Educating Future Generations
Credit: SolarBuddy

Educating Future Generations

Not since World War II have so many countries around the world seen schools and educational institutions go into lockdown at around the same time and for the same reason. While we know that the impact of this virus will be far-reaching, what might it mean in the longer term for education?

For awhile now, educators around the world have been talking about the need to rethink how they educate future generations. This might just be the disruption for the sector to rethink how they educate, and question what they need to teach and what they are preparing our future leaders for. While educators continue embracing new ways of communicating with students away from classrooms and lecture theatres, it is a good time to reflect on how this disruptive crisis can help us define what learning should look like for Generations Z, Alpha and beyond.

Generation Z

The majority of students in our educational institutions today are from Generation Z, a generation that has grown up in a truly globalised world. This generation, the oldest of whom are now 23 years old, is likely to be reflecting on their education as a result of a global pandemic, with many facing cancelled exams, sporting events and even graduations. This generation is defined by technology, where the terms FOBA (Fear of Being Alone) and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) express their expectation of instant communication and feedback – effected through apps like Instant Messenger, Snapchat and WhatsApp. That includes from parents and educators, something being amplified with the current remote learning.

This is also a generation that sees the power of working collaboratively to solve the world’s biggest challenges – climate change and mental health being top on their agenda, and at present their collective responsibility to self-isolate to protect older members of the community.

Generation Alpha

The children of millennials, are the most racially diverse generation globally, and one in which technology is simply an extension of their own consciousness and identity, with social media being a way of life. These young schoolers are also the generation with the most non-traditional family structures, often with “bulldozer parents” who move obstacles out of the way to create a clear path for their kids. While Generation Alpha is at this point possibly oblivious to the impact of the global pandemic on their education, the impact will surely be felt even for our youngest learners for years to come.

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Preparing Students for the Future

According to a Dell Technologies report, 85% of the jobs in 2030 that Generation Z and Alpha will enter into have not been invented yet. According to the World Economic Forum report, 65% of primary-school children today will be working in job types that do not exist yet.

The COVID-19 crisis may well change our world and global outlook; it may also teach us about how education needs to change so as to better prepare our young learners for what the future might hold. These lessons include:

1. Educating citizens in an interconnected world

COVID-19 is a pandemic that illustrates how globally interconnected we are – there is no longer such a thing as isolated issues and actions. Successful people in the coming decades need to be able to understand this interrelatedness and navigate across boundaries to leverage their differences and work in a globally collaborative way. Think United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.

2. Redefining the role of the educator

The notion of an educator as the knowledge-holder who imparts wisdom to their pupils is no longer fit for the purpose of a 21st century education. With students being able to gain access to knowledge, and even learn a technical skill, through a few clicks on their phones, tablets and computers, educators need to redefine their role in the classrooms and lecture theatres. This may mean that the role of educators will need to move towards facilitating young people’s development as contributing members of society.

3. Teaching life skills needed for the future

In this ever-changing global environment, young people require resilience and adaptability – skills that are proving to be essential to navigate effectively through this pandemic. Looking into the future, some of the most important skills that employers are looking for include creativity, communication and collaboration, alongside empathy and emotional intelligence; and being able to work across demographic lines of differences to harness the power of the collective through effective teamwork.

4. Unlocking technology to deliver education

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in educational institutions across the world being compelled to suddenly harness and utilise the suite of available technological tools to create content for remote learning for students in all sectors. Educators are harnessing new possibilities to do things differently and with greater flexibility resulting in potential benefits in accessibility to education for students worldwide. These are new modes of instruction that have previously been largely untapped particularly in the early years to Year 12.

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As a working mother of twins, it is my hope for generation Z, Alpha and the generations to come, that these experiences of isloation and remote learning away from their peers, teachers and classrooms will serve as a cautious reminder of the important of our human need for face-to-face social interaction.

We are in this together. Let's keep the conversations going and stay connected. To find out how you can be involved, https://back-to-school.solarbuddy.org/

#education #illuminatingfutures #changemakers

Priya Mishra

Public Speaker| Global B2B Conference Organizer of our flagship event | Management Consultant | Corporate Strategy | Solution Provider | Business Process Enthusiast

2 年

Magdalene, thanks for sharing!

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