3 key opportunities to address education’s biggest challenges

Key points:

While most students say they are eager to learn and say they feel a strong sense of belonging in school, teachers still face challenges that slow improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes, according to a new report from Discovery Education.

Teachers are eager to embrace changes that produce positive outcomes, but major barriers to those outcomes remain, according to The Education Insights Report by Discovery Education.

The report reveals key areas of opportunity for addressing student engagement and captures prevailing attitudes and beliefs from superintendents, teachers, parents, and students.

Three focus areas emerged in the report:

1. All stakeholders must foster student engagement to motivate curiosity, inspire exploration, and activate effective learning. Research shows that students who are engaged are more likely to find learning interesting and empowering. Sixty-eight percent of teachers say that getting students excited about learning is a top challenge for them. What’s more, almost all teachers and students (94 percent) agree that curiosity is key to unlocking learning, but 80 percent of students say there are not enough opportunities to be curious. Students must be appropriately challenged in their learning, and prioritizing curiosity and exploration can fuel student engagement.

2. Career exploration and 21st-century skill development are increasingly critical because teachers, parents, and students feel concerned about students’ preparedness for the future as the workforce evolves. When students see how their current studies connect to potential career paths, they are more likely to be motivated and invested in their education. This integration of curiosity-driven learning and practical exploration of future opportunities guides students toward both academic and career success. Sixty-seven percent of students worry that their education is not evolving to meet future workforce needs. Seventy-four percent of superintendents believe student preparedness for job opportunities has improved compared to five years ago, while only 41 percent of teachers agree. As educators work to engage and motivate students, survey findings suggest they must sharpen their focus in two key areas to better prepare students for the future–career readiness and developing interpersonal skills.

3. Providing more targeted support for teachers and students can increase confidence and improve outcomes. Studies show that teachers who feel supported are more likely to experience job satisfaction and remain in the profession longer, creating a more stable and effective learning environment for students. Research consistently shows that personalized learning approaches–where
instruction is tailored to students’ unique strengths, needs, and interests–lead to better academic outcomes, increased engagement, and higher levels of motivation.

“While The Education Insights Report by Discovery Education found that students, parents, teachers, and superintendents have a generally positive outlook about the current state of education, it also found there are hurdles to overcome,” said Brian Shaw, Discovery Education’s CEO. “Educators have concerns about keeping students engaged, and students feel uncertain about their preparedness for the future. Discovery Education’s goal with this research is to spotlight opportunities for improvement so that all stakeholders can collaborate to solve these challenges and create brighter futures for all learners.”

Additional findings include:

• Curiosity is important to everyone. There is broad agreement on the importance of curiosity in learning, with more than 90 percent of stakeholders surveyed agreeing that curiosity is central to learning. However, 82 percent of students and 75 percent of teachers believe there are not enough opportunities to be curious in today’s classrooms.
• Students want to learn more life skills. Eighty-eight percent of district leaders, teachers, parents, and students rate life skills as very important, but only 57 percent of students believe their schools adequately teach the life skills needed for future success.
• Teachers see promise in adaptive learning. Ninety-three percent of teachers believe adaptive learning resources would help students learn more effectively and 75 percent of students say learning at their own pace would increase the likelihood of their engaging with lessons, feeling empowered in school, and more prepared for the future.
• Time is of the essence. Ninety-four percent of teachers surveyed reported that they are seeking classroom tools that will give them time back to focus on students.
• AI tools from education experts are more trusted. When it comes to Artificial Intelligence, 72 percent of teachers and parents, as well as 85 percent of superintendents surveyed, believe AI-powered customized learning materials are more trustworthy when built by experts in education. In addition, 84 percent of teachers and 90 percent of superintendents believe that as teachers receive more training on how to use AI, it will become a more trusted tool in education.

Survey data was collected by The Harris Poll, an industry-leading research organization, on behalf of Discovery Education in August 2024. It included 1,524 responses from K-12 students, parents of K-12 students, and K-12 teachers and superintendents.

Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

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