Edufuturists Trends 2022-23

EDUFUTURISTS TRENDS 2023 GLOBAL SIGNALS & THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

2023 by Edufuturists

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The last 12 months have been a rollercoaster in the world of education. The Edufuturists have been at the forefront of this ride, exploring the most revolutionary ideas and challenging the status quo. There are weak signals we can’t ignore. It's time to delve into the key trends that have emerged around 4 key ideas: Assessment, Curriculum, Teaching & Learning and Technology

"I'm not interested in predicting what will happen 10 years from now but I am interested in being better prepared for the things that may pop up When we do that then we can actually design a better future because we make better decisions. In education it's quite clear that we're facing a dramatic reboot of what education is because we're teaching our kids to become advanced level robots - how to be efficient - and what we really have to teach them is how to be advanced humans so that they can actually use the robots to do what they're going to be doing So what we have now is most of education is subject to grading and and all the things that are 50-100 year old things and that really needs to change so that our kids can learn how to be creative and to have intuition and imagination "

Gerd Leonhard - Edufuturists Podcast Episode 186

CONTENTS

Page 2 - Assessment

Page 6 - Curriculum

Page 10 - Teaching & Learning

Page 14 - Technology

For 10 of the last 12 years, I have been an exam marker for GCSE & A-Level papers across all the major boards, with the obvious break of the pandemic. It never fails to amaze me that we still use this as the only grade-maker for our young people (even though it pays me during the summer term)

The problem is that exams don't fit all learners; they create a 'teach to the test' approach and are how schools (and teachers) are subsequently judged so will force some teachers to sacrifice 'authentic learning opportunities' for 'will this be on the exam, sir' methodology.

Here are a few home truths we probably need to explore as an education system

A TWO OR THREE HOUR MEMORY TEST IS NOT

EVIDENCE OF LEARNING.

I am lucky because I did pretty well in my terminal exams (deliberate use of that word) But I know that many people don't, and the results are skewed in favour of those from fee-paying schools

We have all seen the Jeremy Clarkson tweets each year when it's A-Level results season telling us why the results don't matter.

Learning can be shown in so many different ways than just the written form

I agree with Joanne Baird: To be fair, we can do better than exams

IT'S A FLAWED TECHNICAL PROCESS.

The process is crazy

Exams are typed by a Principal Examiner >>> They are printed and sent securely to schools >>> The students handwrite them in timed conditions (despite not using pens in their non-school time)

>>> The scripts are collated & posted back to exam centres >>> Scripts are scanned and sent to examiners >>> Exams are marked electronically and grades collated/checked/analysed using a digital system

How are we not seeing the flaws in this? Cost, sustainability, security, speed.

HANDWRITING TO BE SCANNED IN AND MARKED ELECTRONICALLY DOESN'T WORK.

And the evidence is there that handwriting affects exam performance. How crazy that when we have alternative methods of communication, students lose out on gaining credit for their complex understanding of Kantian philosophy & metaphysics because their fine-motor skills are less developed!

And that's without discussing the effect of the pandemic on handwriting ability.

AN EXAM MARKER DOESN'T KNOW YOUR LEARNERS.

There were flaws in the Teacher Assessed Grades systems of 2020 & 2021, that is for sure (but I personally believe the mutant algorithm was a red herring to maintain the examination system post-COVID)

Even the Chief Regulator of Ofqual, Simon Lebus commented (albeit in the midst of the pandemic and not necessarily about all exams over the years).

“A way to think of it is the exams are a bit like a snapshot, a photograph: you capture an instant, it’s a form of sampling, whereas teacher assessment allows teachers to observe student performance over a much longer period in a rather more complex way, taking into account lots of different pieces of work and arriving at a holistic judgement.”

Teachers know their students better than any external examiner and a holistic, all-year-round, multiple-layered assessment system seems fairer and more attuned to how students learn and how they'll work in the world

Finding your ikigai is crucial for reaching entelechy, a term coined by Aristotle, which refers to the realisation of one's full potential.

Aristotle said,

"The end or goal of man is an activity of the soul in accordance with reason or virtue "

In other words, reaching entelechy is about living a life that is in line with your values and using your unique strengths and talents to make a positive impact on the world. Here are 5 techniques to find your ikagai to reach entelechy.

#1: REFLECT ON YOUR VALUES AND PASSIONS.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Make a list of your values, such as honesty, loyalty, and compassion.

Step 2: Make a list of your passions, such as music, cooking, and photography

Step 3: Reflect on how your values and passions align with the needs of the world

This simple template allows you to achieve a greater understanding of your ikigai.

#2: IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND SKILLS

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Make a list of your strengths, such as creativity, communication, and problem-solving.

Step 2: Make a list of your skills, such as programming, design, and writing.

Step 3: Reflect on how your strengths and skills align with your values and passions

Quick note: Don't compare yourself to others That's a mistake These steps work better when you focus on your own unique abilities.

#3: IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Here’s how it works: Avoid being complacent Seek out opportunities for growth and development instead

If you avoid complacency and seek out opportunities for growth, you'll unlock your full potential Easy, right?

#4: SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Seek out people who share your values and passions

Step 2: Surround yourself with people who have different strengths and skills than you

Step 3: Find mentors and role models who can guide and inspire you

Do these 3 things, and you'll be able to achieve your goals more easily

#5: TAKE ACTION

Here’s how it works:

Tip 1: Identify small steps you can take to move towards your ikigai

Tip 2: Take risks and be open to new opportunities

Tip 3: Remember that finding your ikigai is a journey and allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them.

That’s it! By following these techniques, you can find your ikigai and reach entelechy, living a life that is full, realised and happy

Imagine if we imparted these lessons to every young person:

#1: KNOW YOUR ASSETS, VALUES AND PASSIONS TO FIND YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

“Sometimes freedom from normal rules is what gives you a competitive advantage ” Reid Hoffman

Everything that matters in life will involve some competition. The secret is to know where you have the upper hand.

We teach students to succeed by doing exactly what everyone else is doing Study better Do your homework Revise in your free time

This creates a system where there are winners and a lot of losers. What if we taught them to find leverage for success in the intersection between their personal assets, values and passions. Their niche will begin to emerge

Show them how that niche can interact with demand and

#2: ALL WORKPLACES WILL CHANGE. ADAPTING TO THIS IS AS SIMPLE AS PLANNING FROM A TO B, THEN Z.

“Hard work isn’t enough, and more work is never the real answer ” Reid Hoffman

In your work, learning and life, strategy matters!

In the past it made sense to tell our learners to pursue a specific career We even told the ones who were unsure that they would find it eventually This advice is now inadequate

We need to teach them a strategy for life Using their competitive advantage to achieve plan A, but also having a plan B where they can apply lessons learned from plan A. Then having plan Z, where they want to end up.

Plan Z drives personal innovation and motivates them for success

For more on this, we discuss having a strategy for life in Episode 190.

#3: MAKE SMART, CALCULATED RISKS, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

“An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff, and builds a plane on his way down.” Reid Hoffman

Risk taking for the sake of it is dangerous Calculated risks are the key to getting from A to Z

How do we teach our young people to calculate risk and then have the courage to take it? If we can't do this and they don't discover it for themselves, they will live their lives primarily in plan A.

Success depends on getting to plan Z

They need it

The world needs it.

WE HOPE THESE LESSONS IMPACT YOUR LIFE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE HOPE YOU SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

Then we can abolish the failure that's inbuilt into our education system and give all learners the tools to be successful.

“Society flourishes when people think entrepreneurially.” Reid Hoffman

The most revolutionary figure in education over the past decade is undoubtedly artificial intelligence (AI).

Salman Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, puts it: "AI has the potential to revolutionise education by providing individualised learning experiences to each student, something that's simply not possible with a one-size-fits-all approach "

Here’s the breakdown:

RULE #1: AI SHOULD NOT REPLACE TEACHERS.

What people care about in education is not technology, but rather the human connection with their teacher.

It’s the relationship between the teacher and student that truly enhances learning, not the use of AI It will always take a teacher, which is why we celebrate them in our annual awards

RULE #2: AI SHOULD BE USED TO PERSONALISE LEARNING.

Most people who try to use AI in education think it’s about replacing teachers and making learning more efficient

When actually, it’s about using AI to individualise instruction and meet the specific needs of each student. This is the job of every person working in education

As Daniel Susskind reminds us, "One size fits all actually means one size fits none "

RULE #3: AI SHOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE TIMELY AND TARGETED FEEDBACK.

Success in education is not about simply giving students access to information, but rather about using AI to provide personalised feedback and help students practice and improve.

Most of will be familiar with the impact that individualised feedback can have on learners, and Professor John Hattie's work on this

RULE #4: AI SHOULD BE USED TO FOSTER A GROWTH MINDSET.

Whether you are a teacher, student, or education policymaker, this rule still applies

You have to cultivate a growth mindset in order to effectively use AI in education - the information the systems provide can help tweak and transform learning. The brilliant Carol Dweck suggests,

"The hallmark of successful people is that they are always stretching themselves to learn new things "

RULE #5: AI SHOULD SHIFT THE FOCUS FROM GRADES TO GROWTH.

Your goal should not be to simply achieve good grades, but rather to facilitate real learning and personal growth

Then, and only then, will you be able to effectively use AI in the classroom.

It is clear that the use of AI in education is a complex and controversial topic, and it is important that we approach it with caution and care but that doesn't mean avoiding it

AI has the potential to enhance education so it is essential that we ensure that it is used in a way that benefits all students and does not undermine the human element of teaching and learning.

Our students, parents and society deserve it

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