Syeda H. Naqvi

The world has changed and is changing so rapidly. These changes can be seen in every way of life. As an important sector education should be changed accordingly. This change in education is slow but is occurring. It is not possible to ignore the changes in education sector. Education is meant to be the tool for students’ success. In this technological and digital age when students come to school they have lot of knowledge and information wrong or right with them due to these technologies.

To address the needs of our students educational planning for future is important. Teaching students with old methodology and techniques is not wise. As Sajan (2013) explained that most teachers are still using old methods and techniques; lecturing and assigning homework like writing papers. Due to the influx of technology in today’s life and students’ interest in it requires education system to implement them in appropriately to fulfill the future needs of the society. Number of teachers and school districts have implemented a degree of these technological tools and different techniques in their planning. As Khan (2011) explained that in the future it is necessary for teacher to change their teaching style from “Passive teaching method to an Active/ Discovery/Creative approach” (1:27)

Most of the students learn better in small group or when the teacher interact with them on one- one-one basis. The recent educational technology allows teachers to let the students to learn independently and on their own pace. In upper grades flipped classroom would be a great technique to turn the passive and boring classroom into active and interesting classroom. In flipped classroom the students read the article at home and write the questions and in the classroom they ask the question to the teacher. The teachers do not need to give the lecture to all the students who need it or not. In flipped classroom the teacher help the student according to their individual needs. In group discussion the students have a chance to teach and learn from their peers too.

The learners must learn maximum when they attend school or registered in any formal learning institution. There are different techniques and tools to help in that quest.

Group/collaborative work techniques for most of the time in which students would work with peers as a group is a good technique to enhance learning. Since English Language Learner are in great number in the US education system, this technique would help them learn from their peers and it would help them to lower their affective filter down. Different educational programs are and would be available in future via technology for elementary grades like computers, laptops, iPads, and tablets for visuals, videos, and images as a comprehensible input especially in to help young learner to master in basic communication and learning skills. These technological tools and techniques would help all the students regardless of their language proficiency. Technology would be available to help leaners doing their homework through videos, lectures, and demonstrations. Apps on technological devices allow teachers/instructor to add parents in their list to let them know that their children have homework. This would be very helpful for elementary and middle school grades. For all type of learners distant or online lectures, videos, assignment instructions would be available around the clock to learn anywhere, anytime at their own pace.

Trends in Education

Syeda H. Naqvi

In today’s world majority believes education is responsible for providing the workforce, entrepreneurs, political leaders, inventors, scientists, and other service providers. Since education has become very important in every nation’s life, several events took place in the past which impacted the education at that time and will continue to do so. Given that the United States of America is not only a country in the international community, but it is playing a leadership role in the world. To continue this role only one sector can fulfill the requirements of the position, and this sector is education. Several trends entered in the society which impacted the education at that time and will continue to do so.

Some of the patterns are important to discuss here.

Educational Technology Trends Educational Technology: Educational technology is impacting education and will continue to do so. Educational technology includes computers, laptops, iPads, smartboards, etc. All these are useful for online learning, lectures, and videos. As

Prensky (2013) said: “Technology, rather, is an extension of our brains; it’s a new way of thinking.” Khan (2011, 16:19) said, “This is the technology which is bringing humans close to each other through social media but also in the classrooms or beyond because when they are working together on a project or getting the feedback, they are interacting with one another.” It is an amazing aspect of education, “which will turn the classroom the one world classroom, (Khan, 2011, 7:33).”

Online Education: Another trend which is growing faster than imagination is online education. Online education is not limited to only academic learning. Online education has broadened its scope to almost every aspect of life and has made it right that learning is a life- long process. Han, Xiaoyue, and Xinge (2018) pointed out, “With the Internet as the medium, online teaching transcends the limits on venue, environment, time and teachers, and offers students quality teaching activities anytime, anywhere. The various types of online education can be divided into vocational training, examination and certification training, personal skills improvement, language education, early childhood education, K-12 education (kindergarten to 12th grade), etc.” Community colleges role in using online education on a large scale is important, “It seems that this institutional characteristic is an inherent part of the DNA of community colleges and might explain the early embrace of online education by this sector of higher education (Fredricksen, 2018).”

Public Policies

Elementary and secondary education Act: This act is continuously impacting education. This act requires policymakers to see what is beneficial for our students who are our future workforce. Because of this act, education cannot remain stagnant and rely on old styles of teaching and learning. This act also forces policymakers to look at the current trends and interests of the nation.  Robinson (2018) quoted, “As President, Johnson first seriously promoted the idea of general K–12 aid in his State of the Union address on January 4, 1965, in which he argued that in the fight against poverty it was imperative to “strike away the chains of ignorance” and ensure that all children “have the best education that this Nation can provide.”

Education Policy towards English Language Learners:  It was and is the fact that immigrants are entering the country in low or high numbers and immigrant children have to go to school. So Public schools have the responsibility to take concrete measure to educate the children with no or limited English. There is no federal policy regarding ELLs education.

However, federal law requires Stated to make an education policy towards ELLS.  Rissler (2018)  stated long-established constitutional case law requires local educational agencies to provide immigrants and those with limited English proficiency with equal access to education.  

Demographic Trends

 Adult Education: As the majority of Immigrants are adults and have different levels of education and skills, they would become a burden if their knowledge and abilities remained locked. Addressing their need for education and skills is necessary. “Adult education, as defined by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the largest source of federal funding for adult education, consists of education and workforce preparation services that fall below the postsecondary level and fulfill the purpose as outlined by the law (WIOA, 2014) (Gray, 2019).”  

Homeschooling: Guterman and Neuman (2018) point out, “In recent years, the scope of homeschooling has increased considerably. This practice, which began several decades ago with a few families, has, according to various estimates, expanded to more than two million children in the United States (which has the highest percentage and largest number of homeschooled children in the world), 80,000 in England and 50,000, in Canada.” “Schooling at home isn’t for every kid or every parent, but for some it’s perfect, and with the cost and ability to do it online it can’t do anything but to grow in popularity. (Going to School Online: Better Education, Lower Cost? YouTube).”

Homeschooling is also allowed in Connecticut with some conditions. Connecticut law requires parents either to instruct their children or to ensure they receive instruction from others in specific subjects. If parents choose not to educate their children or see to their education, then they must enroll them in public school between the ages of 5 to 18 years—unless they are high school  graduates or are receiving equivalent instruction elsewhere (e.g., private school or tutors).

(Homeschooling in Your State Law, Connecticut).  

The reason behind this trend might be that many parents see the traditional school system as not capable of offering their children what they need. The conventional school system has a concept one size fits all. However, every child is different and has different needs.  

                                                   Conclusion

Because of the events in the past, such as WWII, economic needs, scientific and technological inventions, online education, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and others, it is necessary to pay attention to our future education. The current trends and the availability of technological devices in the society also require the politicians, education policymaker, and educational leadership to produce the skilled workforce, entrepreneurs, scientists, and others to fulfill the nation’s needs.    

                                                                      References

Fredericksen, E, 2018. A National Study of Online Learning Leaders in U.S. Community

Colleges.  Online Learning, 2018, Vol. 12 Issue 4, p383-405, 23p; DOI:

10.24059/olj.v22i4.1458, Database.  

Going to School Online: Better Education, Lower Cost? YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28W9PzjSKc

Gray, K. 2019.  Using Profiles of Human and Social Capital to Understand Adult Immigrants’                              Education Needs: A Latent Class Approach. Adult Education Quarterly , Feb2019, Vol. 69 Issue 1, p3-23, 21p; DOI: 10.1177/0741713618802271, Database.

   Guterman, O., and Neuman, A., (2018) .Personality, socio–economic status and education:

factors that contribute to the degree of structure in homeschooling. Social Psychology of

It is not an unknown fact for anyone living in this country that none of the classrooms in the United States is without culturally and linguistically different students. Ignoring this demographic change is not beneficial. Shrestha, L. and Heisler, E. (2011) mentioned, “The United States Is Becoming More Racially and Ethnically Diverse, reflecting the major influence that immigration has had on both the size and the age structure of the U.S. population.” “The degree to which there are language barriers or lack of assimilation of immigrants has important implications for both entry into and achievement in the educational system and the labor force (Shrestha, L. and Heisler, E. (2011).”  Ignoring the needs of this demographic change would mean ignoring the needs of the nation’s future. Education is the best way to help this culturally and linguistically diverse population to avoid the burden on taxpayers, poverty, more dependent members in the society.

This demographic change is directly linked to my FVE because almost every classroom has a few immigrant students with no or limited English proficiency. It is not possible to plan any educational policy without taking those students into account. Since there are many educational, technological devices available, I would be using those devices to help them in their educational achievements and success in life.

Adult Education: As the majority of Immigrants are adults and have different levels of education and skills. They would become a burden if their knowledge and abilities remained locked. Addressing their need for education and skills is necessary. “Adult education, as defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the largest source of federal funding for adult education, consists of education and workforce preparation services that fall below the postsecondary level and fulfill the purpose as outlined by the law (WIOA, 2014) (Gray, 2019).”

As Ross-Gordon, M. (2011) mentioned “Adult students have been a growing presence on college campuses during recent decades, and there are numerous indicators that these students, often referred to as “nontraditional,” constitute a significant proportion of the undergraduate student body.” This trend is also connected to my FVE because many adult students would be going to school to do their high school diploma, degrees, certifications, etc. In my FVE they should be benefited from online education and educational technology as online education and educational technology would give them a chance to play their other roles as a breadwinner and employee, and a responsible household member.  

References

Gray, K. 2019.  Using Profiles of Human and Social Capital to Understand Adult Immigrants’  Education Needs: A Latent Class Approach.

Shrestha, L. B. & Heisler, E. J. (2011). The changing demographic profile of the United States [Electronic version]. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

 Ross-Gordon, J. M. (2011). Research on adult learners: Supporting the needs of a           student population that is no longer nontraditional. Peer Review, 13(1), 26-29.

By Syeda H. Naqvi

Homeschooling is a growing trend, and many parents and kids like it. Its convenience for kids like being home, not going to school early in the morning, not comfortable being surrounded by strangers is good for kids. It is also convenient for parents for reasons like children’s safety, not having trouble for sending kids to school early in the morning, teach them at the convenience of the home, they believe that school education is not teaching their kids what they need to learn, and ‘one-size-fits-all.  

However, kids need to be with other kids of their age. Being with other kids of their age they learn many different aspects of the life such as people can be different, sharing, get trained for different settings other than home, playing with their peers, and discipline. Personally, I do not like the homeschooling trend.

As far as immigration and immigrant students are concerned I agree that they are over represented in special ed. Your post reminded me of an incident happened in our school last year. An Indian student came to our preschool and a test was administered to check the student’s English language proficiency. The student did not respond to any of the question and it was a discussion among the teacher, special ed teacher, TESOL teacher that the student should be placed in Special Ed. because of his ‘learning disability’. Luckily, the classroom teacher contacted me and asked me to ask the same questions because I spoke the same language as the student. The student responded and thank God he was not placed in Special Ed. I was wondering why TESOL teacher did not contact me in the first place.