The Changing Landscape of Teaching in 2022

Teaching has never looked the same as it does right now. What can we expect next from its evolution?

We are familiar with the world of teaching being stagnant. We all come from the same background – or at least from similar ones. If you came up through the public school system, then you are already aware that most textbooks are out of date. The course materials are regularly reviewed, but still contain outdated concepts because the world of teaching, and those that organise the courses, are not given enough refresher training.

Imagine this: you have been a teacher for thirty years before you qualify for the board that decides what to include in the coursework. Yes – your grasp on your subject is impeccable and yes, you know what resonates with students and what doesn’t. However, you don’t know how to apply digital apps to the world of teaching. You struggle with video chats and interfaces. Still, you are one of the teachers that designs courses for the younger generations.

We are not here to debate a skills gap; we are here to talk about how teaching changes slowly over time. Let’s look back at the last few years and see what’s what in the education world.

Teaching Has Come a Long Way

Back in the 60s and 70s, when the oldest among us were in high school, teachers were still able to hit students for bad behaviour. They could have their knuckles rapped with a meter stick or even get the belt across their hands. Everyone in the classroom learned the same material from the same coursebook and at the same stage. Here in Britain, the UK government offered two types of schooling. You could go to a comprehensive school or a grammar school. In one, you learned life skills like technology and trades. In the other, you learned books and literature. This didn’t start phasing out until 1965.

Since then, the 80s and 90s sported the use of aging textbooks and innovations in the teaching world. Grades became staggered. From 1951 right up until 1986, we studied for O levels which became standard grades in 1986. These new grades allowed for students who were slower than others to work at a less advanced level. This system worked wonders for keeping kids in school that would have left for trades twenty years before.

Teaching is More Advanced than Ever

Modern teaching has come a long way to being more advanced than ever. Nowadays, we are so focused on the bureaucracy that we introduced things like Staff Compliance Training to ensure employees don’t do anything to risk the school’s reputation. We also focus on safeguarding our students instead of beating them with ruler sticks or belts.

Although this gentler approach still earns the scorn of the older generations, it has proven highly effective. Teaching has become a softer profession but the stress levels involved have yet to change. We hope more educational facilities will consider the wellbeing of staff as we move forward. Particularly as we evolve into the digital age.