It’s pretty incredible to look at how education has changed over the past few decades. It’s not just about what students are learning; it is the method in which they learn that has also gone through such dramatic changes. Today’s educators are working harder than ever to create more immersive and effective learning experiences for their students, regardless of the age or the topic at hand. What this means is that students can in effect take more away from their education since they can learn and absorb the information in such an engaging manner.

So, what has changed? What are educators doing that is so different than 20, even 10 years ago? Let’s take a closer look.

E-Learning Has Exploded on the Scene

One of the most obvious places where growth and change have occurred is with e-learning. Where it used to be that only a few online universities/colleges offered this kind of platform a decade ago, today it seems to be an offering that schools at all levels are providing at least in some small part.

All you have to do is take a look at the elementary level students who are now using tablets and their own personal laptops in class, to do research, and to learn on. There’s a good chance that by the time a child is 10 years old, they can already find their way around a laptop better than those of the baby boomer age group.

E-learning has also made education more attainable to people who live in remote regions, who don’t want to attend university or college as a full-time student or just want to be able to have a more customized approach to what they learn.

Physical Education is Finally Getting Its Due Credit

While physical education classes are nothing new, for far too long people saw it as a time-filler, a class to burn off a little steam and of little importance to their education. Educators, parents, and the public as a whole now realize just how important physical activity is for the mind and body.

Take for example what Skillastics is doing when it comes to providing educators with a fun, immersive, and active approach to learning. Through its program, educators will learn how to get a group of kids/students moving, all while learning and having a great time in the process. This model works especially well for before and after-school programs.

STEAM Learning is Creating a New Generation of Skills

Then there is STEAM learning, which stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. These topics used to be taught out of textbooks that were dull, often confusing, and far from immersive. Thanks to VR/AR integration, students are able to learn about these topics in a more valuable way that taps into their interests, creativity, and their own skills and understanding. It truly is creating a whole new generation of highly-developed skills.

Educators Have a Very Exciting and Bright Future

One thing is for sure, and that’s the fact that today’s educators have access to so many more tools, information, and options than any decade before it. This translates to a bright and exciting future for all.