The future of education: Five big changes ahead for teaching in Australia

The future of education: Five big changes ahead for teaching in Australia

Rapid industry growth and technological advancements are evolving schools and classrooms. What does it all mean for the future of education?

Rapid industry growth and technological advancements are evolving schools and classrooms. What does it all mean for the future of education?

Rapid industry growth and technological advancements are evolving schools and classrooms. What does it all mean for the future of education?

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Teaching in Australia is ripe with potential. Jobs in teaching have been increasing exponentially, with the number of workers increasing by 46,800 (or 4%) over the last year1.   

To help you understand the changes that are affecting teaching in Australia and give you glimpse of what’s on the horizon, we pulled together five key ways education is set to change in the near future. 

Two RMIT education students in a classroom with a primary school student

1. The future of education is connection and collaboration

Teaching in Australia is beginning to become more digitally connected and innovative as new ways of learning change the devices and technology used in the classroom. Emerging technology such as virtual and augmented reality are already introducing new ways of exploring education. 

The concept of a teacher standing in front of a room full of students who listen and respond to direction is increasingly a thing of the past, according to RMIT School of Education Professor Tricia McLaughlin. 

While not an entirely new approach, student learning spaces will supersede the typical classroom that we know today. This will see students become partners or co-creators of their own learning.  

“Experiences that allow collaboration, communication and teamwork for all students often happen beyond classroom walls. We need to facilitate for these experiences in context, and our classrooms need to be a reflection of this,” McLaughlin says. 

They will be set up to allow collaboration to occur on learning projects between individuals, small groups or larger groups. 

2. Teacher shortage creating education opportunities

The growing shortage of secondary teachers in recent years has led the Victorian Government to roll out support for the training of future educators. 

After promising cuts to the study costs of education courses, the Government said it would also contribute to a $229.8 million drive to grow the school workforce over the next few years2. 

In addition to creating opportunities for future education students, the teacher shortage represents an exciting market for graduates. Across Australia, roles for teachers are predicted to increase by 9.4% by 2025, and with over 14,000 teaching roles available across Australia in 2024, this field holds significant potential for those looking to build a career in teaching3. 

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the growing demand for teachers across Australia with RMIT’s education courses. 

If you’re looking to gain the foundational knowledge to start working as a teacher, the Bachelor of Education might be right for you. If you have a background in a certain field already and are looking to gain the expertise to teach it, you should check out the Master of Education. 

The newly introduced Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) specialisation gives you a broad knowledge of learning, teaching, curriculum and assessment as a primary generalist, while also providing specialised focus on subject-specific secondary teaching.  

If you’re unsure where your passion lies between Primary and Secondary teaching, this course pairs both! You'll develop a teaching skillset that prepares you for classes from primary all the way to VCE. You’ll also get in-depth knowledge and expertise in your chosen area, whether it be biology, English, mathematics, physical education, or psychology. 

3. Education scholarships are supporting teachers in training

As part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to supporting jobs in teaching, students who enrol and commence a secondary school teaching degree in 2024 and 2024 may be eligible for a ‘Secondary Teaching Scholarship (STS)’.  

The Secondary School Scholarship consists of two phases; a study phase and an employment phase. Eligible undergraduate students could receive up to approximately $18,000 across the study and employment phases combined, while eligible postgraduate students could receive approximately $9,000 in total across the phases4. Make sure to check your eligibility before applying. 

Remember: this scholarship is specific to secondary or dual qualification (primary-secondary)  school initial teacher education degrees, such as the Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) and the Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education).   

If you’re planning on studying the Master of Teaching Practice (Secondary Education) you should also know about the Teach Tomorrow scholarship which provides eligible students with $15,000 while they study for the first 6-12 months. 

If you’re interested in an education scholarship but aren’t planning on studying a secondary education course, there are other scholarships you might be eligible for at RMIT. 

RMIT education student helping a primary school student

4. A learner-first approach is driving customised education

Alongside our changing notions of what constitutes a classroom, our ideas about the way teaching is delivered will also reshape. 

“Most professions treat each individual’s case differently – each patient of a doctor has individualised treatment plans. Education should be no different,” McLaughlin says. 

With new teaching methods becoming more common, the older ‘one model of teaching and learning fits all’ is being phased out. Teachers are becoming facilitators of learning and students are having more control of their learning journey. 

“In the past, all children did the same work regardless of ability or skills. We now know that this contributes to disengagement, misbehaviour and poor outcomes,” she says. 

As a result, teachers have individualised learning plans for students, which has enabled each student to learn at a pace that best suits their abilities and to engage with content that is most beneficial to them. 

Personalised and engaging teaching practices are at the heart of RMIT’s Education courses. Through hands-on learning in real-world classrooms and specialised teaching models, RMIT Education students are being given the tools to guide young minds with personalised learning. 

5. The educators of the future are dynamic

Curriculum teaching and learning already extends well beyond the classroom and will continue to do so, and as education changes to suit the future’s needs, jobs in teaching are growing and presenting teachers with more opportunities to expand their skillsets. This means that educators are being empowered with the ability to seize new opportunities and ways of teaching. 

In light of a shift towards a more personalised learner experience, teachers of the future can pick up many skill sets that will enhance and inform their teaching. Personalised teaching and working with next-gen technology in the classroom is allowing the educators of tomorrow to gain skills as data collectors, analysts, planners, collaborators, curriculum experts, synthesizers, problem-solvers and researchers. 

 

Story: Jacob Johnston

 

1Australia Government. ‘Labour Market Insights: Education and Training’. Accessed 18 September 2024. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/labour-market-insights/industries/education-and-training.  

2 ABC News. ‘Victorian government offers free secondary teaching degrees to tackle teacher shortage’. Accessed 18 September 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-12/victoria-free-secondary-teaching-degrees/102844100. 

3 Seek. ‘Career Advice - Teacher’. Accessed 18 September 2024. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/teacher. 

4Victorian Government. ‘Scholarships for secondary teaching degrees’. Accessed 18 September 2024. https://www.vic.gov.au/scholarships-secondary-teaching-degrees.  

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Acknowledgement of Country

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