Challenges, Meet Opportunities

It is not hyperbole to state that educational systems and pedagogical approaches are in the throes of a revolution. While most of us accept the premise that we are in the midst of a historical transformation in education, the challenge is to make sense of these changes. I have no doubt that historians will look back at this time as a watershed moment in the evolution of schools and pedagogy.

This reflection was sparked by an article about education that I recently re-read, called “21 Things that Will Be Obsolete by 2020.” The common theme linking the 21 items is the pervasive influence of technology, not as an extension to support learning but as a foundational platform.

In typical 21st century learning fashion, I casually clicked on a seemingly interesting link that took me to another essay, called “Three Trends that Define the Future of Teaching and Learning.” This next author argued that three key trends—collaborative, tech-powered, and blended—will frame the transformation of education. There are compelling arguments in support of this claim, especially the concept of blended learning, where teachers embrace students’ online and connected proclivity towards the learning process.

While writing this, I multi-tasked and clicked on yet another link, ironically with the title “How Does Multitasking Change the Way Kids Learn?” As with all similar research, the article is unequivocal in concluding that we are not capable of effectively multitasking beyond the simplest activities... The research also clearly suggests that multitasking leads to a series of negative outcomes while doing schoolwork (or writing articles).

So, what does this all mean? As with any large-scale, transformative experience, there are currently more questions than answers. The elements of education that will become obsolete by 2020 are the same elements that were the foundation of the education of today’s adults. To say the least, it is a challenge to manage current changes while also overcoming our past.

The focus on the implementation of collaborative, tech-powered, and blended teaching trends is central to our professional development discussions. The impact of technology on student learning, including issues related to multitasking (mine and yours), is an area that continues to influence our instructional practices and curriculum development.

Likewise, it is within these new paradigms that we seek ways to continue to successfully work with students in the areas of service and leadership, while also developing skills associated with conflict resolution, decision-making, empathy, and communication.

If parents and teachers are to model the ideal of life-long learners, there is no better time to do so than now—especially in the context of a transformative moment in the history of education.

Mr. Dequanne is Head of the American School of Brasilia, Brazil.

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