Introducing the New Education Era.
The way of life, as you would’ve noticed, is currently undergoing a massive change. The way we work, live, and carry out almost every activity in our lives is being enhanced daily to make the world a better place for our countries and everyone. This new chapter can mainly be characterized as the 4th industrial revolution, which is a build-up from the 3rd industrial revolution — using electronics and information technology to automate production. The 4th Industrial revolution is currently a merge of the physical, digital and biological worlds.
Our traditional classrooms have consistently been a limitation to students, especially to enabling creativity and new methods of learning. These methods do not provide students the choice to think outside the box and come up with innovations. The push method of learning is highly visible here, as students are fed with the information they need to know and their ability to retain the information. On the other hand, the pull method of learning favors self-inspired learning for the student. The student is also in full control of the knowledge accessed and can tailor it to suit them, making it easier to learn. The 4th industrial revolution label came about by the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, and the author of The Fourth Industrial Revolution. In an article, he stated that “like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world.”.
He further added that “In the future, technological innovation will also lead to a supply-side miracle, with long-term gains in efficiency and productivity. Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.”
Currently, technological opportunities provide the grounds for you to be prepared for what the future holds. It is going to exclude some traditional methods and demand more of the mind’s creativity and ability to handle and maximize digital resources. To position students to thrive in the future of work, they must be equipped with 21st-century skills.
The CEO of Verizon Communications, Hans Vestberg, in his article for the World Economic Forum (WEF), notes: “As technology evolves, it has become increasingly clear to me that our education systems are not preparing people for the opportunities that 5G and other Fourth Industrial Revolution breakthroughs will present. Educators, policy-makers, non-profits, and the business community need to confront this fact — even if this means questioning long-standing practices and trendy assumptions.”
The World Economic Forum believes that the 4th Industrial Revolution is more than being technology-driven and provides an opportunity of help for everyone, including leaders, policymakers, and people from all nations, to harness converging technologies to create an inclusive, human-centered future. They further hold the view that the Fourth Industrial Revolution has made it imperative that education systems adapt.
WAY FORWARD?
As a student in this 21st century, you would need to acquire these skills or learn ways by which you can become more efficient in this era. How can this possibly be done? First, your purpose of education must be redefined. The purpose of education has evolved, making it essential that we redefine it to meet the needs of the 21st-century. Also, school curricula should incorporate real-time STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education while providing enabling environments to equip their students to be ready for the 21st Century workspace. Human potentials can also be empowered through mindfulness, programs that enhance social and emotional quotients, and moral aptitude.
Have you heard of Algo Peers? Remind me to tell you more about how they are helping learners and schools actualize 21st Century Education.
