We are officially well into the Fourth Industrial revolution period. And how has this changed our lives? By a 180 degrees, if you will. The Internet of things (IoT) has conceptually made every object around us smart, quick and easy-to-use; smart phones, smart cars, smart homes. In return, making a lot of traditional industries/businesses either redundant or gasping for survival and creating a pressing need for people to become smarter, faster and creative. Our brick-and-mortar schools fall into one one of those categories which are not yet redundant but definitely 'endangered' to be one.
Why does the current education system need an overhaul?
Education system has largely remained unchanged in decades. The same methodology , same curriculums are followed until children reach university. In fact, some lessons they learn in schools today may not even be pertinent anymore with the rapidly changing world. Learning is not and will never be a 'One size fits all' kind of concept. Hence the teaching framework must evolve, progress and implement new, personalized learning plans. According to 'The Future of Jobs' report from the World Economic Forum,
"65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don't yet exist."
The standardized form of tests to determine a child's potential and intelligence are already proving to be counter-productive leading to stress and low self-esteem in some young kids. It is so ironic, we send children to school and entrust the system to make them better and stronger individuals but instead they could be in peril of mental health issues.
How has the pandemic changed the scenario?
The most significant change that the pandemic has brought about is the total acceptance of distance learning. The biggest lesson learnt is that Education, as we know it, is no more restricted within the walls of a classroom. Schools adapted quickly to this new mode of communication thus proving that they are indeed capable of innovation. Although, remote learning has a dubious future in terms of permanence, the pandemic has presented an opportunity in disguise to reimagine the education system.
What changes do we need?
While schools provide a haven for children to develop physically and socially. Traditionally valued education and skills imparted in the schools will be of less significance as the demand for new-age skill sets emerge. Memorization, repetition or anything that requires collecting and retrieving data will soon be obscure because of the predominance of AI in that field. To thrive in the digitalised world of smart machines it is important for humans to not compete with them but to be more human. While new-age skills like Critical-thinking, curiosity, entrepreneurial and collaborative mindset will be of absolute importance in years to come. It is also important for children to be able to follow their passions and realize their strengths and weaknesses. The schools need to rethink curriculum in order to contribute to the development of children holistically whilst preparing them to be globally competent.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education"
- Mark Twain
At H2O Budapest, we provide customized online and offline programs and workshops for your children which are STEM-aligned and concurrent with the emergence of 21st century skills. We understand the importance of having a balanced education and customize our curriculum based on the child's competency and requirements. Our one-to-one mentoring sessions are one such example of our dedicated and focused programs. You can register here for a free session.
You have various modes to connect with us for more information on our STEM-based semester programs and weekend camps, visit our website, call us on +36 70 2526198, contact us via LinkedIn or Facebook.
It has been our pursuit to not only provide a state-of-the-art event venue with absolute professional ambience but to help continue learning and development as a culture.
After all, it's Our Space, Your Business