There are many factors that can influence the U.S. education system, including immigration and an ever-diversifying population of learners, an increase in the occurrence of human and environmental disasters and the development of a marketplace based on globalization and communication.
For candidates pursuing an online Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership, it is important for students to understand how global trends affect trends in education in the United States. It is essential for our education system to adapt to new issues and opportunities.
The Shift to a Global Marketplace
Technology has completely changed the way we interact with one another. It is now common to connect and work with people on the other side of the world. Globalization and communication have enhanced our marketplace. Examples include outsourcing jobs to other countries, multinational teams working together remotely on projects, and the manufacture and shipping of products around the world.
Because technology is essential to our global marketplace, technological literacy will likely play a huge role in the future job security of today’s students. Technology is also becoming increasingly important in the classroom in order to level the playing field for special needs students and students who do not speak English as their primary language. Thus, an increase in technology in the classroom is essential for meeting the demands of globalized society.
Immigration and a Diversifying Population of Learners
As immigrant families settle in the U.S., the education system must seek new ways to include a quickly diversifying population of learners. Technology again provides useful ways to support non-English speaking students, including translation support and modified curricula. However, teaching staff must also understand appropriate cross-cultural communication, reflecting on and overcoming stereotypes and learning culturally sensitive ways to work with students and families.
Human and Environmental Disasters
Across the globe, weather patterns are shifting, resulting in more catastrophes like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tornados. There is also, sadly, an increase in human violence across the world. It is imperative that our teachers and schools have plans in place for dealing with human and environmental disasters.
As the marketplace continues to depend on globalization and communication, our population continues to diversify, and natural and manmade disasters become more common, these global trends directly affect trends in education. Those who earn an online master’s degree in education will have the training and experience necessary to understand how these global trends create important changes within the U.S. education system.
Learn about the Arkansas State online master’s in educational leadership program.
Sources:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/global_learning/2015/09/how_do_world_trends_shape_education.html
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/111016/chapters/Globalization-and-Education.aspx