Education is constantly evolving. It might surprise some students to consider that we, too, are learners – as much as we’re educators. We take stock of the world around us to determine new approaches to problems; we fiddle with new instruments, study up on emerging models, etc.

Why does education change? For various reasons. Sometimes, educational practices morph because of undeniable advancements in technology. Other times, shifting student expectations bring about seismic changes to education. And occasionally, new paradigms in pedagogy – new waves, theorems, methodologies and mindsets – find their way into the real-life classroom.

Finally, you could argue (many have!) that all of these precipitating factors are interrelated, a natural result of the world turning.

Well, the world has turned once again. And now that we’re firmly into our 2024 semester here at OES, we have a better grasp on what lies ahead for education. In this article, we explore a few trends that appear to be shaping the student experience, and demonstrate how our forward-thinking school remains at the forefront of educational change. After all, we’re learners like you.

A Focus on Soft Skills for Success after High School

According to Emeritus, one of the world leaders in business and professional learning, soft skills are a significant trend in 2024. They pull data from the World Economic Forum’s “Future Jobs Report” that shows that “organizations focus more on soft skills… when they look for new recruits” these days, highlighting the importance of this complementary form of learning.

We agree. For years, we at OES have been trumpeting the benefits of soft skills. And we believe that one of the key ways that online learning is changing education is by instilling critical soft skills in students. In an online learning environment, students hone soft skills that will give them an upper hand later in life, whether in their academic, professional or personal lives. Soft skills like:

• Time management: Online school drives students to manage their time effectively, a critical proficiency in most workplaces and post-secondary departments.
• Self-reliance and self-motivation: Without the constant presence of a teacher behind them, online students learn to find the requisite motivation and confidence within themselves. This allows you to become a self-starter – in charge of your curiosity, learning and success.
• Technological fluency: Modern workplaces are more tech-forward than ever. Our online school familiarizes students with this brave new world.
• Digital communication: Likewise, digital communication is a large part of modern professional and post-secondary settings. OES students implicitly learn the mechanics of communication online.
• Teamwork and leadership: Your group assignments at online school help foster teamwork and leadership skills that will benefit you in the future.

In 2024, in light of “Future Jobs Report” findings, we aim to put added emphasis on ensuring that students practice these essential proficiencies.

Personalized Learning that Puts the Student Front and Center

There has been a great deal of buzz recently around “personalized learning.” There doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus on what the term means (everyone has their own, slightly different idea of the slippery term). But we’re partial to the explanation from Deloitte, the world’s largest professional services network:

“In the future, the person acquiring new skills will be at the center of the learning process, with a focus on personalized, integrated, hybrid and life-long learning.”

Essentially, personalized learning is about making education student-centric. The student should have a say in how they learn, how much time they invest in course materials, where they study, etc. By rethinking instructors as “choreographers of learning” rather than taskmasters or drill sergeants, the whole education system becomes a more equitable, success-oriented enterprise.

Of course, this is a trend we’ve been happy to embrace since we started. We developed a flexible model where you can feel comfortable learning at your own pace while also receiving layers of support from instructors, tutors and peers. You can choose your environment for learning – whether it’s your bedroom, a nearby library, or even lakeside at a Muskoka cottage for the weekend. We offer multimedia course material to accommodate your individual learning style. And we do our best to ensure that you feel a sense of control and ownership over your course materials.

Education should be a personal and lifelong pursuit. At OES, we’re proud to give you the tools to realize your highest potential.

Increasing Embrace of Emerging Technologies

In our research for this article, we trawled various new essays, authoritative sources, magazines and white papers to see what everyone’s buzzing about in 2024. To no one’s surprise, several experts and industry observers listed “emerging technologies” as part of this year’s trends in education. And how couldn’t you?

Artificial intelligence is all over the news these days, reshaping several industries, including education. Some teachers are using it to optimize their course preparations while some administrators leverage the technology to pinpoint areas for improvement; at the same time, AI tools prompt fresh questions about academic ethics and plagiarism in schools. For better or worse, it’s one of the most significant trends in education right now.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the tech realm, virtual and augmented reality are beginning to pop up in some post-secondary classrooms, allowing students to immerse themselves in their education. (It has been particularly fruitful for medical students, who can practice surgery procedures and diagnoses in a safe space). And even unexpected technologies like IoT, 3D printing and robotics are starting to make an impression in some education settings.

At OES, we like to think that embracing technology is one of our superpowers. As a leading e-school offering Ontario high school credits online, we’ve always weaved technology into our teaching. It might be some time before we figure out the logistics of, say, incorporating virtual reality into our courses, but know that we’re always open to technological changes on the horizon.

Gamification: Spurring Student Motivation with Game Design

Gamification is a hot topic in education right now. Recent statistics show that nearly all teenagers in North America engage with video games in one way or another. It’s a common pastime. But more than that, it is becoming a common way to view the world – in terms of challenges, quests, missions and manoeuvres.

This is a prime example of how education can meet young people on their level. An old-fashioned impulse might be to say, “Well, they get enough gaming in their recreational time; why would we apply gaming principles to their education?” This kind of exclusionary and restrictive thinking doesn’t serve students. Instead, some educators are embracing gaming principles as effective ways to spur motivation, increase engagement, and demonstrate that learning new things can ping the same satisfaction centres as a good game.

At OES, we capitalize on all sorts of learning models and modules. Our multimedia approach to education aims to accommodate all learning types – including those who enjoy a fun mission.

Mental Health Awareness: Student Burnout, Exam Anxiety and More

In our introduction, we talked about how changes in education are often precipitated by a confluence of factors, including “top-down” ideas from educators and “bottom-up” expectations from students. The trend around mental health awareness is a perfect example of this junction.

Around the same time modern educational philosophy was beginning to view student experiences holistically, students themselves were starting to demand a more serious emphasis on their mental well-being. The result? We have a much more transparent dialogue surrounding mental health today than we did a decade ago.

On this blog alone, we’ve discussed tips for avoiding burnout, broached topics like exam anxiety and math-related anxiety, and explored student mental health in frank and accessible articles. In our digital classrooms, we venture to extend the conversation; we want to create a safe, accessible, flexible environment for you to study and flourish into your best self.

Post-Secondary Trends Continue to Influence High School Students

Post-secondary education trends are their own can of worms. Many of the aforementioned trends – like personalized learning, tech integration, and mental health emphasis – are as applicable at the university/college level as they are in high schools. But post-secondary institutions have their hurdles and opportunities to contend with – and how they choose to proceed will affect high school education.

For instance, we’ve seen a sharp uptick in hybrid learning (that is, blended online and in-person classes) to protect profits and accommodate students who want to learn from home. The trend has knock-on effects for high school students who want their high school education to prepare them for hybrid learning. If they’re going to take math or English in university, they want to feel prepared by taking courses like ENG4U or MHF4U Advanced Functions online.

The very recent announcement of an international undergraduate student cap (to quell housing market fears) will also affect high school students – their chances of admission or lack thereof, depending on where they come from. Finally, the disparity in grading between high school and post-secondary institutes (see: “grade inflation” or “grade shock”) may have broad implications for admissions averages, scholarship attainment and overall student confidence as they enter university.

Here in Ontario: Out with the GED Testing, in with a Mandatory Technology Credit

While global educational trends dominate the big newspapers, there’s a more local, but no less significant, sea change happening right at our doorstep. The government recently announced a slate of Ontario education changes, two of which pop out to us as particularly noteworthy: the end of GED testing, and the introduction of a mandatory 9/10 tech credit.

Regarding the first item above, look out for a fully fleshed-out article on our blog this month. In it, we explain the implications of the end of GED testing in Ontario for mature students. The GED was once the go-to way for returning students to earn their high school equivalency, but now the American company behind the testing has backed out of Canada. In its wake, we proffer a simple solution: PLAR credits and a ministry-inspected online school. A mature student can earn PLAR credits toward their degree by demonstrating life experience; then, they can make up the remaining credits in a convenient, supportive online classroom that’s flexible enough to fit around their busy schedule.

The second item – the introduction of a mandatory grade 9 or 10 technology credit – saw its big roll-out back in September. Essentially, the provincial government now requires students to complete a Technological Education course in their first or second year of high school, which the Education Minister says will “ensure all students learn the critical skills necessary to succeed and get a good paying job.”

This is good news, a long-awaited recognition from the province that workforce requirements are changing (perhaps faster than provincial education requirements). But, as usual, OES was ahead of the curve. We’ve always touted the advantages of a technology-forward education. Our entire model is based on fortifying tech fluency, improving online communication skills, and making students comfortable with online work. Students are encouraged to search for our BTT 10/20 course on our website, and read through the course description.

What Isn’t a Trend: Our Core Principles and Services

“Trend” is a funny word. To many, a trend is something fleeting and short-lived. It’s a current preoccupation that may – or may not – be part of the conversation next year.

We want to emphasize that our core principles and services are not trends. They are the bedrock on which we operate. Buzzwords like “personalized learning” may come and go; hot tech topics like virtual reality might peak in their influence; however, our approach to student success isn’t going anywhere.

At OES, you will always find robust support systems, flexible courses, self-paced learning and multimedia materials to help you succeed. While we continue to grow and learn by listening and responding to emerging trends, we maintain firm about these fundamental ideas.

Who knows what the next year will bring? For now, let’s focus on what we can do in the present – get you the best education possible.