Talking About The Development of Educational Materials

Posted on: 18 July 2017

Whether you're about to send your little one off to school for the first time or already have children in the public school system, you're probably amazed sometimes about how much the classroom has changed since you were in school. If you're like most modern parents of young children, computers were a novelty in your classroom, and if your family had a home computer at all, it was shared with the rest of the family. Today, almost everyone has their own personal digital device, online classes have evolved from a novelty to an accepted tradition, and the one-size-fits-all approach to education has started to fall by the wayside. Following are just four of the many public education trends designed to provide your student with a better learning experience as well as a better overall education. 

Increased Parental Engagement 

Parental engagement in 2017 isn't just about taking turns baking cupcakes and cookies or volunteering to help on field trips. Thanks to technology, today's parents have a wide variety of options available for them to become involved in their childrens' education. Home schoolers, for instance, are no longer considered outliers in the education community, homeschooling parents and students are being offered an increasing number of opportunities to connect digitally with area schools. Parents will also enjoy more opportunities to participate in surveys and interviews thanks to modern technology. 

Increased Focus on Early Literacy

Today's preschools are promoting early literacy in a variety of ways. Word games and storytelling remain as effective as ever at capturing the interest and imagination of little minds, but digital technology has taken a prominent role in early childhood classrooms in the form of digital storybooks and games. Teachers are also employing tactile learning techniques instead of sticking with traditional methods that involve children sitting in desks listening to a teacher and working at the same pace as the rest of the students. 

Increased Schools of Choice Policies

Students used to be limited to those public schools designated for those in their specific geographical locations, and changing schools was a cumbersome process involving applying for permission from the resident school district. However, school of choice provisions are being adopted by an increasing number of jurisdictions. These open-enrollment policies that allow students and their parents to choose which school best suits the individual needs and preferences of the student. For instance, a gifted art student may choose to attend an out-of-district school that has an award-winning art program, or someone who is skilled at math may opt for a school with a superior math department. 

Increased Use of Social Media 

Online learning was the biggest change in education several years ago, and it's now become a classroom staple in most places. What's relatively new, however, is the use of social media as a teaching tool. Social media can be used in a variety of ways. For instance, the group option available on Facebook can be used to create a private group for a particular class. Twitter provides a great way for everyone in the class to stay connected and brainstorm on assignments. Instagram can be used for photography or graphics art classes, while youtube is an invaluable resource for teachers wanting to create their own podcasts. However, those who choose to utilize social media as a learning tool in their classrooms should be mindful of the fact that some low income students may not have ready access to electronic devices. An anonymous classroom survey should indicate if this is the case. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to your local school district for more information on positive changes in public education.