The way schools function has largely been unchanged for the past 100 years: students are split up by age group, they learn mandatory subjects, they take the same tests and exams, and they are taught by a teacher standing at the front with some kind of board to assist them.
The rapid shift to online learning brought about by the pandemic prompted many to reflect on the school system, namely how it would evolve yet again in the future. Some even claimed that the pandemic exposed how inflexible the education system was and suggested alternative ideas for running a school, from new ways of teaching to advanced technologies for learning
In this blog, I’m going to explore four of the most significant predicted changes we could see in schools by 2050.
Individualised learning
One of the most impactful anticipated shifts will be the creation of a personalised learning experience that is tailored to each student by modern technologies, most notably AI. In simple terms, the learning content and teaching methods each student would receive would depend on how they learn best and which areas they need more support with.
AI-powered adaptive learning systems, for example, can look at learning styles and create adaptive assessments that adjust depending on the student’s performance. AI can even mark and understand a student’s work, providing them with immediate feedback and suggesting specific areas of improvement based on their strengths and weaknesses. Some technology can scan facial expressions and body language, as well, and adjust the content and tasks based on how students respond to it.
Another significant change could be a step away from year groups: the classes a student could be in might depend on their academic ability, not their age. This could enable students that excel to advance at the pace that’s right for them instead of having to wait for fellow students to catch up to their level.
Immersive learning experiences
Augmented reality (overlays images onto real-world surroundings) and virtual reality (replaces the real-world visually – a headset is usually required) are already in use among a number of industries including tourism, marketing, and healthcare. But many believe both could create highly engaging learning tools.
Imagine learning about dinosaurs while being surrounded by them? Or digitally dissecting the human eye? An interactive whiteboard with AR, for example, could bring these engaging experiences into the classroom and considerably enhance knowledge retention.
Even 3D printers are projected to be a common tool in every classroom as they can enable students to physically inspect and manipulate printed mock ups of items like the brain or a complex mechanical component.
Sustainable and eco-friendly classrooms
Many net-zero and climate change targets have been set for 2050 – as such, the school of the future will probably reflect more advanced sustainability practices while protecting students against the harmful effects of climate change.
School buildings and stationery will likely be made of sustainable materials, and there might be strict policies on-site to protect the planet, like no single-use plastics on school grounds. Buildings may also have been built for or adapted to more volatile weather, such as having air conditioning available or air purifiers to get rid of pollutants.
Advanced technology will give teachers more time to teach
Just as cutting-edge technologies can help students perform better, they can make teachers’ lives easier, too. Take AI: although it’s already in use by teachers and students in schools across the world, in the future it might be advanced enough to do things like predict students’ performance or advise teachers on where additional support it needed. It may even be used to review and mark work, detect plagiarism, and automate administrative tasks for staff.
AI is already a critical feature of our MIS, offering users the ability to run general knowledge queries, get support on using the MIS, and ask questions about the school’s data without having to leave the system. You can learn more about Bromcom AI here.
How Bromcom is helping build the school of the future
We’re proud to be the pioneers of the EdTech sector, here at Bromcom. As well as being the first to launch a cloud MIS in the UK and the first the introduce AI into an MIS, our team is constantly looking for new ways to incorporate advanced technologies into our solutions to make them even better.
By switching to Bromcom, you can be confident your MIS will always be on the frontier of technology for schools, provide you the most advanced functionality on the market, and continue to offer you additional time and cost savings in the future.
Book your discovery call today
To learn more about Bromcom MIS and how it could benefit your school, trust, or local authority, book a discovery call with our team.
