School of the future

Where the teaching methodology changes from theory to practical, where kids are empowered to solve problems, from fixing broken devices at home to generating income to pay for their own expenses while building good behaviors.

Technology has impacted every aspect of our life, there are new jobs created and there are jobs that have perished because of technological change. Many schools have started adopting digital technology and start to have smart class rooms, which are engaging kids in education. Content is now being delivered digitally through smartphones and tablets, which has also improved students understanding of the concepts being taught.

During the several discussions that I had with my brother pravishanth, here are our thoughts on the school of the future that we wish to see.

A school where, a child instead of spending the entire day in a classroom listening, they would learn by doing and breaking things in a lab.

What would a typical lab have ?

If the topic that is being taught is electricity, they would have a device that they see in their daily lives so that they can associate with it e.g. Washing Machine or an electric fan. The teacher with a technician would involve the kids in physically opening up the device with safety precautions and see the inner workings. As they see the working model, they would be taught concepts on how they actually work by tying in the theory to the practical. This kind of teaching with physical objects that they see in their daily lives would make kids exited and also make them greatly involved in the learning process.

Typical Math Lab

This would include games that make kids learn math in a fun way, they will learn basic concepts by interacting with physical objects that they could touch and play. Be it measuring the thickness of a paper using a vernier to measuring their own height using a height measuring scale. They would be learning to use tools while also learning math in the background.

Typical science lab

Kids love experiments, every concept that they are being taught should involve an experiment that they can perform it themselves. For example to demonstrate change of state from liquid to solid can be done by a water freezing experiment. Where each kid performs the experiment, while the teacher walks them through the process.

This way of learning by doing helps build a strong understanding of the topic and makes it much easier for them to remember as they have done the experiments. This deep understanding of topics can help kindle curiosity and help understand how things work.

Artificial intelligence (AI) lab

AI is the future technology that will have an impact on each and every aspect of our lives. Every child should be taught the basics of AI, again with an emphasis on solving a problem on a daily basis. Be it an AI powered Closed Circuit TV camera for security or an AI powered stove with a camera that could increase or decrease the flame based on cooking status of food. People experienced in the industry on AI technology would help kids learn and build products that can be used in their daily lives.

Metrics

Schools have to work on a mission mode, they have to set aggressive targets and find creative ways of achieving them. A few of the metrics on technology could be: By the time the child reaches Grade 5, they should understand the basics of how each and every device in their home works (Fridge, washing machine, water filter, TV, Stereo, Electric fan, Air conditioning etc), by the time they reach grade 7 they should be able to fix any broken device. By the time they reach 10th grade they should be making improvements to those devices using AI/AR technology.

Focus on solving societal problems

Children after being taught various concepts in science and math have to choose a problem that they have in their community and solve it. A typical problem could be:

1. How to get all community members to participate in sorting waste or composting organic matter.
2. Portable indoor air filter for Asthma patients
3. How to make a pothole free road
4. Local solutions for climate change
5. How to decontaminate local water bodies
6. How to recycle sewage water

Build solutions

The above problems can be broken down into challenges and given to children (in teams of 4 to 5) based on their skill level asked to solve them. The team that comes up with a best solution should be rewarded.

The best solution has to be implemented in a small scale so the children can learn how their solutions are working in real life.

Promising solutions with market potential have to be pursued further in collaboration with universities or by encouraging kids to start a Kickstarter / Indiegogo campaign to help take their ideas off the ground.

Arts

Arts play a very important role in every child’s growth. They give a new form of expression to the child’s feelings and bring about an all around development in their personality. Based on the strength or interest of the child they can choose an instrument to learn. While they learn, they are expected to write their own song and compose their own music (in teams of 4–5 students) by the end of the academic year, for performing in front of their parents.

Entrepreneurship

From early stages of schooling, entrepreneurship as to be encouraged, a typical objective as my brother (pravishanth) suggests is that “Children by the time they reach 10th Grade, they should start earning so that they can fund at-least their own education”. This could be either through team performances in YouTube or through building a product and marketing it in communities or through building a game app or a website.

Team solutions

Teachers should help build strong student teams with diverse skill set to solve challenges they are given. For example a typical student team could have a person good at art, a person good at math, one in science, one in sport etc. Such combination of core competencies of children will help them solve problems in an unique way. There is also a good chance that some of them may go on to build great companies.

Values or behaviors

Building good habits

While parents play a vital role in shaping kids behaviors, schools can also play a very important role in helping nurture good habits. Below is a short video explaining how Japanese schools nurture good habits during school lunch.

Focus on excellence

No matter what type of learning is done at school, emphasis has to be laid on excellence. Be it, in understanding of concepts or finding solutions to problems, excellence should be inculcated as a behavior in every child.

Empathy

Once in every 1 (or) 2 months, kids are expected to do something for the less privileged people around them. Be it, performing songs or raising money for the local charity or using their skills to fix broken devices to improve the lives of the less privileged. This helps them build empathy and become responsible citizens.

Determination

Determination is a key ingredient to achieve anything great in ones life, this attribute has to be nurtured in Children from a very early age by building an underlying belief that they can do it.

Self discipline

With ease of access to information in the digital age both good and bad, kids have to be taught to avoid distractions and temptations so that they can stay focused. This skill can be built through practice and repetition on a daily basis. By instilling a sense of purpose and with clear goals, we can really help build and nurture such a skill.

Dream

Kids have to be encouraged to dream big. The below quote summaries it very well.

Dream, Dream, Dream

Dreams transform into thoughts,

And thoughts result in action

- Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (Former President of India)

Summary

By changing the teaching methodology and by asking children to find solutions to the problems their communities face and by building empathy and collaboration in children we can help build global citizens with research curiosity, entrepreneurship and purpose along with great values.