No longer are artificial intelligence, robotics and automation restricted to science fiction novels and movies. Students at international curriculum school are shifting towards this new age learning as the demand for these technologies are in great demand. The world leaders and industry experts debate the changes brought by automation and technology but the irony is the lack of availability of skills and expertise to work in these fields. All this has left us with a fast need for updating our education system.
The study by the McKinsey Global Institute 51% of jobs is susceptible to automation and this is just through demonstrated technology only. These activities are across industries and wage levels. It is true that automation is going to lead to mass unemployment but it is definitely going to changing the profile of the occupational skills.
How are we going to prepare the future generation to adapt to this new landscape? Students at primary school today will complete their education by mid 2030 and there career will span through 2060. It is impossible to predict their career path. But it is possible to understand that their rate of technological advancements. It may be surprising to note that teachers at most schools teach the same curriculum that was followed a century ago like Math, science, reading, writing, history and languages.
The debate on how to embrace new technologies in education is going on but no one is worried about what we teach. Today there is a greater need for problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration and digital skills and these are not attempted at most schools. Modern day schools focus on the use of technology but do not teach them on how to create technology. Topics we are studying today like handwriting, complex arithmetic are increasing obsolete today as these are done by machines and internet has replaced memorizing facts. Therefore, the very foundation of education has to be redefined.
