The future of education in Latvia is closely tied to the ability to constantly evolve not only teaching methods but also learning approaches. In order for students to successfully adapt to the challenges of the modern world, innovative educational tools based on the latest research and technology are essential. Furthermore, it is important not only to keep up with changes in the education sector but also to actively create an environment that promotes the continuous growth of both teachers and students, discovering new approaches and solutions. Only through such an approach can we ensure that education remains relevant, effective, and motivating for everyone – both students and teachers.
Currently, the Latvian Council of Science is coordinating the final stages of the national research program project "Innovative Solutions for the Implementation of Blended Learning in the Context of Digital Transformation of the Learning Process." As part of this project, researchers are actively exploring, studying, and developing new approaches to make teaching and learning more effective and tailored to modern needs, as well as finding the best ways to support teachers in their teaching and students in their learning.
In this process, there is a unanimous agreement that we can no longer ignore technology and its integration into the learning process. Thought must also be given to the examples used in teaching, the ways in which students are engaged, and how specific topics or formulas are learned, as well as how to encourage students to analyze and argue. Many assumptions about how the human brain works, as well as what leads to results in the learning process, have been tested and proven in practice around the world, and these methodologies that are not effective must be left in the past. This forms the foundation of the researchers' work.
Global Experience and Our Solutions
Researchers base their work on international studies that evaluate the effectiveness of various pedagogical methods, the relationship between the learning process and outcome effectiveness, the experience of other countries, as well as the connection to Latvia's education system, opportunities, and traditions. It is important to remember that methods that work in other countries must be taken into account, but they need to be carefully analyzed and adapted to our system. This is the researchers' main task – to adjust the learning process to the modern digital age and to the educational environment of our country.
Technology – A Tool for Growth or a Time Thief?
The daily life and experiences of today's children, as well as their needs, differ from those of previous generations. Therefore, when used skillfully and purposefully, technology can significantly improve the learning process. The old saying that a knife is just a tool is fitting here. It becomes either a weapon or a chef's most important tool only through human action. Similarly, technology is neither inherently good nor bad. When used wisely and with purpose, it becomes the best support for the learning process. If used aimlessly, it becomes an addictive time thief.
The availability of information also dictates completely new demands in the education system. Today's paths of exploration are unimaginable without Google. Additionally, there are vast digital resources and the ability to acquire information in numerous interactive and high-quality ways. The content of social networks undoubtedly influences the experiences and perceptions of young people, as well as the way they learn. This requires a new perspective on the learning process and, most importantly, it changes the role of the teacher and the meaning of the learning process.
It must be remembered that school is no longer the only way to acquire knowledge and information. Moreover, schools must not only teach subject matter but also help students develop skills – critical thinking, analyzing, distinguishing and evaluating information and its sources, proving, discussing, and arguing. These tasks are essential and form the core of the researchers' work in developing new teaching methodologies.
What Worked Yesterday, No Longer Works Today
In the learning process, scientists are also working on specific examples and content that is understandable to today's children. In education, situations should be eliminated where, for example, in a mathematics word problem, students are asked to calculate operations that are no longer relevant or understandable today. It is essential to remember that, in the past, children learned to count using real coins, but today they pay with payment cards. Similarly, children used to learn to tell time on a traditional clock, but now they check the time on digital clocks. There are many such examples in the curriculum, and these must be taken into account to ensure that the learning process keeps pace with the times.
Equally important is the way in which teachers explain a subject. For example, while the Pythagorean theorem is the same, it can be explained in different ways. If we give a teacher only the task of teaching a concept but do not specify the most effective way to do so, the results will vary greatly. It is important to provide teachers with these tools, tailored to our educational environment.
Collaboration Between Scientists and Teachers
It is very valuable that hundreds of active teachers from Latvia are involved in this research project because both they and the researchers realize that today's students are full-fledged representatives of the digital society. They, and future students, need a modern learning process that includes the latest technologies and pedagogical methods.
In order to successfully replace teaching methods that are currently ineffective with new or adapted methods, or create learning materials where none exist, researchers analyze lessons in schools, organize focus groups and training, and adapt solutions to the daily needs of schools and the requirements of the curriculum. Teachers not only acquire these new skills but are also part of the research process. For example, when researchers develop a new method, they invite teachers to participate in learning it. During this process, teachers test and experiment with the method, trying to put themselves in the students' shoes, while researchers observe and analyze what works and what needs improvement. This interactive work helps balance digital and practical approaches and also aids in understanding how to adapt global education trends to the Latvian context.
Science-Based Materials for Teachers and Parents
The researchers are also focused on preparing teaching materials and learning methodologies in the fields of natural sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics for grades 1-6, as well as history and social sciences for grades 10-12. The researchers' tasks are not only limited to this. They must make these ideas accessible to all involved, so short, practically applicable video methods for parents are also created, allowing families to continue and support the learning process in a modern and scientifically proven effective way.
Ready for Tomorrow
Currently, Latvia's education system is undergoing significant changes, with scientists and teachers working together to adapt the learning process to the digital age. By combining technology with the latest pedagogical research, effective and engaging learning materials are being created that develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills. Ultimately, the work of Latvian scientists is shaping a learning environment that is not only ready for today but also for the challenges of the future.
Photo: Latvian Council of Science