While the education system in one country is of course going to be very different to the next, one uniting trend is that schools and other educational establishments around the world are all altering thanks to everything from demographic trends to the impact of technological changes like the advent of the tablet computer. From Europe to Asia and everywhere in between, changes are taking place in the educational sphere that make the modern modes of learning very different to those of years gone by.
The modern world
Just twenty or thirty years ago, schools were very different places to those of today. Whereas in the past students would be expected to memorize long lists of information, for example, it’s much more common now for students and teachers to focus on learning how and why everything from scientific processes to historical events happen (or happened).
Other countries choose to focus on techniques like learning through play: in Finland, for example, students don’t normally receive rigorous teaching in subjects like reading or arithmetic until they are seven years old. And with an increased focus on the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in modern education, the types of subjects undertaken by students across the globe is getting increasingly diverse too.
Impact of technology
Technology has impacted all of our lives, but it’s clear that one area in which it’s had a particularly profound effect is education. Gone are the days when a projector or Smart Board was considered to be cutting edge technology in the classroom: from the use of tablets as note-taking aids to lessons in top software packages designed for use in the working world, there are all sorts of technologies on offer in education systems across the world, and the pace of change shows no sign of slowing down.
Culture shifts
Schools are fast becoming more and more diverse in the makeup of their student bodies. The reason for this is complex: from increased international migration to breaking down barriers within societies and even local communities, cultural shifts have had a profound impact on how students learn. At the Singapore international school, students from many different countries come together and learn in a cohesive and united environment. Not only does that mean students can benefit from a rigorous international education, it also means that children who attend can learn firsthand all about a wide range of global cultures.
Modern education is very different to when the parents and grandparents of today’s scholars were at school; one of the distinct advantages of many present-day systems is that they provide a whole suite of experiences and choices that many students from previous decades could only ever dream about. From the range of cultures among the student bodies to the amazing choice of subjects that schools can provide, students today receive a varied and rich education when enrolling in a school with progressive policies.