The future of learning and the ways of learning
With the recent economic changes from the COVID-19 global pandemic, there has been a huge shift in education, paving the way for an innovative future in education. An analysis conducted by FutureLearn showed that the demand for adult education worldwide is forecasted to increase by ‘14 million new students every year from now until 2030’. This demonstrates just how much interest and importance in higher education is predicted to become.
Online/Virtual learning:
The year 2020 marks a big change in education as there has been a shift to virtual learning. This is a type of learning experience using technologies such as computers, tablets and the internet, generally carried out via an online environment or platform. Due to the ongoing pandemic, institutions and learning is mostly carried out using online platforms with around 1.2 billion children not attending schools around the world. As a result, the world is entering a new era of convenient learning which is remote and self-paced. There are various types of online learning such as following video tutorials and classes on YouTube or EdX, mobile apps like Khan Academy, video calls on Zoom and digital education tools like Kahoot!.
What does technology mean for education?
One of the biggest technological developments in the last decades is the advent of MOOCs (massively open online classes). These easy to use and easily accessible online learning platforms have caused disruption in the educational services industry, whereby students are preferring to take up courses online rather than attend face to face classes in an institution. This is mainly due to the convenience, cost and current economic crisis. With the rapidly evolving technology industry, digital mediums of learning are becoming prioritised and preferred by educators as well as students. The advancement of technology has brought innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT (Internet Of Things) and robotics which make it apparent that the future of learning has technological implications. The lockdown measures have pushed everyone to get more engaged and familiar with online means of communication such as Zoom and Skype which have become an environment for the usual online classes for students.
How to prepare your child to adapt to the changing future of learning:
1. Get them accustomed to devices. Teach your child how to use devices such as a tablet or PC so that when they get older, they will not have difficulties completing their schoolwork online.
2. Get them engaged in some type of online learning from a young age. To prepare them for virtual learning and get them used to online learning platforms, sign them up for simple courses for kids that help develop their skills. We offer many online courses in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) which you can find out more about here.
3. Encourage them to use and explore learning platforms and other websites related to learning such as Zoom, Skype etc. We have noticed many students have difficulty using online platforms, but they are very bright at using phones and social media platforms. Thus, if they are made to use these learning platforms beforehand, they will become used to them and race through their online courses.
4. If you have a young child and you are buying toys for them, opt for more educational toys and games such as our Squishy Circuits Kits that help them learn about electricity and circuits in a fun way!
Ways of learning:
Although nowadays most people are engaged in online learning, there are many ways in which a person can learn which can prove to be effective for that individual. Everyone has a mix of different learning styles which suit their personality and way of thinking. The most common styles of learning are visual learning, audio learning, reading/writing learning and kinesthetic learning.
Visual learning
Visual learning is the process of learning by seeing visual illustrations of information. Visual learners learn by seeing and observing things from forms of visual representations such as diagrams, pictures, graphs or infographics. These learners love writing or drawing things and are usually doodling, taking notes and brainstorm using mind maps or diagrams.
Audio learning
Audio learning is the way in which learners gain and retain information from audio recordings. Auditory learners prefer listening to the information being read out so that they can remember it better. These types of learners usually listen to podcasts and audio recordings of their lectures. They love to explain things verbally and listen to their voice recorded explanations to better understand concepts.
Reading/Writing learning
Reading/writing learning is one of the most common types of learning. These types of learners learn and understand through written words. Children are taught from a young age how to read and write to learn. As they grow up, they develop a liking to other forms of learning that suits them. They love to read books, write things down and brainstorm on paper.
Kinesthetic learning
Kinesthetic learning is the way in which students learn by experiencing or carrying out physical activities. That is, information is learnt by doing practical activities related to the subject. For instance, with our Squishy Circuits Kit, children learn about circuits and electricity in a fun and interactive way. This allows them to remember the theory and grasp the logic in a simple way through action and play. These types of learners love to participate in activities such as sports, clubs, dancing etc.
How to find out what type of learner your child is?
The easiest way to determine what type of learner your child is: By observing their behavior when they are learning. Identify how they grasp and process information and how they teach themselves to understand concepts.
Another way to identify what type of learner they are is by giving them tasks involving the different ways of learning and see which type they produce the most productive results. That is, if there is a way of learning they are spending more time on and which has helped them understand the task better, that is the type of learner they are. Here are some examples.
Give them several tasks to complete:
Visual learner: Make them watch a video of how to create an animal with playdough and get them to recreate that video.
Audio learning: Make them listen to a podcast for kids and get them to do the activity mentioned in the podcast.
Reading/Writing learning: Get them to read a book and write a short summary of what the book is about.
Kinesthetic learning: Teach them about science by helping them create science experiments and see how they perform to the activity. Here are our easy DIY activities which you can get them to do to learn about science.
Katapult’s approach
Katapult’s approach to learning is complementary to the new technological trends in education. We ensure our courses and kits are relevant to the changing economical and technological environment. Our courses and kits are catered to the needs of your child to help them construct a solid and fruitful foundation for their future career. We provide them with valuable learning experiences that will enable them to develop their problem solving and creative thinking skills, as well as give them the independence and confidence that they are in control of their learning. Our courses are project based and provide experiential learning with the guidance from video tutorials and quizzes. We teach and instruct kids on their projects and allow them to think and complete their projects on their own.
Visit our website to learn more and try out our free trial.
Want to teach your child about electricity and circuits in an interactive way? Shop our Squishy Circuits Kit now!