The Future of Education: How Colleges in the Quad Cities Are Innovating to Educate Students
Students yawning from boredom and barely understanding what the teacher is talking about is far from the best lesson scenario. Today, many teachers strive to make their lessons as different as possible from the example above.
The education sector is changing rapidly, and in order to keep up, it is necessary to implement more modern strategies; therefore, the best innovative education methods are needed. Today, we will talk about how colleges in Quad Cities are innovating to educate students.
It doesn’t matter whether students study using innovative or classical methods; they all face difficulties from time to time. Most of them are related to a lack of time and a large number of assignments. If you are one of these students, you can seek help from a paper writing service that will help you with different types of assignments.
What are innovative education methods?
Innovative teaching methods are not just the introduction of advanced technologies or following the latest trends but a full-fledged educational methodology based on new teaching strategies that focus on the needs and characteristics of students.
Such methods allow students to actively engage in the learning process and encourage interaction with classmates and the teacher.
This means a lot of work on the part of students, but unlike traditional education, which focuses on the volume of knowledge transferred, innovative methods allow you to understand what students have actually learned in class.
Why do we need innovative education methods?
The transition to online lessons and hybrid learning has necessitated a review of the outdated format of classes because, while sitting at the monitor, it has become easier than ever for students to get distracted and do something else.
Many teachers in Quad Cities colleges and universities are already using innovative education strategies to increase student engagement. Special software and innovative methods help improve understanding of the material.
7 benefits of innovative education methods
Here are seven benefits of innovative education methods that make them worth trying.
- Encourage inquiry – these methods help to broaden students’ horizons.
- Improving critical thinking and problem-solving skills – students can go through the material at their own pace and find new ways to solve problems instead of looking for a ready-made answer in a textbook.
- Dosing information – teachers still give students new information, but now they break it down into smaller parts, which increases the speed and quality of assimilation of the material.
- Acquisition of social competencies – students now need more complex tools in the classroom to help them develop their creative potential. When completing individual or group projects, they learn to manage time, prioritize, communicate, and work in a team.
- Checking the assimilation of the material – grades and exams can say a lot about a student’s abilities and knowledge, but not everything (especially if they cheat!). Innovative methods allow for better control over the process, understanding, and solving students’ problems.
- Increased self-esteem – the use of innovative methods will allow students to understand what they have learned and what they still need to master. This will help make learning more conscious and will increase motivation.
- Vivid lessons – students can avoid teacher monologues or awkward pauses with innovative methods. They are able to actively speak out in class.
12 innovative education methods
Interactive lessons and quizzes
Unlike traditional lessons, where the teacher mostly speaks, interactive lessons actively involve students in the process and encourage creativity and their own opinions. Modern online platforms save a lot of time and allow all students to participate in the lesson at the same time. This is achieved through the introduction of gamification of learning since participating in quizzes and competitions is much more interesting than simple tests.
Example
Online platforms allow students to solve problems, find answers to questions, and even hold quizzes in a game form. All this can be done anonymously and in the form of a competition so that students will no longer be afraid of making mistakes.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality technologies open a window to the real world right in the classroom and allow students to interact with “real” objects instead of flat images on the screen.
Now, they can travel to another country, outer space, or even travel back in time without leaving the classroom. Yes, virtual reality technologies are not cheap, but their contribution to the educational process pays off all the costs.
Artificial Intelligence
Surprisingly, AI is already widely used in education. However, this does not mean that it can replace teachers and do all the work for them.
AI reduces the workload of teachers, helps personalize courses, and increases their effectiveness. Teachers at Quad Cities colleges already use many AI features, such as LMS, plagiarism checkers, automatic checking, and grading of assignments.
Blended learning
Blended learning is a method that combines traditional lessons and high-tech online learning. The Internet, specialized software, video conferencing, and interactive assignments increase the effectiveness of learning and make lessons more personalized.
Example
Even after schools return to in-person learning, digital tools help make lessons more engaging. Students can participate in quizzes, games, brainstorming sessions, and other activities.
3D printing
With 3D printing, teachers at Quad Cities colleges can add variety to their lessons and give students hands-on experiences that help them learn better. 3D printing gives students a sense of real-world objects and stimulates their imagination.
Constructive solution method
This method is based on problem-solving, teamwork, and developing students’ creativity. It includes five stages, but unlike other methods, it is a non-linear process that can be modified to suit the needs of students.
The five stages are:
- Empathy – developing empathy and the emergence of a need for a solution.
- Identification – identifying problems and potential for solving them.
- Ideation – working on new, creative ideas.
- Prototype – a draft or sample solution for further development of the idea.
- Test – testing and evaluating solutions, providing feedback.
Project-based learning
Unlike completing a project at the end of a course, project-based learning allows students to search for solutions to real-world problems over a longer period of time.
Students not only study the material but also improve their research skills, learn to work independently and in a team, develop critical thinking, etc.
In this case, the teacher only guides the students, which contributes to greater involvement and independence of the latter.
Example
Students can be offered the following projects:
- Making a video about current social problems.
- Holding an event at school.
- Creating and managing a specialized group on a social network.
- Analyzing the causes and consequences of a social problem.
Problem-based learning
Problem-based learning is an active education method in which the teacher poses a question or problem, and students, independently or in a group, study the relevant material. This method is excellent for developing research and problem-solving skills.
Example
Teachers at Quad Cities colleges ask students to:
- Find a solution to the problem of environmental pollution in the area.
- Grow a plant and determine the best conditions for its growth.
- Find methods for solving social problems.
Puzzles
A puzzle is a common game that everyone has probably played at least once in their life. Here are some ways that teachers in Quad Cities colleges use them in the classroom:
- Dividing students into small groups.
- Giving each group a subtopic related to the main topic.
- Asking students to research these topics and share their thoughts.
- Each group shares their findings, which helps to build a larger picture that includes all the necessary knowledge about the topic.
- (Optional) Asking students to give feedback on the work of other groups.
If students are already good at working in a team, teachers can divide the topic into smaller parts and give each of them for individual study.
Example
- Puzzles in a Spanish lesson – give the class a concept, such as “weather.” Groups should come up with adjectives that describe the seasons, phrases to describe good/bad weather, and example sentences about the weather.
- Puzzles in a history lesson – students independently research a historical event. Subtopics may include prominent political figures, key participants in an event, causes, consequences, etc.
Cloud-based learning
In fact, most teachers in Quad Cities colleges are familiar with this method, which allows students to access learning materials remotely.
This simple and inexpensive method is slightly different from online learning because it does not require teacher involvement, meaning students can study at their own convenience.
“Flipped” class
Before class, students watch videos and review new material to gain an overview of the subject. Class time is allocated for “homework,” which is usually done after class, and for students to discuss the topic.
This method is student-driven, allowing teachers to better plan individual learning and assess progress.
Mentoring
This method is similar to the puzzle technique discussed above. Students understand and retain information better when they can explain it clearly.
Students can take the initiative to choose topics within the subject that interest them. Additionally, teaching their classmates increases self-confidence, promotes independence in learning a subject, and improves presentation skills.
As you can see, colleges in the Quad Cities use innovative education methods.
