Future of Education - Speed of Change

This is about: Speed of change. Syllabus changes -- relevance to workplace of new teaching methods. How do we prepare students for future? World changing faster than you can plan a syllabus. Teaching methods and trends. Teaching materials. Preparing students for uncertain world. Wild cards, preparing for unexpected events. Our future world. Example of bird flu. Emotion is key to the future. Video on future of education, high schools, colleges, universities, curriculum, syllabus, exams, assessments, business schools, MBAs, degree courses - by Dr Patrick Dixon, conference keynote speaker for NAIS.

Most teachers find it hard enough to keep pace with new syllabus requirements, rolled out by government, without having to fundamentally question whether those syllabus requirements are now adequate. When it comes to technology, students may own better and more up to date equipment than teachers have themselves, or than they find in the classroom. Agility of mind, adaptability, willingness to embrace continuous change - these are all things that in theory are easier for younger people. However, even those at High School can rapidly become institutionalised in various ways. They sit in the same place in class, they go to the same part of the cafeteria at lunch time, or to the same coffee shop after school ends. They become creatures of habit. And most young people also conform to their own tribal group - in language, clothing, hair style, music choice and other things. These so-called affinity groups can also be signs of insecurity. People look to belong, and in doing so often limit themselves in terms of activities, options and lifestyle choices. These things can also discourage change. It is why so many students branch out in ways that can shock past friends when they turn up at University / College. Freed from the constraints of previous tribal groups, including home culture, they may more easily explore new thinking and ways of living.

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