The Future of Education is Changing

The Beginning of Future Education

In December 2019, COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread worldwide. Billions of people were infected, and many lost their lives. The virus spread so rapidly that countries had to close their borders for long periods, causing severe disruptions to the global economy. Some even argued that the world should now be divided into "pre-COVID" and "post-COVID" eras.

 

Education was no exception. Traditional schools, which relied on in-person classroom learning, were hit hard. While teachers still went to school, students had to attend classes from home using computers. Students, parents, teachers, and education officials had no choice but to follow public health guidelines. Even now, the effects of COVID-19 continue to shape the future of education. Since students have already experienced online learning, computers are expected to play a much bigger role in education moving forward.

---

1. Online Education Benefits High-Achieving Students

Many believe that face-to-face learning is better for concentration than online classes. However, studies show that online learning actually benefited top students. This is because high-achieving students managed their time more effectively and studied more than before.

 

An analysis of mock exam results from 2020 to June 2022 revealed that the percentage of top scorers (90 points or higher) increased in all subjects except advanced mathematics (Korean: 5.45% → 7.15%, basic mathematics: 1.93% → 7.40%, English: 4.19% → 8.73%). At the same time, the percentage of low scorers (below 40 points) also increased (Korean: 24.36% → 26.23%, basic mathematics: 42.69% → 50.55%, English: 22.88% → 23.34%).

This suggests that online learning is not necessarily lower in quality than in-person education. Instead, it shows that top students adapted well and used their time more efficiently.

---

2. The Future of Education: A Mix of Online and In-Person Learning

As the pandemic subsided, universities began increasing in-person classes again. However, they did not completely abandon online learning. Instead, many adopted a hybrid model that combines both online and offline classes.

A research team at Korea University compared the academic performance of students in 2019 (who had only in-person classes) and students in 2020 (who experienced hybrid learning). The results showed that students in 2020 scored higher on average than those in 2019. This suggests that hybrid learning could become a key part of the future education system.

---

3. Will Private Education Overtake Public Education?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is expected to bring major changes to education. In the past, private education mostly played a supplementary role, supporting public education. However, this is beginning to change.

Companies like Megastudy and Chungdahm Academy have grown significantly and even gone public. Meanwhile, global corporations like Google and Apple have introduced their own education programs, recognizing the importance of continuous learning for employees. These companies invest heavily in education to improve performance and innovation.

At the same time, world-renowned professors are offering courses through online platforms like MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses). As a result, students no longer need to travel abroad to access top-tier education—they can now learn from world-class experts from home.

As private education continues to evolve, public education is also being forced to adapt. The trends in private education are now shaping the future of public education.

 

교육 정보 번역이 궁금하다면!

미래 교육 이렇게 바뀐다