[Research] Preparing the class of 2030

It’s strange to think of today’s kindergartners as graduates in 2030. This image is even more unpredictable whereas the ways people interact, socialize and work are shifting so rapidly, making it hard to figure out what will happen in the future of today’s students.
In order to explore these possibilities, a research by Microsoft and McKinsey & Company’s Education Practice comes to the aid, examining what teachers, schools and system leaders can do to ensure today’s students will be ready to thrive in 2030 as well as the role technology can play.
The main result of this research on the future of learning is to point out that kids of 2018 will be better prepared graduates if they will develop strong social and emotional skills in a personalized learning environment, that also leverages on collaboration as a necessary aspect to allow pupils to grow together supporting each other.
The researchers, which surveyed more than 2.000 students and 2.000 teachers, collected the outcomes of their work in a series of interesting remarks:

• soft skills, required by the 30-40% of the growing industries, are crucial to determine students’ academical achievements, more than home environment and other demographic factors;
• as a mean to enhance academic and cognitive growth, personalized learning proves to be more effective than traditional learning in 98% of the cases;
• only 42% of companies believe new graduates are prepared for the workforce. Again, a deeper focus on soft skills is needed;
• the role of teacher is amplified, and relationships are way more one-to-one; students want skilled and trusted teachers, who know them personally;
• technology is the new protagonist in education, empowering the learning experience and providing also 30% time back in day-by-day activities.

To know about all the aspects touched by this research and discover all the results, you can download the whole study here.