Education is obviously a critical aspect of life and we must understand that education is not just passing exams, a balanced education should provide the key tools for success in the modern world. Enter child-centred learning, where the student is at the centre of the learning process, which enables them in so many ways.
Project-based learning
Take a top British international school in Bangkok as an example, the students start doing projects at the age of 5 and the students have to plan and organise every aspect of the project. They must decide on the format of the project, which they have to plan, and each group member has to have their own tasks. The teacher is really acting as a facilitator and rather than solving a problem, they point the students in the right direction and offer guidance.
Student interest
Whatever the students are interested in, that is what they learn about and you can incorporate all the core subjects into any project topic; math, language, history geography can all be factored into the learning, so the students are not losing out academically. The students are always motivated to learn because they choose the subject matter and they develop in so many ways. The emphasis has shifted from teaching to learning, which improves the learning outcome.
Well-balanced students
This is the result of 12 years learning in an active way, something you would not receive at some schools that are academically focused. Take the average government school, too many students in one class, the teacher does not have the time to spend on individual students and this is not good for the child’s development. Click here for information about online study tools.
Statistics
By tracking learning outcomes, schools can gauge the students’ performance and this is apparent when you look at International school websites, where they show the results of their research, tracking students. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and any school with a winning formula would proudly display student performance, which they do.
Learning not teaching
It is high time we moved away from teaching and focused on the learning outcome, which, at the end of the day, is the only thing that counts. If your son or daughter is approaching pre-school age, start looking at international schools in Bangkok because they use a child-centred curriculum and they hire the best teachers from the UK.
Start with a guided tour of the campus and then you can ask any questions you might have to the Principal, who would sit down with potential parents and explain the core concepts of the institution. If all is well, the next step is to introduce your child to the campus, then you can enroll them to start the following term. Of course, term fees are not cheap but you are investing in your child and it is they who will reap the benefits of a child-centred education.