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Education in 2025 will blend AI, global collaboration, and lifelong learning, creating tech-driven, student-focused classrooms.
In 2025, trends will be mainstreamed to meet diverse student needs and the expectations of an evolving world.
Interacting with a middle school student in a classroom this last week, I was given a crash course on how AI helped the student streamline his homework and study schedule, a new online learning interface that he is now familiar with and the mental health campaign he is running in his neighbourhood after being inspired by the sessions with his school counsellor. None of these would fit into how one would talk about their day-to-day in an education institution running on a traditional model.
A transformed education ecosystem is no longer a read in a journal or a far-fetched dream, it is the changing reality on the ground. 2024, in particular, has cemented the integration of newer approaches to learning along with traditional modes in a way that is more ostensible than ever.
The circumstantial Covid-induced shift to hybrid education was called out as short-lived by many cynics. However, 2024 made it amply clear that hybrid learning models are not going to outlive their relevance. In-person and online education co-existing in tandem has remained consistent across institutions.
We heard about a spate of newer AI interventions this year, more than what we have in the last five years put together. AI tools have successfully made their way into the learning and overall education ecosystem, with personalized learning and real-time feedback becoming a reality for many around the globe. Innovative ed-tech platforms have made immersive online learning easy and accessible.
If we have seen an increase in the tech side of things, we have also seen more emphasis on the human side of education. In an ever-competitive world, focus on student well-being and mental health support has been paramount. Additionally, training teachers to identify students in distress and act accordingly has been an imperative part of teacher training modules.
This seismic shift in how we have approached learning this year has profoundly shaped how the classrooms of 2025 are going to look. While technological advancements will stay at the core of improvised learning approaches, emotional intelligence, communication and collaboration will anchor deeper into the existing education models.
Here is how I see the trends translating on-ground in the classrooms.
The Next-Gen Personalized Learning
The celerity of AI integration into every facet of our life has been unprecedented and our classrooms are going to be no exception. In 2025, we will see a spike in the usage of AI tools and a gradual mainstreaming of personalized learning and interventions. This would mean creating bespoke instructional content for students to match their individual strengths, pace and progress. This would also mean, using AI to assist in grading and tracking progress to be able to pivot learning approaches to suit the student’s individual needs and learning pace. Customized education experiences, real-time recommendations, and adaptive feedback mechanisms would create a learning environment which is student-centric, inclusive and flexible. With this, we also expect to see tremendous improvement in academic outcomes.
Collaboration and Globalized learning opportunities
Imagine a classroom where students are able to interact and work with their international counterparts on, say, a climate change project together. Global exposure and collaboration will pick up steam to create learning environments which are anchored in diversity and inclusion, as well as creating learners with a deeper understanding of global issues. In the coming year, we will surely see more virtual sessions with international faculty with diverse perspectives to elevate learning experiences and broaden the horizons of the students. I foresee educators networking with like-minded peers abroad to gain different perspectives encourage learning programs and try teaching methods based on varied experiences.
Learning for Life
The very design and delivery of education has changed and so has its purpose. Education is no longer just about thematic knowledge and its assessment; it is about equipping students with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Workplaces of the future warrant regular upskilling and continuous learning for all ages which will stay relevant in the wake of rapid tech changes and a dynamic environment. Students, even at the school level, need to be trained to keep the learning curve going, setting a foundation which makes them confident to upskill when needed.
The shift in overall education is fundamental as well as systemic. 2025 will see many of the ‘trends’ being finally mainstreamed to meet not just the diverse learning needs of the students, but also the expectations of the evolving world. Tech-driven, inclusive spaces which focus on creating global citizens in a collaborative student-first environment are going to be the classrooms of 2025.
(Written by Devyani Jaipuria. The Author is the Pro vice chairperson of DPS Gurgaon, DPS Jaipur, DPS International Chairperson Dharav High School, and Director of Healthcare & CSR (Under RJ Corp). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.)
