#FutureSkills

The latest research on creativity highlights a groundbreaking insight: fostering cross-domain thinking can transform ordinary minds into highly innovative ones, reshaping how parents and educators approach children’s learning. According to a new feature in Psychology Today, experts are now urging a shift from traditional, siloed education towards cultivating abilities that span multiple fields, arguing that this approach mirrors the habits of the world’s greatest thinkers and inventors (Psychology Today). This revelation holds significant potential for Thailand, where educational reform and national innovation are pressing priorities.

A recent opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal—titled “AI’s Biggest Threat: Young People Who Can’t Think”—has sparked intense debate across global education circles and among Thai educators. The article raises urgent concerns that artificial intelligence (AI), while transformative, may expose and even accelerate a crisis of eroding critical thinking skills among today’s youth. The implications reverberate beyond technology, stirring questions for education systems in Thailand and across the world about how to prepare the next generation for an AI-dominated future.

As Thailand follows global trends in technology and education, startling new research from the United States points to a dramatic shift in what once seemed a guaranteed path to prosperity: a degree in computer science. After two decades of surging interest and swelling enrollments, the once-booming computer-science major appears to have peaked. For Thai students and families seeking the best choices for higher education and employability, the unfolding story in America offers timely warnings and vital insights.

A new wave of research is transforming how we understand imagination—an essential human capacity behind innovation, memory, art, and problem-solving. According to a recent article in New Scientist, scientists now have five key tests that allow us to measure and appreciate the full scope of our imaginative powers, revealing why some people experience vibrant mental movies, while others may only summon faint outlines or abstract concepts when picturing memories or future scenarios (New Scientist).

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly revolutionising industries, the chief product officer at Microsoft has urged students worldwide, including those in Thailand, to continue prioritising computer science and coding education. Her remarks challenge growing beliefs that software engineering may soon become obsolete due to AI’s accelerating capabilities, underscoring that computing skills remain essential for the next generation of Thai professionals.

The comments, made during a recent episode of “Lenny’s Podcast” and reported by Business Insider, directly refute notions that traditional programming will soon be unnecessary. The Microsoft executive, who oversees consumer and enterprise technology experiences, emphasized, “A lot of folks think about, ‘Oh, don’t bother studying computer science or coding is dead,’ and I just fundamentally disagree.”

Generative artificial intelligence, once viewed with suspicion and outright bans in schools, is now increasingly seen as a vital educational tool by K-12 teachers across the United States, according to the latest reporting and research. This evolution from nuisance to necessity signals a pivotal moment in education, with implications and potential lessons for Thailand as AI reshapes global classroom practices. (washingtontimes.com)

The discussion around AI in primary and secondary education has matured rapidly since 2022, when tools like ChatGPT first appeared on the academic scene. Initially, schools and teachers were quick to ban generative AI platforms due to fears of increased cheating, misinformation, and a perceived threat to traditional pedagogies. However, facing the realities of digital transformation, educators soon realized that AI technologies could be harnessed for positive learning outcomes—if they were strategically and ethically integrated into curricula.