Top Predictions for Education in 2024

Miaplaza, Inc. is elevating online learning and making it more effective than ever before.

Published Jan 23, 2024

The past year has seen many ups and downs for the education industry. For example, artificial intelligence, nationwide cuts in public education budgets, an increase in DEI efforts, and an increasing need for adaptive and personalized education dominated last year. Trends for 2024 include many of the same themes, with a few new surprises on the horizon. 

Here are some of our top predictions for the education industry in 2024: 

1. Increase in hybrid learning models

In the coming year, we think that hybrid learning models will become even more widespread as more workplaces adopt a similar hybrid model.

With the constant improvements in education technology, many schools across the country are incorporating technology into their curriculum. Whether through administering Chromebooks or managing assignments with Canvas and Google Classroom, schools everywhere are centralizing technology in education. 

With learning technology becoming increasingly accessible, new opportunities for a hybrid learning model arise. This can be beneficial for students who live in remote areas, students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, or students without reliable transportation. It also allows teachers to reach more students without the distractions of classroom management. 

2. Gamification 

In 2024, we predict that gamification will continue to play a key role in student engagement and grow with the widespread use of technology. 

Since the post-pandemic return to classrooms, teachers are noticing some common issues in public schools — students’ attention spans and comprehension levels are declining. Without the structures and routines of the school environment, many students experienced a significant learning slide during distance learning and now feel disengaged with their education. 

It has been particularly an issue for those just learning to read or do basic math at the beginning of 2020. Many of these students lost access to the effective, foundational teaching they needed. 

Gamification is a great solution for keeping students engaged and interested in learning. It captures students’ attention and takes the “chore” out of learning. In fact, research has shown better learning outcomes than expected, such as increased motivation, engagement, and interaction in a more immersive educational experience. Simply put, gamification makes learning fun!

3. Additional focus on soft skills and STEM

This year, we’re expecting to see an increased focus on soft skills, both in the classroom and online. Especially for online learners, communication and collaboration are important skills for success.. 

The pandemic has also caused a decrease in social abilities and soft skills. Soft skills such as adaptability, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking are becoming increasingly important in the workforce (source), and it’s best to have children start practicing them early.. Online learning platforms in particular encourage children to communicate with their teachers and collaborate with peers on group projects. Gamification or competitive group games can help students learn teamwork, leadership, and time management.

The renewed focus on STEM isn’t necessarily new, but it’s still equally as important for job opportunities. With booming job opportunities in various STEM fields, increasing exposure to and interest in STEM can help students gain interest in important, high-demand careers.

4. Significant changes to reading instruction

In 2024, we predict that the way reading is taught will become more uniform and have a heavier focus on the basics, such as phonics, rather than depending on context clues and sight reading. 

The Science of Reading is becoming more prevalent in public schools, with some states pushing to make it a legal curriculum requirement. The Science of Reading is a collection of research that suggests the most efficient, effective, and accessible way to learn how to read. There are five major focuses in this theory: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. By focusing on these five areas, states aim to increase reading abilities by grade level and improve reading comprehension and reading experiences for future students.

5. More career and technical education opportunities

Finally, we think that our high school students will begin to explore more career opportunities that don’t include a four-year university degree. Colleges across the country are raising tuition yearly, and with massive tech layoffs, trades will become a more attractive (and affordable) option.

For high school students, career preparation and technical skills are becoming a more prevalent part of their studies. Some states even require public high school students to earn at least one credit in a technical education or career prep class. By providing additional career support to students in high school, students are looking at technical schools and trades as viable alternatives to a four-year degree. Increased career and technical education opportunities also help students build a four-year plan after graduation. This can help them find quicker success in the workforce after graduation. 

Innovation at Miaplaza

At Miaplaza, innovation and accessibility in education are at the forefront of everything we do. We’re preparing our online homeschool curriculum to be future-proof by adding more STEM courses and electives, creating a gamified learning environment, and continually improving our reading courses with the most relevant and up-to-date learning strategies. In addition, our online homeschool supports the remote learning environment to bring a quality education to as many students as possible. For our students enrolled in our MiaPrep Online High School, they can enjoy multiple seminars and firsthand career insights from professionals in a variety of career fields! 

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How do you think education will evolve in 2024? Is there anything on this list that you plan to implement for your product, classroom, or company? Let us know in the comments below!