With over 50% of Generation Y – Millennials – already enjoying parenthood, the focus on the most effective mode of educating their children has become increasingly important. As with every other choice made by this generation, their approach towards education is quite nontraditional. Of the various alternate learning methods, ‘do it yourself’/ DIY education seems to be the most promising choice for today’s kids.
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DIY education – Changing the dynamics of teaching and learning
Education should play a facilitative role in providing the relevant skills needed to meet the latest requirements of an evolving market. Tomorrow’s technology will give rise to job requirements that do not even exist at present. Therefore, Millennials are looking for an education paradigm that encourages early adaptability, builds decision-making skills, and instills the confidence of independent thinking.
The essential point here is that not every child learns at the same pace. Therefore, what is needed is a learning process that is specifically tailored to the specific requirements of each student.
DIY education – In sync with changing lifestyles
The latest data from the US Census Bureau reveals that Millennials made up 45% of movers in the last few years. This dynamic lifestyle, in which the probability of long-term stay at a single location is very low, also means that the traditional schooling system is not a viable option. Alternate forms of learning such as distance education courses, online programs, and DIY education kits have emerged as practical learning solutions.
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Bringing the financial aspect of education into the picture
Apart from encouraging children to focus courses that interest them, DIY education is also cost-effective. On average, parents in the US spend close to $60,000 on their childrens’ education, from primary school through college. Along with the US, parents in Hong Kong, UAE, and Singapore are among the biggest spenders on child education.
Today, when skill development is critical to success, many children are severely limited due to the expensive nature of education. DIY education presents a practical solution to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of the learning process.
Briefly, DIY education helps students:
- Pursue courses of their choice, at their own pace
- Provides the option to ‘test’ if the course meets their individual requirements
- Take a strong stand against the commercialization of the education industry, where Universities are turning into “degree-granting machinery,” and the learning process takes a huge hit
Will schools and colleges eventually become outdated?
At present, a degree from a reputable college / university adds important credibility to an individual’s profile. Thus, to assume that alternate modes of education will make traditional schools and colleges obsolete may be a bit extreme. However, the monopoly of providing degrees and educating young minds will certainly no longer remain with the traditional paradigm.
As it has always been, the basic goal of the education system should be knowledge sharing and shaping every individual’s mind to perform to the best of its capabilities. This is what DIY education tools and kits strive to provide. The future of education is on the threshold of a major revamp, and according to our industry experts, the change will be a rather positive one.
