Drivers of change

Having researched the internet and library resources, I finally narrowed down the list of things that I perceived as drivers that would change the future of global education - teaching, learning, research and assessment.

The first list are simple socioeconomic drivers that everyone is aware of. There's been a lot of debate about these things especially in terms of the role of educators, development of online learning platforms, virtual assessments and their credibility, et al.

The second list is more about technological development that has started taking place in different corners of the world. These things are making ripples in scientific research and large multinational companies have started investing loads of money to make headway and once successful they will try to use these advanced technologies to create more wealth for themselves. These technological successes will definitely have a great impact in the development of global education.   

 

List One:

1. Open educational resources
2. MOOCs
3. Increasing cost of Education
4. Capped income/ salaries of educators
5. Enhanced digital technology
6. Increased awareness of Virtual Learning platforms
7. Game-based learning
8. Cheaper digital tools
9. High speed broad band and multi-servers
10. Privacy speculation
11. Accreditation issues
12. Plagiarism & copyright
13. Need for new assessment methods
14. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) & Recognition of Current Competency (RCC)
15. More efficient global translators
16. Automated task generating tools
17. Sophisticated video recording and converting devices
18. Popularity of webinars and presentation tools

List Two:

1. 3D bio printer
2. Robotics and Android technology - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyw4fz4VIU4
3. Nanotechnology
4. The wireless revolution
5. Sensor technology – ultrasonic and lazer
6. Hologram TV
7. Electro-magnetic pulse systems
8. Table-top technology - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFgEPAzgBpA
9. Gesture recognition
10. Body sensor networks – valencell technology
11. Facial recognition
12. Transparent roll-up or contractable digital tools
13. Global voice translator
14. Satellite driven images and hi-tech cameras
15. Artificial intelligence - http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/How-Artificial-Intelligence-Can-Change-Higher-Education-180015811.html
16. Multimedia stimulus for assessment
17. Digital item/ task generating tools
18. Multiple-server systems
19. Open collaboration systems – p2p direct
20. Ubiquitous computing and Artificial Intelligence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIvGtU63cVU

Taking these 2 lists into consideration, I have considered the uncertainties of the future of education and have come up with four scenarios which reflect the it's future.