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MODULE 1: THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

a) Cross the odd one out and explain why.

1. view – opinion – interesting – hypothesis

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. may – should – can – could

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. because – as – due to – if

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. learning – surprising – teaching – understanding

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. besides – and – moreover – what’s more

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

b) The Definitions Quiz. Circle the correct word.

1. An increase in an amount, a number or a level.

a. delivery

b. rise

c. multinacional

2. The physical conditions that somebody/something exists in.

a. environment

b. campus

c. university

3. The flat surface at the front of a television, computer, or other

electronic device, on which you see pictures or information.

a. printer

b. screen

c. virtual

Section 2: Check your Progress

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4. Interesting or pleasant in a way that attracts your attention.

a. theoretical

b. single

c. engaging

5. The process of helping something to make progress or succeed.

a. idea

b. access

c. advancement

6. The true situation and the problems that actually exist in life.

a. desk

b. reality

c. reach

7. A room where a class of children or students is taught.

a. classroom

b. university

c. prototype

8. A special type of picture in which the objects seem to be three-

dimensional.

a. beam

b. hologram

c. interactive

Now, write the initial letter of each correct answer and you’ll find an essential word for the future of higher education.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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c) Choose the right option.

The Classroom of the Future:

Flexible assignments will accommodate multiple learning styles

Today, in the majority of classrooms, students 1complete/are

completed the same assignments. The only time when exceptions 2make/are made is usually when the student has special needs and

accommodations 3require/are required. Unfortunately, these assignments 4don’t take/aren’t taken into consideration learning styles. With flexible

assignments, the teacher will be more interested in proof of competency.

Therefore, instead of passing out an assignment to write a research

paper, the teacher will outline for students what skills or understanding they

must demonstrate to successfully complete the assignment. The student 5will

give/will be given the autonomy to decide how they 6will do/will be done

that. This 7might include/might be included recording a video, creating an

elaborate timeline, giving a presentation, or putting together a traditional

research paper.

d) Put the verbs in the active or passive voice in the proper tense: Simple Present or Future Simple.

The Classroom of the Future:

MOOCs and other online learning options will impact secondary education.

You 1……………………(have) to stay in school. You 2…………………(have) to get good grades. You 3……………………(have) to

get your diploma. If you 4…………………(not do) these things, you 5……………………(not get) into university. If you 6……………………(not get)

into college, you 7……………………(not get) the degree that leads you to the

career that you love. Most people 8……………………(tell) these things by their

parents and their teachers. There 9……………………(be) just one problem. The

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diploma simply 10……………………(not be) as necessary or as valuable as it

was, and neither is the college degree.

In the future, students 11……………………(feel) less inclined to spend

four years in high school learning the basics, plus four years in college. Today,

a thirteen-year-old with an email address and access to the internet can sign

up at KhanAcademy and complete courses of study in a variety of academic

disciplines, all for free. They can sign up for free classes which 12……………………………………(design and teach) by professors at

prestigious universities and these free classes 13…………………………………………(create and distribute) using MOOCs.

However, MOOCs 14………………………(consider) useless by many and you

may also disagree with these innovations.

e) Read the introduction to an article about the downsides of 3D

printers. Put the verbs into the correct verb form (Simple Present, Present Continuous, Simple Future or Modals) and voice (active or passive).

3D Printing Health Hazards

Printable foods, printable artificial limbs, printable stem cells, printable

bikinis, printable shoes 1……………………(modal+obtain) with this

technology. It 2……………………(seem) everything 3……………………(modal+print) if you 4……………………(have) the material,

the software, and the 3D printer.

Honestly, the applications of this technology 5……………………(be)

endless. 3D printing 6……………………(also/call) additive manufacturing and

it seems to be the future of “creation”. Also, there 7……………………(be) an

increasing focus on making 3D printers cheaper. However, the trouble is that

almost nobody ever 8……………………(talk) about the potential downsides,

particularly in the context of the potential 3D printing health hazards that come

along with the technology.

We 9……………………(talk) about ultrafine particles and highly volatile

matter here. This guide 10……………………(not be) about the upsides of 3D

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printing. On the contrary, in the next few pages we 11…………………(explore)

3D printing health hazards and risks.

f) Complete this dialogue between a fresher and a university tutor.

Tutor: 1…………………………………………………………….……………………………………………..…?

Student: In fact, I hardly ever use digital tools to study.

Tutor: Really, why not?

Student: 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tutor: Well, but I know many colleagues encourage the use of technology!

They’ll surely help you to become more digitally literate. 3……………………………………………………….…………………………………..…………………?

Student: No, I didn’t use digital material before entering college, either.

Tutor: Well… that’s a pity. Anyway, you’ll have the chance to do so now!

What is your opinion about online courses?

Student: 4…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tutor: That’s an interesting viewpoint...

Student: 5…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………?

Tutor: Professors? Well… some are afraid of online courses. They prefer

traditional education but the majority is very enthusiastic about them!

Student: 6……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?

Tutor: Yes, distance learning will change education. The possibilities are

endless.

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ANSWER KEY

Exercise A

1. interesting

They are all nouns but “interesting” is an adjective.

(Son todos sustantivos pero “interesting” es adjetivo.)

2. should

This modal shows advisability. It doesn’t show possibility.

(Este verbo modal denota consejo. No implica posibilidad.)

3. if

The others are connectors of reason.

(Los otros son conectores de razón.)

4. surprising

The other words have to do with the learning process. Besides, they are all

nouns but “surprising” is an adjective.

(Las otras palabras tienen que ver con el proceso de aprendizaje. Además,

son todos sustantivos excepto “surprising”, que es adjetivo.)

5. and

Punctuation is different.

(La puntuación es diferente.)

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Exercise B

1. Rise

2. Environment

3. Screen

4. Engaging

5. Advancement

6. Reality

7. Classroom

8. Hologram

The secret word is R E S E A R C H

Exercise C

1. complete

2. are made

3. are required

4. don’t take

5. will be given

6. will do

7. might include

We use Active Voice when

the subject is the DOER of

the action.

We use Passive Voice when

the subject IS AFFECTED by

the action (NOT the doer of

the action).

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Exercise D

1. have

2. have

3. have

4. do not / don’t do

5. will not / won’t get

6. do not get / don’t get

7. will not / won’t get

8. are told

9. is

10. is not / isn’t

11. will feel

12. are designed and taught

13. are created and distributed

14. are considered

Exercise E

1. can / may be obtained

2. seems

3. can be printed

4. have

5. are

6. is also called

7. is

8. talks

9. are talking

10. is not

11. will explore

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Exercise F

1. Do you ever use digital tools to study?

2. Because… I’m not a digitally literate person.

(Sample answer/Ejemplo de respuesta)

3. Did you use digital material during high school?

4. I think they are… useful because… you can organize your time.

(Sample answer/Ejemplo de respuesta)

5. What do professors think about them?

6. Will distance learning change education?