
Any industry stands behind innovations and development. Education has gone far away from its condition before the increase of COVID-19 in 2020. However, that period was transformational; it was not the only factor that influenced the future of academic education and showed the need for innovative approaches. Traditional teaching and learning in higher education need to be updated in our fast-developing world. The future holds many challenges for young specialists, so innovative approaches to learning are crucial.
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Traditional Approach to Learning in Academic Education
It is senseless to speak about the future if you do not know anything about the past. Let’s take a short glimpse into traditional learning in higher education.
The traditional approach to learning in academic education is concentrated around the knowledge transition. Teachers transmit their information to students, so a lot depends on the quality of textbooks, lectures, and so on.
Moreover, tests and exams are crucial in the traditional approach to learning in higher education because they are the only way to estimate students’ knowledge levels. One of the issues related to the conventional approach is disengagement, leading to students losing interest in subjects. Providing students with exciting and actual information was more exact for the world before the Internet. For now, access to any type of information available in your hand from the smartphone makes the previous approach to learning outdated.
Another issue that takes time to resolve in traditionally approaching academic learning is that students must be effectively prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. The approach to teaching must be focused on developing such skills as collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, and so on. Instead of simply finding and memorizing information, learning must become more interactive and practical to give students knowledge that will be applicable in various real-world scenarios.
Some Important Approaches for Teaching and Learning in Academic Education
Let us look at some important approaches in academic education that help to take the most out of traditional techniques and replace outdated learning methods with new ones.
Collaboration
Collaborative learning is a way to encourage students to work in groups and solve problems by approaching them together. Teamwork is a great skill for the future, so collaborative learning is a way to prepare for real-life situations at work. One of the main advantages of collaborative learning is the development of communication skills. Moreover, students learn from other group members, and sharing knowledge is also a great way to improve their skills. Considering the different experiences and opinions of the group members, students learn to think outside the box and look at the problem from various angles. As a result, the course material becomes more engaging, and students gain a broader understanding of core concepts.
Experiencing
One of the effective, innovative approaches in academic education is experiential learning. Students attend fieldwork, internships, and other practical projects. By engaging in solving real-world problems, they can apply their knowledge in real-life settings. Among the benefits of experiential learning is the ability to fill in the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge, which becomes a very big advantage. Academic concepts must be adapted to real life and during experiential learning, students see how it works.
Gamification
The use of game elements in education is becoming more and more popular. Different points, leaderboards, badges, and other gamified features engage students very effectively. Gamification is an approach that can be ultimately applied to different subjects and effectively promotes students’ engagement in subjects that seem less exciting to them. Gamification increases student motivation. Gamified scenarios make students want to compete and be more involved in the process of learning. In academic education, gamified elements can be used for working in groups and training students with some real-life scenarios. Also, gamification can involve augmented reality elements, which help transform technologies and adjust them to the modern world.
Adaptation
The approach of adapted learning helps to use technologies and personalize the studies for each student. Adaptive learning lets students experience something special. Thanks to algorithms, students’ performance is counted to provide specific content according to their interests and needs. Also, adaptive learning includes analysis of students’ and teachers’ feedback. Another advantage of adaptive learning is that students learn on their own time and at their own pace. Customized content helps to improve specific areas and fill in the gaps in students’ knowledge, considering their weaknesses. Adaptive learning helps students too quickly progress and stay engaged.
Flipped learning
Many students admit that one of the outdated approaches to academic education is the traditional classroom. Flipped learning helps transform the traditional model of education and engage students in experiences outside classrooms. Flipped learning assumes participating in various activities, discussions, practical projects, and more. An interactive learning experience makes students more engaged and interested in the material. Moreover, flipped learning helps students to get more valuable feedback from teachers and members of groups. Flipped learning allows students to discuss their experiences and get support from practical instructors.
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Afterall
After analysing traditional approaches to academic education, anyone will realize that, in some way, these learning scenarios need to be updated. Considering the changes in our world, the future holds many challenges for students. The skills of simply collecting information and remembering data become less valuable nowadays as anyone has access to the internet 24/7.
Innovative approaches in academic education must aim to develop critical thinking, the ability to think outside the box, and communication skills. The key to success will be transforming outdated approaches by implementing such techniques as collaborative learning, experiential learning, gamification, flipped learning, adaptive learning, and others. Teaching practices must aim to help academic educators make students more engaged. The needs of students are changing, and education must adapt and change as well.
Good luck with your studies!