At the root of the education problems in the United States lies an outdated and ineffective system that is failing to engage the students. As a result, citizens are not prepared to face the world and compete in a global hyper-connected economy. The outcome is especially discouraging for student from low-income families. Studies reveal that only 7 percent of Americans reached the eighth-grade math advanced level. Breaking old, outdated educational practices will ensure that young people will be better prepared for the future. Below are 4 modern solution to current education problems:
Improving access to education through online courses and distance learning
The answer to many education problems may be a movement launched by two professors at Stanford who started an online Artificial Intelligence class. Although just 50 students were present in the classroom, 23,000 completed the course. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide quality education from the best professors at top universities. The courses are free and available around the world. In 2012, elite institutions such as Caltech, Princeton and Penn started to offer online courses.
Interactive classrooms
Interactive classrooms such as Flipped classrooms allow teachers to use their skills at full capacity. These modern spaces rethink traditional models and facilitate personal interactions between students and teachers. While passive activities are reserved for homework, in-class time is used for collaborative communication. Moreover, teachers can post their lectures online so that viewers can rewind, pause and re-watch the videos. The Flipped classrooms model aims to develop soft skills such as problem solving ans critical thinking emended by most employers. Low-income students with parent who cannot help with the homework because they work long hours or have a low level of education can access the online materials. Furthermore, students of lower socioeconomic backgrounds who cannot physically attend the classes have better access to education.
Using gaming and interactive content
Nowadays, textbooks are becoming the root of many education problems, because they have limited functions and are unable to engage students. Shifting from passive to active learning involves the introduction of gamified education technology products. Thus, the learning experience becomes more familiar and dynamic. The Gate Foundation, MIT Education Arcade and Filament Gamer are collaborating to create an online role-playing game in which players can take the roles of engineers, mathematicians and scientist to explore a virtual world.
Adaptive learning
Most online search engines and applications can learn the user’s preferences and patterns. Adaptive education software can use the same principles to create a personalized content that shifts according to the weaknesses and strengths of each student. Knewton developed an adaptive software that is being used in 190 countries. Optimized learning can help children learn to read by adapting to their style, auditory or visual. While the fact that teachers can only explain at a speed appropriate for one third of the class causes education problems for the rest, with adaptive learning each individual benefits from personalized guidance.
