Free course

Looking globally: the future of education

Free statement of participation on completion
Looking globally: the future of education
Looking globally: the future of education
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Course description

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The next generation will need many different skills to those we can easily imagine today. Young people will need to be able to learn quickly and efficiently, to think critically and dismiss fake facts, and to offer creative solutions for problems that no-one has yet considered. With this in mind, we will explore three big themes that are challenging the world itself and therefore education:  the environment, demographic changes and the impact of technological advances. The key question is: is education fit for this future?

You will be invited to look to the future and to reflect on the past and learn from it. Think with us about what we can do as educationalists to support young people to meet the challenges ahead. 

On this free course you will be able to enhance your learning by collaborating and interacting with others online.

Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they're a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development.

Once you are signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition, you can download and print your OpenLearn statement of participation - which also displays your Open University badge.

Completing this course and gaining the badge will count towards part of the first assessment of the Open University Masters module EE830 Educating the next generation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • develop a personal vision for an education for the twenty-first century and beyond
  • recognise different ways of thinking about the purpose of education
  • think about how the world is changing and what is driving those changes before considering what education should be like in the future
  • reflect on the current system in which you work or have an interest, identifying what has been achieved and the most pressing issues.

The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course before you begin, in our optional start-of-course survey. Once you complete the course we would also value your feedback and suggestions for future improvement, in our optional end-of-course survey. Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to others.

Looking globally: the future of education

Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.

First Published: 09/05/2017

Updated: 05/02/2020

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