The process on which education has evolved is something which I have always had questions about.  It is now, with out a doubt very different to what it was previously with the introduction of new technology, new material and more recently a brand new curriculum.  However, in many classrooms the process of sitting and listening o the teacher talk or write something on the board is still very much present.  This brings about the question: how much has education really changed?

I think everyone has heard the stories from their grandparents or older relatives reminiscing back to their own school days.  I for one have heard the words “you wouldn’t get away with that when I was at school!” and “it used to get drilled into you until you knew it back to front!” far too many times from my grandparents.  I am aware that this was the way in which education was seen a few decades ago, but is this really the best way to go about education,  is “drilling” knowledge into the children of today really necessary?

My view on this is that times have changed and so has education.  It appears to have been a gradual change but a positive progression none the less.  Education is constantly evolving and growing into new things every year.  A prime example of this is the exam systems, fair enough this is more catered to secondary schools but I still feel it is important to look at.  The processes, levels, grades and material involved in the examination process is constantly changing and some would argue that the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), is one of the biggest and most dramatic changes yet.  Along with this even the way we treat behaviour in schools has been transformed in recent years.  You only have to look back to the 1987 Education Act, according to the Sunday Herald to see the abolishment of the belt in state schools.  Compare that with today where we have so many different support systems in place to help tackle disruptive behaviour in schools.  Graduating from physical punishment to behavioural support in just under 30 years appears to be a clear example of the development of education.  The use of technology in schools is another very new and constantly improving area of education.  Technology is rapidly, if not already becoming part of our everyday classrooms and in my opinion for very good reason.  If we adapt our curriculum to reflect the outside world it is therefore necessary to include technology as we are now living in a world surrounded by ICT and weird and wonderful computer creations.

Relating back to my previous point, in many classrooms we do still listen to the teacher talk and write things from the board but I think the main thing to mention is that this is not the only teaching method.  Many teachers take it upon themselves to create a much more interactive and fun learning environment for their pupils.  Therefore, I think this answers the question on how much education has changed.  It has obviously been revolutionised and modernised over that past few decades but some aspects do stay the same.  This doesn’t mean we are stuck in the past but this simply means, in my opinion that certain of these “old-fashioned” methods still work.  I speak from personal experience that I learn from someone speaking to me about the information, therefore the process of the teacher standing and delivering the material works for me.  I am aware that this is not the case for everyone and feel that the process and adaptation of education is something which will continue to evolve and will hopefully come up with a variety of processes to suit the learning styles of all young people.