Educators at all levels face the dual challenge of delivering engaging, informative lessons, whilst meeting students’ learning requirements. And last year, with the arrival of a global pandemic, they were handed the unprecedented task of accomplishing all of this remotely!

When in-person learning returned earlier this year in many parts of the world, many of the digital innovations that helped educators and students to thrive in the face of a pandemic continued to gain traction. So, what trends and technologies are causing the biggest positive disruption in education right now?

We’ve put together a list of seven impactful learning trends that are re-defining the Education sector today. Let’s get started, shall we?

Modular Classrooms

Although modular classrooms have been a mainstay at schools, colleges and university campuses for several decades now, in recent years, the technology has improved substantially - and most importantly, today’s modular classrooms are far more sustainable than their predecessors.

What’s more, as the modules which make up the buildings are assembled off site, in a factory setting, build times are shorter and delays less likely than with traditional bricks-and-mortar projects. In fact, modular classrooms can be built and installed up to 70% faster than their traditionally-built counterparts - and at a substantially lower cost.

Not only that, the build quality of modern modular classrooms also tends to be high, as the quality control process can be streamlined. 

Break Down Complex Ideas with Microlearning

In short, microlearning is all about delivering short, digestible lessons and pieces of content to help students grasp concepts and ideas quickly and easily. And, it’s been proven to get results. Research from the Journal of Applied Psychology reveals that microlearning can boost learning efficiency by around 17%!

But, how does it work? A typical microlearning course may consist of a series of lessons that are only a few minutes in length, accompanied by follow-up activities to help learning retain crucial information. 

This can be an effective learning method for students with shorter attention spans and also helps them to avoid ‘cognitive overload’.

Virtual and Augmented Reality 

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have already been successfully integrated within the Training and Learning sector - and are now gaining traction in Education. It’s easy to see why. By moving within virtual spaces, visual learners can grasp practical concepts and ideas with ease.

With this incredible technology at their disposal, teachers can now curate eye-catching, interactive virtual tours that bring history to life. Or, bring the planets straight into the classroom with a little help from Augment Reality! The possibilities are practically limitless ...

Soft Skills Training

Whilst most of the trends on our list are decidedly tech driven, the industry spotlight is also focusing on the development of interpersonal skills. The development of ‘soft skills’ is crucial for learners preparing for roles where they will manage others, delegate projects and problem-solve on a daily basis.

In addition to the theoretical aspects, educators must prepare their students for the practical aspect of their careers. In order to accomplish this, ‘screen time’ should be balanced with lessons where students have the opportunity to work together to problem solve. Students who successfully master these all-important skills today will have a competitive advantage as they enter the jobs market tomorrow ... 

Remote Examinations

As we mentioned earlier, the global pandemic created the necessity for exams to be facilitated remotely in most parts of the word. As a result, remote exams were successfully delivered through the use of online proctoring, which requires invigilators to monitor exam candidates via webcam whilst they complete exams from home. 

Although implemented successfully, some have raised privacy concerns. Education tech leaders are currently exploring alternative and less intrusive strategies to deliver remote exams.

Challenge Students through Gamification

Gamification has already enjoyed a successful test case within the Training and Learning sectors and innovative software vendors are now exploring its applications in academia.

If your aim is to deliver fun, engaging lessons that help your students retain information, gamification should be a part of your toolkit. When you repurpose learning exercises as games, learning fundamental concepts no longer seems like a chore - and students should be much more engaged! 

Thank you for Reading

That concludes our lesson on the most powerful learning trends in the industry. We hope you found our article enjoyable and informative. Please remember that our list is not exhaustive and there are many other innovative trends making waves within the Education sector as we speak.

Thank you for reading - and we wish you the best of luck with your future educational challenges!