The world of education has seen tectonic shifts in recent years due to a wide range of factors including COVID-19, technological advancements such as with artificial intelligence, and changing options and priorities. It can be a difficult task for a busy parent or educator to keep their footing on what feels like constantly shifting sands. So today, discover the emerging popular kids education trends in 2025.

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From learning analytics to artificial intelligence and social-emotional learning, see what's in store for the year ahead based on where things are headed this year.

1. STEM and STEAM Education

The importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) has been long documented. A report by the U.S. Department of Commerce shows that STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at just 9.8%. More than just a growing job field, STEM helps build important soft skills like creative problem solving and critical thinking. Teachers are constantly trying to find new and interesting ways to incorporate STEM into their current curriculum.

Although developed in 2006, STEAM (Science & Technology, interpreted through Engineering & the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements) has seen strong growth in the last few years which will continue into 2025. Instead of focusing on each skill individually, STEAM is more flexible and spotlights the relationships between the different subjects to make them more accessible. It also incorporates more art and creativity to inspire and excite students.

2. An Emphasis On Creativity

Parents, teachers, and employers view creativity as one of the most important soft skills for students to develop, but creativity can often seem abstract, difficult to teach, and harder to measure. According to a Gallup Creativity in Learning report, teachers have seen significant results in student retention, problem solving, and critical thinking by focusing their lessons on creativity. This creative focus is paired with using technology as a transformative tool like making multimedia presentations or conducting research. However, even if technology is not an available resource, many teachers have found ways to feature activities and items that encourage creativity with familiar classroom materials.

3. Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips have become common, allowing students to travel to locations that were previously unreachable. These localized and worldwide field trips provide valuable time for students to have new experiences and learn outside the classroom.

  • National Geographic Virtual Expeditions: Students can embark on virtual expeditions to some of the world's most remote and fascinating locations, such as the Amazon Rainforest or the Arctic Tundra. These immersive experiences include interactive maps, wildlife footage, and expert interviews that bring distant ecosystems and cultures to life.
  • Smithsonian Institution Online Tours: The Smithsonian offers virtual tours of its numerous museums and exhibits, including the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum. Students can explore exhibits, view artifacts, and participate in interactive learning activities related to history, science, and technology.
  • The Louvre Museum Virtual Tour: This virtual tour allows students to explore one of the world's most famous art museums from home. They can view masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, and learn about art history, techniques, and cultural significance through detailed exhibits and educational materials.
  • NASA’s Virtual Tours: NASA provides virtual tours of its various space centers, including the Kennedy Space Center and the Johnson Space Center. Students can explore mission control rooms, astronaut training facilities, and space shuttles, and learn about space exploration, astronomy, and aerospace technology.
  • Explore.org Live Animal Cams: Through Explore.org, students can observe live cams of various wildlife in their natural habitats, such as pandas in China or sea turtles nesting on a beach. These live feeds offer real-time views and educational commentary about animal behavior, conservation efforts, and environmental science.

4. Social-Emotional Learning

While the name has proved unpopular, many of the skills taught in social-emotional learning are well-liked. “Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success,” according to the Committee for Children. It has been shown to increase academic achievement and lower dropout rates. The three main components of SEL are a supportive classroom environment, integration of SEL materials into instruction, and the of teaching SEL explicitly.

5. Personalized Online Learning

One of the great advocates of American education, Benjamin Franklin, said “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” The Internet has empowered students to take their education into their own hands. There is a class for nearly every subject available to students online, including here at Create & Learn. Having a student’s curiosity shape their education fuels their passion for learning by involving them in the process. Knowre states that greater student agency has shown to increase student independence, improve problem-solving skills, prepare students for university and post-secondary life, and raise trust between fellow students and teachers.

6. Learning Analytics

Analytics are being used as a tool in every industry, including education. Learning analytics can be broken down into three categories. Descriptive analytics looks back at a student’s progress and finds patterns so that teachers can formulate lesson plans that are best structured for that individual. Predictive analytics takes past and current student data to make predictions on future trends, so that teachers can identify possible issues and risks ahead of time. Finally, prescriptive analytics gives alternative suggestions to teachers on how to make their instruction more effective and adaptable by utilizing the educational resources that best fit their class. Closely tied to learning analytics is our next trend.

7. Artificial Intelligence

It is easy to hear the words “Artificial Intelligence” and immediately conjure up images of detached automatons tediously drilling students with information. However, artificial intelligence creates a more personalized and dynamic classroom. According to The Journal, “AI-powered solutions can analyze students’ previous learning histories, identify weaknesses and offer courses best suited for improvement, providing many opportunities for a personalized learning experience.”

Artificial Intelligence allows teachers to receive near instantaneous feedback on student performance and engagement, like this example in an online classroom laboratory. AI technology can also automate repetitive tasks for teachers, freeing them up to spend more time focusing on their students. Artificial Intelligence is here to stay as Global Market Insights Inc. expects the industry “to grow at a 40% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) through 2027”.

Kids in grades 4-9 are invited to learn about fun cutting-edge AI applications created by companies such as Nvidia, in our Free AI Explorers event, designed by experts from Google, Stanford, and MIT.

8. Teacher and Classroom Sharing

COVID-19 caught many by surprise and led to abrupt shifts in how students are taught. Teachers had to quickly adapt their lesson plans and design new teaching practices on the fly. A community of experience and knowledge sharing emerged from this and persists today.

Online resources like Share My Lesson and We Are Teachers encourage collaboration from unbounded by school district lines. Similar tools are also available to parents such as Countdown to School Success and Parent Toolkit.

9. Global Learning

Students are becoming increasingly aware of issues and cultures outside of their local and national communities; this awareness has been accelerated by the Internet breaking down physical and communication barriers. Teachers have begun tailoring lessons focused on creating active and attentive global citizens.

One example is an activity called What Would You Do?, in which students break into groups to examine their own values by learning and discussing dilemmas faced in everyday life in communities outside their own.

Another global lesson for younger students is a comparison activity in which they learn about the literature and folktales from around the world to gain a greater understanding of the culture’s values. These are just a couple of examples of global learning activities that improve critical thinking skills and build conscious and compassionate global citizens.

10. Collaborative Learning

Virtual learning offers many advantages, but students greatly benefit from being in the same physical space working with one another. The advantages of collaborative learning are strongly supported.

For example, the National Education Association states, “Collaborative learning has been shown to not only develop higher-level thinking skills in students, but boost their confidence and self-esteem as well. Group projects can maximize educational experience by demonstrating the material, while improving social and interpersonal skills. Students learn how to work with various types of learners and develop their leadership skills.”

Collaborative education involves pair and group work with defined boundaries. Cornell’s Center for Teaching Innovation lays out how to implement more collaborative learning in classrooms.

11. Gamification Of Learning

Gamification involves integrating game-like elements into educational experiences to make learning more engaging and motivating. This trend leverages elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards to incentivize and reward students for their progress and achievements. Research shows that gamification can enhance student motivation, improve engagement, and support mastery of content through interactive and enjoyable methods. Platforms like Kahoot! exemplify this trend by turning lessons into competitive and collaborative experiences.

12. Hybrid Learning Environments

Hybrid learning, or blended learning, combines traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components. This approach offers flexibility and personalization, allowing students to benefit from both in-person interactions and digital resources. Hybrid learning environments can accommodate various learning styles and paces, making education more accessible and tailored to individual needs. Schools are increasingly adopting hybrid models to provide more diverse learning opportunities and to adapt to changing circumstances.

13. Focus On Digital Citizenship

As digital technology becomes more integrated into education, teaching students how to navigate and use technology responsibly is crucial. Digital citizenship includes understanding online safety, ethical behavior, and effective communication in digital spaces. Schools are incorporating digital citizenship lessons into their curricula to prepare students for a world where digital interactions are prevalent. This trend emphasizes the importance of fostering skills such as critical thinking about online content, managing digital footprints, and respecting others in virtual environments.

14. Phone Bans in Schools

In 2024, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the nation, banned smartphone use in the classroom. New York State is on the verge of doing the same. The trend of banning phones in schools has gained momentum as educators and administrators seek to minimize distractions and improve student focus during classroom instruction. Proponents argue that smartphones can be a significant source of interruption, with students frequently checking social media, texting, or browsing the internet instead of participating in lessons. Critics, however, argue that such bans can be overly restrictive, as smartphones can be valuable educational tools when used appropriately.

15. Teaching Resilience

Many people have discussed the CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman's thoughts on AI and business during his recent interview at the famous Stanford ETL class. What stood out to us at Create & Learn was that the interviewer Ravi Belani started one of his questions with, “One of the key things that Stanford is trying to include in the curriculum is resilience.” Wow, isn’t that a great idea! We live at an unprecedented time with both massive opportunities and big uncertainties. The top jobs in 20 years might not even exist today. So, what should kids starting school be learning now? Sure, creativity and problem solving are important, probably more than any specific subject matter. But resilience is likely even more critical. In today’s world, more kids grow up more shielded and comfortable than ever, not really facing any real hardships. That makes resilience a huge skill gap. When Ravi mentioned resilience, Sam responded, “That’s really great.” We couldn't agree more.

Education is constantly evolving as new tools, research, and strategies become available. It can be easy to become overwhelmed by these new ideas and technologies, but all these resources are meant to aid the learning process and support students and educators. Next, learn all about the latest fascinating STEM stats.

Join the best online STEM classes for kids and teens, and get started with free coding classes for kids from the diverse computer science curriculum here at Create & Learn covering all ages, interests, and abilities! Most students begin with our award-winning free Scratch class.

Written by Matt Kalnay, a Create & Learn instructor. After graduating from UC Davis with a B.S. in Biology, he joined Peace Corps Indonesia as an English as a Foreign Language Instructor. Following his return to the United States, he decided to pursue his passion in the field of Software Engineering and Web Development, and graduated from Coding Dojo’s intensive Full Stack Program.