5 Curriculum Trends to Enhance Student Learning Experiences

Since most K-12 learning now takes place in both face-to-face and digital settings, some students do part of their homework and schoolwork online. To keep up with the digital literacy of their students, educators must consider both group dynamics and individual needs for overall student success. By using current curriculum trends to enhance student learning, educators can incorporate smartphones, tailor learning to a student’s individual needs, actively engage in projects, use game elements to captivate students and use settings outside the classroom (virtual or otherwise) to make learning interactive.

A Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction online from Mississippi College (MC) can give you the skills to transform your classroom and enhance student achievement.

Curriculum Trends to Strengthen Student Outcomes

The educational landscape continues to change at a rapid pace. Educators can be prepared to teach in-person or online classes by keeping up with current trends in curriculum and instruction. Personalized learning and self-care are important to keep students and teachers on track, no matter what the future of learning looks like.

Here are five curriculum trends that can enhance learning and improve student outcomes:

1. Project-based learning. Students learn by participating in projects that examine real-world problems. Project-based learning requires more than simply memorizing and regurgitating facts. To solve a problem or address a complex question, students need to work on the project for an extended period of time. Since the project is the lesson, students develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills while aiming to produce high-quality work with their classmates.
2. Personalized learning. Since children learn at different paces and in different ways, students involved in personalized learning work with their teachers to set goals and base their learning on their existing knowledge and skills. With this method of learning, teachers can incorporate accommodations and accessible learning strategies to encourage student engagement.
3. Mobile learning. As the name would suggest, incorporating smartphones and tablets into the learning experience constitutes mobile learning. Students can learn anytime and anywhere by using apps and online educational sites. Using mobile technology can help students create, look up definitions, keep updated on current events, collaborate, and share.
4. The idea behind gamification is that students learn more when they’re having fun. Gamification in education uses game-based elements to teach students new information. By using video game features such as point scoring, progression through levels, competition and teamwork, students can be motivated and engaged to focus on learning. Instead of feeling discouraged by failure, students can be excited to try again in a relaxed atmosphere.
5. Experiential learning. In this teaching method, students learn through firsthand experience. Immersing students in learning opportunities via field trips (in-person or virtual) and assigning activities to encourage them to learn outside of the classroom allows them to develop skills and knowledge. By keeping students engaged in the learning process, this type of education can foster community involvement, critical-thinking skills, and collaboration.

Next Steps

With various start dates and expedited online coursework, MC’s M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction program can help prepare students for careers as education specialists, instructional coordinators, program administrators or curriculum and assessment directors. This program can help you design and execute assessment plans that support student achievement, adapt strategies to meet student needs, establish student-centered learning environments, participate in leadership opportunities and apply methods to develop skills and knowledge in multiple content areas.

Learn more about Mississippi College’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction online program.