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How do you see education, learning and technology intersecting (please include your name)?

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In your sector what do you see as the next “big” technology in the next two years (please include your name)?

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In your sector, what have been the predominant technology changes over the past 20 years (please include your name)?

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In your sector, what have been the predominant learning and education models used over the past 20 years (please include your name)?

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In your sector, what do you see as the next move in learning and education models in the next two years (please include your name)?

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Education and tech are starting to blend in a way that feels a lot more personal and flexible than before. Instead of learning being something you only do in school or at certain points in life, it’s turning into something ongoing that you can tap into whenever you need it.

One of the biggest changes is personalization. Thanks to tools like AI and machine learning, learning systems can adjust to how fast you go, what you’re good at, and where you struggle. So instead of everyone moving at the same pace, it’s more like having a tutor that adapts to you as you go.

Another big shift is how we think about knowledge. Memorizing everything isn’t as important anymore. Now it’s more about skills like thinking critically, solving problems, connecting ideas, engaging with people.

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I think education's next step would be modular learning. Now we commit to long degrees upfront, and I think in the future people will build their education in smaller chunks with shorter programs, certificates, micro-credentials, and real-world projects that can be stackable. It's similar to assembling a tool kit. I also hope learning will be more tightly connected to real work.

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Considering higher education, I think the online/virtual learning model is becoming more and more predominant. (Look at us here!) Twenty years ago, I don't think I could imagine myself doing a graduate program online, though they already existed then. There was this concern with the quality of education, as some people thought that online education was subpar, which we now know is not true. It's convenient, and it allows the learner to pace their educational journey and use the tools that help them learn best.

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One of the changes that I have witnessed has been the use of online meetings and trainings. This has allowed us to connect with staff and volunteers across the country and around the world. We also have more access to digital tools to support monitoring and evaluation efforts along with program delivery and coordination.

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Learning has largely been experience-based and focused on applying skills in realistic contexts. Training is often delivered through workshops and mentoring with an emphasis on reflection and experience sharing.

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In the mental health and psychosocial support and disaster response sector, I see an increase in locally driven learning opportunities where communities lead trainings based on their context. More simple and accessible tools will be available in low resource or rapidly changing environments. This is something that already exists and it will continue to grow as time goes on.

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In the past 20 years, firefighting has gone through tremendous continental shifts, both in technique and technology. As structural materials change in building construction, automotive, and a plethora of chemicals in common societal use, firefighting has also had to make similar changes in how we address all of those hazards and dangers. House fires burn hotter and faster than ever before, cars and portable devices with lithium ion power generate flames that generate it's own oxygen and burns independently and impervious to water and other common or extinguishment methods, and above it all, hazardous materials traverse through cities and towns via 18 wheels and railways unbeknownst to nearby citizens. As a result, firefighting has made drastic attempts to keep up with the ever changing landscape. GPS systems in fire vehicles, sonar for underwater search and rescue, Thermal imaging cameras as small as cell phones, global hazardous materials databases at our fingertips, and advanced drone technology equipped with many of those aforementioned advances give today's fire services a dramatic advance from two decades ago.

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Despite the hazards and technology to fight those hazards advancing, many fire services still teach and train through what is affectionately called "Death by PowerPoint". The provincial governing body divides the educational model into two modes of evaluation: cognitive and psychomotor. Forty and eighty hour courses where between half to two/thirds of the content is delivered by well meaning subject matter experts, often droning on slide by slide covering the cognitive/theory portion with little interaction from their audience, until it's time for the the Hands-On Training (HOT) applicative material. To this day, up to 98% of all material is delivered through PowerPoint or some version of slide presentation. Admittedly, the fire service has also inexorably fostered students to expect training like this, forcing them to suppress their natural curiosity or deeper interest until the 'boring' parts are over.

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Interactive cognitive classroom training and AI Driven Class B Fire Simulation

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Interactive cognitive classroom training and AI Driven Class B Fire Simulation

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I see two potential changes to education and technology in my sector that could drastically change training as we know it: Interactive classroom cognitive training and AI Driven Class B live fire simulation.

Currently there are several VR and XR technologies on the market that enhance firefighter and civilian fire safety in the "fire simulation" space. However, there are many limitations and drawbacks to these, mainly with hardwired or "tethered" environment that reduce options and variability with the space. Perhaps a class B (flammable gas) live fire prop enabled with AI to simulate appropriate (or inappropriate) water application and fire behaviour within different kinds of structures and materials. A kind of fire that would behave similarly to how fire might behave under certain airflow and suppression dynamics.

I also foresee technology empowering instructors to engage students in drastically different ways in the classroom. AI would help to quickly customize classroom learning to help immerse students in the subject - straight into the deep end, so to speak - starting where the students themselves are in life and what they bring to the table, engage in problem solving using the old adage: "take what you know, apply it to what you don't know and learn something new" while sprinkling in new and specifically relevant information as the class goes along. keeping the student engaged throughout.

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In an era defined by artificial intelligence and digital transformation, I believe agentic AI will have a huge impact on human resources. With businesses focused on cost reduction and optimizing productivity by integrating AI and automation, it will shift how businesses integrate HR functions within the organizational ecosystem. The integration of agentic AI will come with its on benefits and risks. Agentic AI can plan HR workflows and functions and independently operate to serve the business by increasing productivity and eliminating mundane tasks. However, I believe not a single technology can ever replace the human-to-human interaction that is built on empathy, trust and communication which can have an adverse effect on employee experience by constantly dealing with technology when the need is focused on meaningful human connection.