Education is changing rapidly. In today’s fast-moving world, a model where we graduate in our youth prepared for a lifelong career is simply no longer valid.
Technology is reshaping the world into one where ongoing training, upskilling and reskilling are a necessity – and education is transforming to cater to this. Artificial intelligence (AI), online learning and breakthrough technologies like virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) already play an increasingly important role. They will all become more integrated into the way we study and learn over the next decade.
So, here’s my look-ahead to what I believe will be the dominant trends in education and educational technology (EdTech) by 2035. It may seem a long way away, but understanding them now will likely help us prepare for a future that, thanks to technology, will look very different than today.
Immersive Virtual Learning Environments
By 2035, the distinction between the physical and digital worlds will be increasingly blurred, and this is as true in education as anywhere. While I am sure many children and teenagers will still be attending brick-and-mortar school, alternatives will be well established for those who can’t, as well as for adults and lifelong learners.
VR and AR technology will be far more accessible than it is today, with lightweight and affordable devices making it easy for anyone to interact with tutors and fellow learners as if they were in the same room. Highly immersive virtual classrooms and campuses will mean we can participate in sophisticated simulations, engage in complex scientific experiments or explore ancient civilizations first-hand.
The maturing of technologies that exist today will democratize access to education for those who aren’t fortunate enough to live in areas with good schools and colleges. However educators will face the challenge of balancing this with concerns such as increased social isolation and the impact of extended screen-time on developing minds.
AI-Driven Adaptive Learning
AI is going to change education (and everything else) in many ways, but over the next ten years, one of the most profound effects will be the rise of personalized learning. As the number of learners in both traditional classrooms (particularly in the developing world) and online environments climbs, teachers will have access to tools that accurately assess abilities and differentiate between learning styles to create hyper-personalized curriculums tailored to individuals’ requirements.
Today’s AI tutoring platforms will evolve into flexible AI mentors, able to understand psychological states and behavioral patterns to determine the best teaching strategies and even provide emotional support and encouragement. Students will have access to insights derived from biometric data to help them recognize the best time to learn and when they should rest. Adaptive gamification will challenge learners to improve themselves by dynamically engaging and assessing them throughout the education process, perhaps putting an end to the stress-inducing routine of cramming for end-of-term exams.
Personalization at this level has the potential to help us learn better and attain better educational outcomes. However, there will also be big challenges around privacy and questions over the role of human teachers as they find their role transitioning from information providers to learning facilitators. Biased data could lead to learners being inaccurately assessed, and care must be taken not to overlook the importance of human oversight and mentorship.
Neurotechnology And Accelerated Learning – Hacking The Human Brain For Better Learning
Here’s where things get very science fiction. So, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are in development today – the most famous example being Elon Musk’s Neuralink experiments. Don’t worry; we probably won’t all have to have chips implanted in our heads to benefit, though, as non-invasive forms of BCI have also been in development for some time.
The first use cases in education are likely to involve assisting students with disabilities, enabling them to control devices with thoughts. This will enhance their ability to communicate and take part in learning activities.
Within ten years, they could also be used to understand the brain’s learning processes better, potentially speeding up our ability to ingest, retain and recall information. By monitoring the electrical feedback generated by the brain, researchers believe it may be possible to optimize our ability to learn information and even develop skills such as playing a musical instrument.
Will this really be mainstream within ten years? Well, a lot depends on the outcome of research that’s going on today. And just as importantly, it will come down to how society is able to answer questions around the ethical and security implications of developing technology that can literally read our thoughts!
A Lifetime Of Learning
The concept of a “job for life” might have seemed normal to our parents’ generation, but it’s obsolete today. Students graduating ten years from now will be under no illusion that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge they will need for a lifelong career. The accelerating pace of digital transformation will make it necessary for those who want rewarding careers to adapt to new models of ongoing, continuous education. Education systems will adapt to support this, offering more courses that will involve on-the-job training and opportunities for upskilling.
It’s already becoming normal for big companies like Amazon to offer degree-level apprenticeship programs, and this will become more common as employers seek to develop workforces equipped with the skills they need. Opportunities will involve online learning, modular learning and the type of immersive virtual learning discussed elsewhere in this article. Micro-learning and nano-learning will deliver education in bite-sized chunks, capable of being rolled out on a “just-in-time” basis to meet the changing needs of industries and professions. To cater to this, education providers will offer subscription services, allowing us to dip in and out of schooling in accordance with our personal needs. While there will always be a need for STEM education, with computers becoming increasingly proficient at technical tasks, more learning will be focused on human-centric “soft” skills that will increase our chances of remaining relevant in the era of AI and automation.
