Transformation of education: From the traditional model to digitalization

Education has traditionally been seen as a process of knowledge transfer from teacher to student. Its main task was to ensure basic literacy and assimilation of academic disciplines, which met the needs of industrial society, but the modern paradigm of education goes beyond these limits. It focuses on developing the competencies and skills necessary for adaptation and success in an ever-changing world.

Modern education integrates three key functions: it is a tool for knowledge transfer, a platform for the development of critical thinking and soft skills (soft skills).

Education used to be one-way and now becomes individualized and interactive. Such a change indicates the transition of society from the industrial era to the informational and globalized one.

In the period from 1920s to 1970s for years, education was aimed at preparing for an industrial society. Its main goal was to transfer to students a certain amount of knowledge necessary for work in factories and plants. The training focused on memorizing facts, acquiring basic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic. The frontal method dominated, where the teacher acted as the only source of knowledge and the student — as the passive recipient. Assessment was primarily through standardized tests and exams testing only the memorization level. Technology was limited to textbooks, boards, and chalk.

WITH 1980s to 2000s the age of computers and information began years ago. There was an understanding that there was too much knowledge, so the key was not their memorization, but the ability to find and analyze information. New methods began to be introduced into the educational process, in particular, project-based learning, which allowed students to work on real problems, combining knowledge from different disciplines. Evaluation has become more diverse: in addition to traditional tests, presentations, portfolios and project works have appeared. The first computers in schools were used mainly to learn the basics of programming, but had not yet been integrated into the everyday learning process.

Modern education is global and technological, its goal is to develop the competencies necessary for a flexible and fast-changing world. Educational programs focus on critical thinking, creativity, communication, and teamwork. Learning becomes personalized, allowing students to choose individual educational trajectories. The teacher turns into a mentor who helps students unlock their potential. Technology is fully integrated into the process: artificial intelligence, virtual reality and online platforms make learning interactive and accessible. Evaluation has also changed, it is based on simulations, virtual laboratories and other methods that test not only knowledge, but also the ability to apply it.

With the integration of technology, the geographical and financial barriers that used to limit access to knowledge are gradually disappearing. Thanks to online platforms, students from all over the world can gain knowledge from leading universities, receiving certificates of high value in the global labor market.

The traditional approach of all students in one class following a single programme becomes ineffective. Modern educational philosophy is based on the principle that each person has a unique pace, style and interests of learning. Personalization allows you to adapt educational programs to the individual needs of the student.

In today's world, professional knowledge is becoming obsolete and the concept of one-time education is losing its relevance. The diploma ceased to be the end point of study. Instead, continuous updating of knowledge and lifelong skills development becomes a vital necessity. This is due to the fact that the labour market is constantly being transformed, requiring professionals to be flexible. This is stated in the concept of Lifelong Learning.

The excessive flow of unlimited access to information creates a new problem — information overload. The availability of data does not always guarantee their validity, making it imperative to develop media literacy and critical thinking. Modern education should teach students not just to consume information, but to analyze it, to distinguish facts from fakes. This skill is becoming one of the most important for navigation in today's world.