One overriding challenge is now coming to the fore in public consciousness: We need to reinvent just about everything. Whether scientific advances, technology breakthroughs, new political and economic structures, environmental solutions, or an updated code of ethics for 21st century life, everything is in flux—and everything demands innovative, out of the box thinking.
“We are at the ground floor of a new world full of imagination, creativity, innovation and digital wisdom. We are going to have to create the education of the future because it doesn’t exist anywhere today,” says Candice Du Preez Chief Operations Officer at Vastratech.
According to the Global Education Leaders’ Partnership (GELP), the result is that “the coming decades will see the most radical changes in education since the invention of education systems in the industrial era. Changes will be driven by technologies, by finance, and by shifting demands both of users and societies. ‘Systems’ will need to expand and alter fundamentally” (GELP 2015).
South Africa’s future stability and economic growth depends on the ability of our education system to help learners attain higher levels of achievement so that they are prepared for active social and economic engagement in a global, 21st century context.
“What is needed instead – and what is proposed here – is a well-planned, collaborative and coordinated innovation-in-education strategy aligned with the shared vision of a 21st century education that benefits all learners”, says Candice.
Schools supporting 21st century learners realize that new pedagogies — project-based learning and active student use of technology and making tools – are what enables and activates these learners. Existing classrooms inhibit “makers” from “making” and learners from collaborating. New learning environments linking the new pedagogies and space are needed to support 21st century learners.
Technology can harmonise the standard of national education at a much higher level than where the majority of schools are currently. With adequate infrastructure the rural/urban divide in terms of education quality can be overcome. Education outcomes can also be improved significantly through instant feedback and ongoing assessment of learner progress against the desired curve.
Digital technology has the potential to solve this problem by mapping the learning curve and continuously assessing learners against this curve. It also has the potential to develop and recommend remedial interventions. This will ensure that learners who are lagging behind can be identified and helped in time.
The 21st century skills set defines the competencies that learners and future leaders need to develop in order to be effective in the information age. In addition to improving learning outcomes, the digitization of schools in South Africa and the continent will immerse learners today in the world that they will operate. This is the best way to prepare them for that world.
