The research topic must be instrumental in improving society

Education has always been an engine of change and transformation for society, however we are increasingly facing more difficult and complex challenges that require a flexible educational structure that adapts quickly to circumstances. The most recent example has been the COVID-19 crisis, which has abruptly ...

Education has always been an engine of change and transformation for society, however we are increasingly facing more difficult and complex challenges that require a flexible educational structure that adapts quickly to circumstances. The most recent example has been the COVID-19 crisis, which has abruptly transformed the classroom and has pushed teachers into the digital age without time to reflect on its impact on learning processes. In this Research Topic we want to collect research and research-to-practice studies in educational innovation that aims to transform the dynamics in the classroom and prepare students for later challenges; design strategies for the permanent acquisition of sustainable competences and promote those disciplinary skills that make them competitive and successful in their future jobs. How can education be the instrument for the transformation of society? How can new educational approaches be designed that respond to new social challenges?

The most recent reports from UNESCO and the OECD reveal that research in socially oriented education is crucial for sustainable development and vital to address basic human needs, such as alleviating poverty, providing clean water and energy, responding to natural disasters, build resilient infrastructure, and close the development gap related to diversity, inclusion and multicultural challenges of today's society.
This Research Topic aims to bring together those researchers -from different fields of higher education- in a discussion forum on:
[1] determining the new guidelines for the paradigm shift in education in the framework of the Fourth Industrial Revolution;
[2] evaluate the capacity of the different teaching approaches and curricular contents to efficiently solve uncertain global challenges and complex social problems;
[3] implement those transformations -theoretical, experimental, technological and digital- that allow us to understand the changing reality that surrounds us;
[4] harnessing the advances of technology and science to solve the society challenges, considering sustainability in its uses and scope, and
[5] analyze which are the graduation competencies and digital skills that best contribute to the adaptation of future graduates to the requirements of future jobs.

The strengthening of the Education-Society relationship implies a new paradigm shift, planetary education, a universal concept of educating people to act responsibly and sustainably in solving the world's problems. The new role of higher education as a transforming agent of society is a global imperative that must be discussed and analyzed among all experts in areas as different as STEM, social sciences, and arts.

Possible topics of interest to the Research Topic include [but are not limited to] the following:

Socially-oriented initiatives
Innovative practices
Digital and lifelong learning skills
Active, Challenge-Based and Experiential Learning
Projects related to SDGs and community organizations
Data Science in Higher Education
Diversity, equity and inclusion perspective
Multiculturality perspective

This Research Topic welcomes original research, research-to-practice and innovative practice articles employing quantitative, qualitative or mixed method designs, empirical case studies, experimental approaches, survey findings, systematic reviews of the literature, and conceptual-comprehensive analysis papers.

Keywords: educational innovation, higher education, STEM education, research in multicultural perspectives, digital literacy skills, education 4.0, planetary education

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

2. ObjectivenessIt must deal with facts, not withmere opinions arising fromassumptions, generalizations,predictions, or conclusions.3. TimelinessIt must work on a topic that isfresh, new, and interesting to thepresent society.4. RelevanceIts topic must be instrumental inimproving society or in solvingproblems affecting the lives ofpeople in a community.5. ClarityIt must succeed in expressing itscentral point or discoveries byusing simple, direct, concise, andcorrect language.6. SystematicIt must take place in an organizedor orderly manner.TYPES OF DATA NEEDEDQUALITATIVE-non-numerical data-not measurableQUANTITATIVE-involves measurement of data-frequencyBLANK SPOT– generate newhypothesisBLINDSPOT-Testing theacceptability and rejectability ofthe hypothesisAPPLICATION OF RESEARCH METHODPURE RESEARCH-aims to increaseyour knowledgeabout somethingAPPLIED RESEARCH-applies the chosenresearch to addresssocietal problems orissuesPURPOSES OFRESEARCH BASEDFROM THE DATA1. DESCRIPTIVE-aims at defining or givinga verbal portrayal or picture of a person,thing, event, group, situation, etc.2. CORRELATIONAL- shows relationships,connectedness of two variables3. EXPLANATORY- -elaborates or explainsnot just the reasons behind the relationshipbut also why such relationship exists4. EXPLORATORY - finds out how reasonableor possible it is to conduct a research5. ACTION RESEARCH - studies an ongoingpractice of a school, organization,community, or institution to obtain resultsthat will bring improvements in the systemETHICS OF RESEARCH1.HONESTY-Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, andpublication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.2.OBJECTIVITY-Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis,data interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant writing, experttestimony, and other aspects of research.3.INTEGRITY -Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strivefor consistency of thought and action.

What topics depend greatly on the writer's opinion?

What term is about the process of finding answers to questions?