What the future of the classroom looks like

In 2019, kids around the world are getting a much different education than their parents did. In addition to traditional subjects like reading and math, today’s children are learning digital skills—and taking more control over their educational experiences. In recent years, new approaches and new tools have led to shifts in the classroom that are more significant than any other period in recent history.

Google for Education partnered with a global team of researchers to understand these changes, examining hundreds of research studies and interviewing fourteen global education leaders. Today, we’re rolling out the Future of the Classroom Global Report, which examines research-based trends in classroom education. We’re highlighting eight key trends, exploring what’s driving these shifts and locating where they’re happening.

Educators and guardians play pivotal roles in student success, and forging successful relationships between these groups is more top of mind than ever. In the U.S., according to our report, 76 percent of teachers and administrators say technology is important in engaging parents with their child’s school performance. Meanwhile, a majority of teachers in Spain (58 percent) report that more fluid communication with parents and students is a major benefit of using technology.  

Student-led learning has developed momentum as well. Around the world, educators and guardians seek to give students more agency over their education, from what they learn to how their classroom operates. In America, 65 percent of educators say student-led learning is extremely valuable in developing 21st-century skills. And in Spain, students are pushed to be creative and think independently rather than stick to strict discipline.

And with 92 percent of future jobs globally requiring digital skills, there’s a focus on helping students develop skills for careers that don’t yet exist. Last year, Sweden declared coding a core subject to be taught from the first year of primary school. And there is an appetite for these skills among students, too, with 85 percent of Brazilians from 16-23 indicating that they want to work in the technology sector.  

We know that education isn’t black and white, so we’re looking beyond the research, too. Throughout the month, we’ll be hosting digital conference sessions to explore the topics live. And it’s important to consider multiple perspectives, so we’ve partnered with subject matter experts and educators around the world  to understand their views on these topics. Together, we hope to shed some light on an ever-changing classroom—and learn something new along the way, too.