Re-imagining Higher Education: Students test different class models

What will education look like in 2030? Students have experimented with different classroom formats. While we cannot predict the future, conversations and experiments like these serve as wake-up calls – reminders of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for higher education.

Are students gravitating toward online learning, or do they still crave the energy of a physical classroom? In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, these questions are no longer hypothetical; they are shaping the future of higher education. With universities adapting to a post-pandemic world and AI advancements accelerating at an unprecedented pace, the classroom as we know it may soon become unrecognizable. This potential transformation was recently explored at HdM in a course where innovative approaches to learning were put to the test to predict what education might look like in 2030.

A Hybrid Model: Blending Online Learning with Hands-On Exams

The first concept class I attended focused on a hybrid model. In this class, the structure primarily involved attending lectures online from the comfort of one’s home. However, the exam used an in-person collaboration exercise to apply what had been learned.

During the trial of this class, I experienced what this exam would look like. Along with four other students, I was tasked with investigating whether the information cited in an article was true or not. We had to solve puzzles and work our way through an escape-style scenario – all while reciting information about journalistic ethics, how to interview a source, and more.

For an exam, I believe this to be a truly excellent model. Traditional exams often revolve around the outdated idea of simply reciting information, which provides no incentive for students to think independently about the topic or retain anything from it. In this tested model, collaboration was not only encouraged but necessary. With each task being lengthy and involving puzzles, multiple people were needed to solve it in the allotted time. This created discourse and discussion, challenging each other’s ideas while staying relevant to the topic. In our group, we found ourselves debating: “Is this the best question to ask the source?” “Does anyone remember this?” It was incredible to see how we were capable of not only thinking deeply but also learning during an exam. This was a truly unique model that I would love to see more classrooms adopt.

AI in the Classroom: A Robotic Lecture vs. Human Engagement

The next open-concept class I attended aimed to showcase artificial intelligence’s potential role in the classroom. The leaders of this class first had us watch an AI robot teach a video lecture on journalism. As one might imagine, it was completely mundane and dull. The robot spoke in a monotone voice and delivered a lackluster lecture. Looking around at my fellow classmates, it was clear that everyone was disinterested. At first, I was skeptical – there’s no way the people leading this think it’s effective. But how they modeled it was actually genius.

Following the lifeless robot lecture, each student took turns leading the next part of the class. They brought up possible use cases for AI in classrooms, as well as potential concerns. One by one, they spoke with enthusiasm, asked questions, answered questions, and engaged the audience. This was an ingenious way of demonstrating the stark contrast between an AI-led lecture and a traditional human-led one.

The differences were abundantly clear: human professors are necessary because they provide a level of engagement that cannot be replicated by a robot. The lecture ended with the teachers giving us tasks that required the students to use AI to complete. We then discussed our experiences and thoughts. I really loved this example of a modern classroom. From the range of robot professors to completing assignments with AI, the model recognized that AI has a place in higher education – and that is the direction classrooms in 2030 are likely to take. But more importantly, this class effectively showcased how human lecturers and certain elements of traditional lectures are simply irreplaceable.

Beyond the Classroom: Learning Through Field Trips

The final open class exploring possibilities for classrooms in 2030 was a field trip. When I first heard “field trip,” my mind flashed to memories of visiting the aquarium in fifth grade. This narrow frame of reference made me question what role a “field trip” could play in higher education. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how applicable it was – not only to the class but also to my own professional growth.

The teachers of this open class took us to ARENA2036 on the University of Stuttgart campus. ARENA2036 is a collaboration between industry leaders, startups, and universities in the tech and automotive fields. At this location, they have state-of-the-art research halls, labs, and showcases featuring the development of current projects. We had the opportunity to tour this facility, but through the lens of a communication specialist. A member of the marketing team showed us around the building, explaining different projects and current innovations. At the end of the lecture, we learned about his career path in communications and had the chance to ask questions.

In universities, lectures often cater to only one kind of learner: the auditory learner – those who learn best by absorbing spoken information. However, this one-size-fits-all approach fails to make learning accessible for visual learners, kinesthetic learners, and reading/writing learners. With the opportunity to walk around, and visually look at active projects happening, the class became much more than a traditional lecture. This field trip served as a great reminder of how experiential learning can be far more inclusive. Not only did it allow for better retention for auditory and kinesthetic learners, but it also put classroom content into a real-world context. This is especially valuable, as students often become disillusioned with coursework that feels disconnected from everyday life. This firsthand, real-world experience is a perfect model that more classrooms should adopt.

What Will Education Look Like in 2030?

No one knows for certain what the year 2030 will entail, but a few things remain clear: hybrid models inspired by a post-pandemic world will continue to focus on engagement, and field trips will help bring university classes into a broader, more practical context. And no, human lecturers will most likely not be replaced by robots. While we cannot predict the future, conversations and experiments like these serve as wake-up calls – reminders of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for higher education.

Author: Laura Taylor