solution was embracing modern technology.

In today’s world, kids are getting a hold of tablets and laptops which have lessons and assignments which can be directly turned into their teacher without hassle. Because of the technology transition, there have been new ways to teach basic subjects. Instructors can upload videos, pictures, various diagrams, and new approaches to problems so students around the globe can earn a greater understanding. I have seen how this has affected how students receive information. We use laptops every day for school, which means there are fewer papers, and there is flexibility in grading. With teachers taking a step back, they encourage collaboration between peers. Students work together on various assignments, and often assign group projects to increase understanding of the subject.

I believe technology will only develop and grow in the classroom. Soon standard classes will be taught online. Videos and online seminars will be the new way of teaching young minds. Homeschooling will replace traditional means of learning. Subjects taught to students will only get more difficult as time goes on. The younger children will learn faster, more advanced methods. The next generation will learn everything they need to know in high school alone, and college will be for focused career paths. As technology grows, so do we.