Paradigms to drive higher education 4.0

Abstract

This paper discusses two important paradigms that should to be present to fuel the needs of today’s technology driven environment - roles of teacher education that must be changed and the eco-system of the learning institutions itself. Access to education has moved away from the traditional campus environment to a technology driven platform. New tools and technologies have provided borderless and flexible learning. Change in education is undergoing at an unprecedented speed never experienced before. Teachers are the front-liners towards helping children reach their potential, however this paper argues that current teaching staff may lack the pedagogy to teach in this ‘digitised’ world and to be competent to lead their ward into the new era of technology driven experiences. Therefore, reforms in the content and teaching of student teachers become imperative. The second paradigm looks at the institutions of higher learning itself. The paper asserts that these institutions need to move away from the traditional way of imparting knowledge and conducting research to a new way of doing which provides autonomy to educators and learners through technology. Teaching and learning approaches, innovation, and value-added student experiences which use technology are all part of the concept of Higher Education 4.0.