Testing Times in the Classroom: Challenges of 21st Century Education from FutureLearn

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone with an interest in education, including teachers, students, and parents. This course will also be of interest to an international audience. No prior qualifications in education are required. You can use the hashtag #FLreimaginingeducation to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

What education means in an era where assessment rules and where big data and key performance indicators are key.
In what ways education is now routinely linked to economic progress.
Whether the purpose of education has changed in the 21st century.
What positive alternatives exist to challenge dominant instrumental thinking? How have these been enacted and how can we learn from them in our own educational thinking?
Whether education can be considered as a business or corporate activity?
Other visions of education including social justice.

Reviews summary

Critical lens on education's modern challenges

According to students, 'Testing Times in the Classroom' offers a thought-provoking and highly relevant examination of 21st-century educational challenges. Learners consistently praise its ability to challenge assumptions and provide deeper understanding of topics like assessment's influence, big data in education, and the link to economic progress. While many found the lectures well-structured and expert interviews insightful, some newer teachers or parents desired more practical applications over its predominantly theoretical and philosophical approach. Overall, it's considered an essential course for critical reflection on the future of learning.

Ideal for educators and academics seeking conceptual understanding.

"As a seasoned teacher, I found it validated many of my own concerns and offered new perspectives to consider."

"Good for academics, maybe less for general public [or primary school teachers]."

"As an education policy student, this course was invaluable. It provided a robust framework for understanding complex interplay."

Addresses pressing issues like assessment, data, and economic links in education.

"The content felt incredibly relevant, and the way it delved into topics like KPIs and big data was illuminating."

"An excellent exploration of critical issues in 21st-century education."

"Absolutely vital for anyone in education. It articulates the pressures and challenges beautifully and inspires you to think differently."

Encourages learners to challenge assumptions about modern education.

"This course was incredibly thought-provoking and timely. It really challenged my assumptions about modern education..."

"Absolutely brilliant! This course opened my eyes to the commercialization of education..."

"It makes you question everything and rethink the purpose of learning. This course is a critical analysis..."

Strong on identifying issues, but some desired more constructive solutions.

"It spent a lot of time on problems but offered little in terms of solutions."

"The course felt very negative about the current state of education without offering much hope or practical ways forward."

"I felt a bit heavy on critique without enough constructive proposals."

Explores concepts deeply but offers limited actionable classroom strategies.

"My only minor critique is that sometimes it felt a bit too theoretical, and I would have liked more concrete examples..."

"I was hoping for more actionable strategies for dealing with testing pressures in my classroom."

"It is definitely geared towards those interested in the theoretical and philosophical aspects, rather than classroom management tips."

Career center

Learners who complete Testing Times in the Classroom: Challenges of 21st Century Education will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: