Trends in Education

I It’s been two years since the pandemic and for the first time our focus can shift away from “survival mode” towards “progress mode”. In education, the past three years were mostly spent compensating for learning loss during the pandemic and the knock-on effects it had on the emotional and social development of children. This year, the focus should be on equipping children with the skills needed to survive and thrive in a world where change is inevitable.
On local soil, the Department of Education is continuing with their pilot programme introducing coding and robotics to Grades 4 to 9 with full-scale implementation planned for Grades 4 to 6 in 2024. Whether this is the most crucial skill kids in the South African schooling system need is however debatable. It can be argued that language and mathematical skills should first be fully established before attempting coding and robotics. But, if you want to stay ahead of the game and equip your children for a bright future, embracing technology is not negotiable.
World-wide the new trends in education are:
Virtual and augmented reality
Teaching children to use virtual and augmented reality enables them to learn in an exciting and engaging way. Trips to the National History Museum or exploring the human digestive system are now all possible without leaving the classroom. Because children are exposed to all sorts of media daily, they tend to understand and learn better when exposed to visual materials. Teachers too benefit by sharing information in a new way, not just with chalk on a black board.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Although this may sound like something out of a futuristic film, Artificial Intelligence will change the way we work, shop and educate. AI can specifically help to take over mundane tasks from teachers, for example grading papers, so that teachers can focus on more important things. It can also be used to collect information about a student and help to customise a tutor programme that will meet the specific needs of each student. The fact that each child is unique with a unique learning style and ability lends itself to customised learning for each child.
Holistic learning
A child is a complex human being with many facets. Schools are now expected to develop not only academic skills, but also life skills. Children should be equipped with a skill set that will help them develop into responsible citizens. Studies have found that generally when teachers engage with children on a level beyond their academic needs, the children tend to feel a sense of belonging which carries over to their overall performance at school.
Hybrid learning Post-pandemic and hybrid learning, a mix between distance and in-classroom learning, seems to be a great option, especially for children in remote areas or children with other issues preventing them from attending school regularly. Hybrid learning is unfortunately only an option if children have access to reliable Internet connections and if the teachers are prepared to engage with these learners electronically.
It is evident that although technology should be embraced in education, the role teachers play are now more important than ever. Teachers should be fully equipped and better compensated to handle all the new demands of educating a child in the post-pandemic world. Having said this, parents should continue to play an equally important role. Our children may learn many skills at school, but it is still important to spend time with your child on a daily basis and help them make sense of the world we live in.

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Woman writing math equations on a chalkboard, holding a notebook, with a thought bubble of the pi symbol.

Preparing for Maths Assessments

By Estelle Barnard • October 22, 2025

Mathematics rewards practice with purpose: spaced revision, plenty of self-testing, making notes, checking with feedback, and calm, consistent routines. Below you’ll find exactly how to do this at different stages of school. The Big Three for All Learners Space it out Short, regular sessions beat last-minute marathons. Plan 20–40 minute slots across the week and revisit topics before you forget them. This is known as the spacing effect (Cepeda et al., 2008). Retrieve, don’t just reread Close the book and try to solve or recall from memory. Use past questions, quick quizzes, and “write-from-memory” summaries. Retrieval practice strengthens long-term learning, especially when you check your answers (Roediger & Butler, 2011). Think about your thinking Teach learners to plan, monitor, and evaluate how they study. Simple questions like, “What will I practise today? How will I know I’ve improved?” turn revision from passive to purposeful (EEF, 2018). Primary School (Grades 4–7) Goals Build number sense and fluency (times tables, fractions, decimals). Understand why methods work, not just how to perform them. Study Rhythm Mon/Wed/Fri: 20 min mixed practice (across old and new topics). Tue/Thu: 20 min facts fluency (typically something like time tables or fractions) Weekend: 25–30 min “Teach-Back” session: learner explains one concept aloud (e.g. “How do we find a common denominator?”). High School (Grades 8–12) Goals Strengthen algebraic fluency, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus. Build exam stamina and the ability to select appropriate methods. Exam Preparation Plan Weeks –4 to –3: Cover all topics and create a spaced schedule. Weeks –3 to –2: Attempt past-paper sections; very important to check with detailed memos. Prepare an error log of frequent mistakes. Weeks –2 to –1: Interleave topics and focus more on challenging topics (e.g., trig, functions, geometry). Final Week: Short, focused recall sessions from your “error log.” The Value of Writing Your Own Notes and Step-by-Step Summaries One of the most effective yet overlooked study habits is summarising key procedures in your own words . Mathematics is full of repeatable processes: simplifying fractions, expanding algebraic expressions, finding derivatives using first principles, or completing the square in a quadratic equation. Writing out the steps helps learners form mental blueprints they can rely on in tests. Why this works Research shows that encoding information through writing and explaining strengthens understanding and recall (Dunlosky et al., 2013; MIT Teaching + Learning Lab, 2020). When learners create their own step-by-step summaries: They engage in sense-making, not just copying. They uncover misconceptions early. They connect formulas with reasoning (“why does this step come next?”). They create a quick reference guide for revision. Examples: Simplifying fractions: Find common factors → Divide numerator and denominator → Check if it can simplify further. Completing the square: Divide so that x squared stands on its own →Take the constant term to the right-hand side →Add half of the coefficient of x squared to both sides → Factorise the left-hand side to form a perfect square → Simplify and solve for x. Visualisation and Trigonometry Trigonometry can be tricky until you visualise how angles behave on the Cartesian plane . Remember: in trigonometry, angles are measured from the positive x-axis , moving anticlockwise for positive angles and clockwise for negative ones. (See the labelled diagram above, showing where each trigonometric ratio is positive or negative, including the reduction formulae.) Using StudyChamp Resources Effectively StudyChamp’s detailed memos and step-by-step worked examples make maths study easier: Compare your solution to the memo. Highlight key reasoning steps. Add the process to your “Maths Procedures Notebook”. By exam time, that notebook becomes your own personalised study guide: practical, and written in your own words. References Cepeda, N. J., et al. (2008). Spacing effects in learning: A temporal ridgeline of optimal retention. Psychological Science, 19(11). Dunlosky, J., et al. (2013). Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning Guidance Report. Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1). MIT Teaching + Learning Lab. (2020). Note-Taking and Sense-Making Strategies. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.