In the times gone by, learning was a part of basic human dynamics and the way of life. Be it in the parent-child, tribal-nomad, agricultural-trade or apprenticeship-master model, the dynamics of how knowledge was acquired and shared has been changing with time and place. Now, with the rapid Industrialization of the world, it has pushed more and more of the systems towards centralized ones that are result-oriented. It is true that this curve of Industrialization pushed many of the societies to adopt the K-12 system of education, which shaped the minds of many of us with certain goals and results in mind.
It is now evident that the current world is shifting yet again due to the digital information age, and is currently shaping the minds of a new generation far faster than ever before. The phenomenon of the flipped classroom is a strong indicator of this. Many students are now able to learn topics very quickly and within days if needed, as long as the topic is presented correctly in an appropriate way. The attempt is made to create a direct and relevant connection with the students instead of keeping them at the same level of knowledge for years.
Though the idea of educational reform is always discussed, it is not so simple to implement. Any reform requires political and socioeconomic reform and takes a lot of time and effort. Instead of trying to reform the mindset of the institutions and societies, the focus should be on trying to reform the mindset of individuals and students. It is also important to note that the minds of many today, especially younger generations, are already ready and open to a new approach towards learning.
The current digital age has given rise to more new ways of learning such as hyper learning, micro learning, and social sharing/learning. Taking a transformative learning course that helps one to adapt to the digital information age is something that is necessary for all, not just students. It is important to recognize that the process of learning is changing, and any attempts to restructure the process should take into account the digital age and its impact on the current generation.
