Education in 2021

Education is changing. As adults within a school community, we must model for our students our growth mindset and continue to explore new approaches to learning and pedagogy. Educational technology and innovation are changing the way we teach and how students are learning during the COVID pandemic. Schools are ramping up their investments in educational technology with an emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking. By captivating students through innovative technologies as opposed to rote memorization and regurgitation of facts, we develop 21st-century learners and leaders.

All students have the capacity to grow as learners, and it is our responsibility to help them believe in their own potential. Students need to see learning as a life-long endeavor. Faculty, staff, coaches, and counselors play a significant role in instilling the growth mindset by helping students implement new learning strategies and approaches when learning becomes stagnant. 

Schools leverage new technologies such as online/distance learning programs by investing in the professional development of the faculty. The administration may provide the faculty with innovative ideas and cutting-edge technology. However, in many cases, faculty do not receive adequate training and are not able to leverage the new technology. Instead, the faculty will stick with what they know and continue to do what they have done in the past. There must be buy-in from top to bottom. 

Technology and educational expertise move forward together to energize the learning experience. Educational technology is evolving daily and can be extremely valuable if applied appropriately. For example, adding a virtual 3D dissection to an anatomy course will captivate students. Institutions are able to work technology and innovation into the curriculum and vice versa. The COVID pandemic has accelerated this process by years and both technology and education are starting to drive the curriculum together and are dependent on each other. 

Educational programs should embrace new learning technologies in providing students with quality education, even in the middle of a pandemic. The more we engage our students through mesmerizing technology, the more vested interest they will have in their ongoing education.