Must-Read Top 10 Trends in Education 2024 and Actionable Insights for Teachers

Teachers are beings with lofty dreams and aspirations for both their students and themselves. As the new year unfolds, we cannot help but ponder questions like, “What can we do differently this year?” and “How can I enhance my teaching to foster a more engaging classroom environment?”

Stepping into the realms of 2024, as we contemplate ways we can do better for our students, rest assured that ClassPoint has your back. We have analyzed the top 10 trends in education for 2024 and gone a step further by translating what these trends in education mean for teachers.

Traditionally, educational trends are published for the viewership of entrepreneurs and business owners, hence they are presented as cold facts and predictions that often appear monotonous year after year.

At ClassPoint, we take a different approach. We place educators at the core of our mission and our commitment is to empower educators with valuable knowledge that can be seamlessly integrated into their classrooms. As such, we have turned the key trends in education for 2024 into actionable insights tailored specifically for teachers.

Let’s dive in now and make a difference in 2024!

Top 10 Trends in Education 2024 (+ Actionable Insights for Educators)

1.     Expect (An Even Greater) Increase in Bite-sized, Micro-Learning

The rise of bite-sized and micro-learning is one of the continuing trends in education that has persisted since 2023. With short video platforms like TikTok and Instagram taking centre stage, modern learners have become accustomed to consuming content on their mobile phones while on-the-go.

Similarly, in the online learning sphere, we observe a departure from traditional, lengthy degree programs to micro-learning and micro-credentialing, where individuals learn skills without investing in full-degree programs.

This shift is no longer a bandwagon for educators to jump on but rather an adaptation that educators must accept. Imagine teaching a standard course with an expected completion rate of only 20% to 30% completion rate, compared to a microlearning course with an impressive completion rate of 83%.

The answer to which method to adopt seems clear.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Teachers who resist adopting this trend risk falling behind their peers who can better engage with their students. Regardless of the education level or platform at which you are teaching, micro-learning is applicable. Teachers should underscore the importance of bite-sized content and delivery that is easily digestible for students.

Our Tips and Strategies to help you incorporate micro-learning in your classroom: 

• Develop concise lesson plans with clear learning objectives.
• Encourage students to set and achieve small learning goals regularly.
• Implement a weekly or monthly micro-learning challenges such as gamified quizzes in your classroom.
• Utilize online platforms that offer micro-credentials such as EdApp, 7taps and Qstream to track and reward students for completing short learning modules.

Try out these 50 ways of conducting micro-challenges and quizzes in your classroom. 

2.     Mundane Teaching is Outdated. Gamification Is the New Cool

Gamification is not new. Its benefits have been acknowledged across various fields and industries for quite some time. From enhancing motivation and learning, to building student engagement and fostering a sense of achievement, gamification has consistently proven to be an effective tool for promoting participation and learning.

When applied to microlearning modules, gamification becomes a powerful duo that maximizes engagement and retention within a short classroom time. 

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Incorporating gamification into lessons shouldn’t be a complex process involving bulky tools and stressful preparations; it should be an enjoyable experience for both teachers and students.

Our Tips and Strategies for Seamless Integration of Gamification in Teaching:

• Break down complex subjects into micro-challenges that learners can quickly overcome.
• Integrate gamification elements such as rewards, levels and badges and leaderboard into your lessons to increase student engagement.
• Explore educational games and platforms suitable for your students’ age group and subject.
• Create a system of rewards or recognition for students who excel in gamified learning.
• Implement periodic gamified quizzes or challenges related to your subject matter.
• Explore gamified micro-learning platforms such as ShotClasses, EdApp and OttoLearn that combine game-like mechanics with micro-lessons for short bursts of  gamified micro-learning.

Create PowerPoint games inspired by popular American shows such as Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud to fuel the spirit in your class.

3.     Hybrid and Blended Learning Won’t Stop Post-Pandemic

Hybrid learning and blended learning are terms that gained popularity during the pandemic, and even though we have moved beyond those challenging times, they are still relevant trends in education in 21st century learning. In fact, we can expect a rise in integration of online and offline education in 2024.

We cannot ignore the fact that

While hybrid learning serves the purpose of accommodating students unable to attend in-person lessons, blended learning is a specialized teaching pedagogy that extends beyond simply shifting the learning setting. It is a deliberate and carefully planned approach aimed at maximizing learning both within and outside the traditional classroom. It can be understood through six different models:

• 1. Flipped Classroom Model
• 2. Station Rotation Model
• 3. Lab Rotation Model
• 4. Flex Model
• 5. Online Lab Model
• 6. Individual Rotation Model

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Teachers who truly master the art of hybrid and blended learning are rare. This is because they were necessary adaptations of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many teachers were thrust into this challenging transition without proper guidance.

And when the shift back to in-person learning occurred, many teachers abandoned these modes of learning due to the perceived complexities associated with maintaining them. Fret not as we have got your back.

Our Tips and Strategies for Hybrid and Blended Learning Implementation in Your Classroom: 

• Familiarize yourself with digital platforms and classroom management tools for virtual collaboration and communication. If you are higher-ed professionals, these edtech tools may be useful for you. 
• Use learning management systems such as Moodle, Google Classroom or Blackboard for organizing and delivering course materials.
• Develop a flexible lesson plan that accommodates both in-person and online components. Consider using these Blended Learning Examples in  Hybrid Learning examples in your lesson plans.
• Conduct virtual office hours or discussion sessions.

Use ClassPoint in a 3-step blended learning implementation: 

1.        Share teaching materials and resources to students before class using SharePDF.

2.        Conduct an online assessment to understand where your students are before class using these 8 interactive quiz types. 

3.        During class, get students to discuss the readings and materials in groups using Name Picker and Grouping.

4.     A Renewed Emphasis on Soft Skills 

Soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, creativity and communication are highly valued skills that are key to success especially in an AI-driven world. These are the skills that are least likely to suffer from technological wipeout, and as a natural consequence of this, these skills that are highly sough after by employers in 2024. However, many of these soft skills are not emphasized in traditional education. 

We can expect a renewed emphasis on these soft skills as one of the trends of education in 2024 as we progress towards a AI-driven world where different aspects of education are automated by AI.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Teachers play an indispensable role in fostering these higher-order thinking skills among the students, to prepare the next generation for a world where lower-level thinking skills can be easily replaced by AI technologies. 

Our Tips and Strategies for Teaching Soft Skills in the Classroom:

• Incorporate high-level Bloom’s Taxonomy questions and verbs in your lessons and assessments. 
• Ensure a balance between traditional and social-emotional learning methods in your teaching plans and curriculums. 
• Teach students conflict resolution skills in a culturally diverse world of diverse opinions, beliefs and values.  
• Conduct role-play activities or classroom simulations to teach students soft skills through hands-on activities.

Create automated quizzes that test your students' high-order thinking skills instantly with ClassPointAI.

5.     Expect (Almost) Everyone to Adopt AI in Their Teaching

With AI tools like ChatGPT, Bing AI, Google Bard, along with other generative AI teaching tools burgeoning like mushrooms after rain, AI technologies have been made accessible to anyone with Internet access.

Whether we like it or not, we must coexist with these AI tools as educators of the new generations. Even though it is undeniable that AI brings with it these risks and dangers, they also bring positive impacts that can propel learners to greater heights through enhancing student engagement and academic performance.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

With AI becoming more accessible, of course teachers can and should leverage these technologies to enhance their teaching. There are a myriad of ways AI can be used to facilitate your day-to-day tasks as teachers: 

• AI Admin Assistants
• AI Assessment Graders
• AI Detectors
• AI Image and Video Generators
• AI Lesson Planners
• AI Quiz Makers
• AI Presentation Makers

Our Tips and Strategies for Making Effective Use of AI tools in the classroom: 

• Choose the AI tools that meet these selection criteria to ensure a fair and inclusive teaching environment. 
• Make creative use of AI to save time in mundane and repetitive administrative tasks so you focus on what matters – teaching and engaging with your students. 
• Ensure academic integrity in the classroom by encouraging a responsible use of AI in student learning. 
• Stay informed about emerging EdTech and AI technologies and trends in education.
• Collaborate with colleagues to share insights on effective AI integration in teaching.

Access more than 100 tools in AI in Education here. 

6.     AI Adoption is Queen, AI Data Personalisation is King

Conventional one-size-fits-all methods are no longer effective, and AI marks a significant stride towards a more agile, responsive and personalized educational landscape that tailors teaching to student needs, preferences, and learning styles. 

Traditionally, customizing learning approaches based on each learner’s preferences, strengths and weaknesses requires extensive effort. AI algorithms and analytics tools can easily identify students at risk of falling behind and create unique learning paths for each learner based on their learning histories, preferences, and performance metrics to ensure an optimal and personalized learning experience.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Teachers can embrace AI tools to supplement their efforts in personalizing their teaching in various aspects:

• Content delivery – AI can deliver content that is most relevant to each student.
• Pacing and flexibility – AI can adjust the pace of learning based on each student’s need.
• Learning style – AI can adapt content delivery and assessment based on each learner’s learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic etc.) 
• Feedback – AI can provide personalized feedback for more targeted learning.

Our Tips and Strategies for Personalized AI Teaching: 

• Use AI tools such as GradeScope and Carnegie Learning’s MATHia software  to analyze student performance data and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide guidance on how students can use AI tutoring systems, such as Tutor AI, for self-directed learning.
• Integrate AI-powered assessments such as ClassPoint AI, Questgen and Quizgecko to gauge individual student strengths and weaknesses.

ClassPoint AI uses generative AI technologies to create relevant assessment questions based on your PowerPoint slides and Bloom’s Taxonomy levels. 

7.     The AI-Human Blend as the Way Forward

While AI is all great and shiny, it still falls short in providing the kind of humanized learning experiences that are essential for students. This is a real challenge in education because teaching is more than simply depositing information and matching student responses to fixed marking templates.

AI technologies lack the human touch—encouragement, reinforcement, warmth, and emotions—that are crucial in effective teaching. This gap emphasizes the importance for teachers to recognize the limitations of AI and use it as a tool to augment their teaching, rather than replacing or diminishing it. By understanding what AI can and cannot do, teachers can strategically integrate technology to enhance the learning experience while preserving the invaluable human elements of education.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

The key lies in finding a balance where technology complements human expertise, allowing for AI to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Our Tips and Strategies for the Ideal AI-Human Integration in Classroom: 

• Embrace AI as a teaching assistant in various aspects of classroom learning rather than a replacement.
• Provide guidance on how students can interact with AI tools responsibly.
• Continuously assess the effectiveness of AI integration in your teaching approach through feedback from students and peers.

Read this AI in Education guide for everything you need to know to excel as an AI-savvy educator. 

8.     AR and VR to be Democratized  

The era of teaching through populating the blackboard or slides with texts is long gone. Learning through immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) is the future. While these tools are not new, the advancements in wearables, such as VR headsets and AR glasses, make it no longer a far-fetched dream to learn in an environment where distant planets and ancient buildings are within arm’s reach.

Immersive technologies are ushering education into a new era of experiential learning, taking students beyond the limitations of conventional classrooms.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

I know what you may be thinking – aren’t VR and AR technologies expensive? When affordable or even free options are indeed available! Teachers should actively explore ways to integrate these technologies into their lessons as an opportunity to enhance their teaching methods, providing a more interactive and engaging educational experience for their students.

Our Tips and Strategies for Utilizing AR and VR in the classroom: 

• Make your own DIY cardboard VR viewer with affordable and accessible materials.
• Create your own 360 degree media and play it on compatible VR platforms such as Google Cardboard.
• Create your own AR experience using pure images with these AR apps.
• Explore VR and AR platforms tailored for educators.
• Ensure accessibility for all students, considering potential challenges.

In the near future, we can anticipate the emergence of text to VR platforms, where students can be immersed in highly realistic and interactive virtual environments effortlessly.

9.     Expect Decentralization for Credentials and Content Creation

Blockchain in education? Yes you heard it right! Decentralized platforms can be used to create digital badges and smart contracts, store education records, and create social media content with greater data privacy and ownership. 

Unlike conventional systems, where a singular authority oversees and verifies transactions, blockchain is a tamper-resistant digital ledger technology that securely records and verifies educational transactions across a network of computers. Decentralization promotes transparency, control and greater ownership of data.

What does this trend mean for educators? 

Blockchain remains a relatively new term that may not hold significant meaning for educators at present. However, as we move toward a decentralized Web 3 era, we want to make sure educators in our community are informed about blockchain technology and its applications in education.

Our Tips and Strategies on What to Prepare for in a Decentralised World of Education: 

• Familiarize yourself with blockchain-based credential platforms and content creation platforms for potential implementation.
• Encourage students to explore micro-learning through decentralized social media platforms such as Odysee (YouTube alternative), Steemit (Reddit alternative) and Gab (Facebook and Twtiter alternative). 
• Advocate for the adoption of blockchain-based credentials in your institution.

10.  Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced Teaching World

Finally, wrapping up with perhaps one of the most important trends in education for 2024 – an increased emphasis on teacher wellbeing.

Burnout symptoms range from withdrawal and lack of productivity, to more severe ones like paranoia and inability to concentrate. 

What does this trend mean for educators? 

As much as teaching is a profession dedicated to providing service to others, teachers should not deplete themselves from the fuel to fulfill their duties effectively.

Our Tips and Strategies for Dealing with Burnout: 

• Regularly monitor your mental health by recognizing signs of burnout and stress.  
• Building a robust support system and share your challenges with your friends, families or colleagues. 
• Establish clear boundaries between your professional and personal life through task prioritization and the help of AI. Take mental health days when needed.
• Identify stressors and employ stress management techniques early on like mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, or regular breaks.
• Consult a licensed professional for additional support and guidance through difficult times. 

Read here for more strategies to deal with burnout in teaching profession. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that the trends in education and actionable insights we have provided can assist you in refining your teaching approaches in 2024, enabling you to adapt to the new demands in learning and education.

Continue to check ClassPoint blog for the latest information and news in 21st century teaching, AI in Education and EdTech,  and don’t hesitate to engage with our vibrant community of educators and experts.