For decades, parents and educators alike have been searching for ways to solve the puzzle of improving the education system. The conventional teacher-student relationship hinges on the passing of standardized tests, a system designed for the industrial age. For some, the solution has been throwing money at the problem to improve standardized testing. However, the foundation principles are still flawed.
Limitations of Traditional Schooling
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are approximately 87,498 elementary schools in the US. For most of these schools, the classrooms look the same as they were a century or more ago. Desks are aligned in neat rows, with the teacher delivering a lecture.
Each student is expected to perform at the same level as the rest. Learners are rewarded for what they accomplished on their own, not what they may achieve with others. Asking a deskmate a legitimate question in class may land the student in trouble.
Learners may have to take standardized tests that water down their creativity, regurgitating answers and conclusions provided by the teacher. Failure to complete assignments and homework individually results in punishment.
Traditional schooling may not present the answers that parents need in addressing the needs of the current generation or the next. Students may require more than just the three R’s — reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic.
How Acton Academy Addresses These Limitations
A growing body of research shows that today’s children may need to learn collaboration skills, get their creative edge, and continually develop new skills through self-directed learning to compete in the workforce in the future. These three skills, on top of the three Rs, are critical to preparing your child for the modern workplace.
Here are ways in which Acton Private Schools impart the three skills.
1. Socratic Discussions Enhance Collaboration
A key feature in every Acton Academy is the integration of Socratic discussions into the learning process. The guide poses questions to the learners, allowing the students to discuss and draw their own conclusions. Students can think of the existing concepts in a new light, mirroring the modern workplace that requires staff to work with others to create better solutions together.
2. Query-Based Learning Sparks Creativity
The guides in the studios do not provide answers to the learners, instead of responding to each question with another question. It breaks the principle in traditional learning whether the teacher is the source of all knowledge. As such, learners in an Acton Academy can respond to the thought-provoking questions with answers and conclusions of their own. The child learns to find their own ways of approaching and solving problems.
3. As a Student-Led Private School, All Learning Is Self-Directed
Another critical pillar in an Acton Academy is the belief that every student is a genius, waiting for a spark to be lit in them. The students explore their curiosity and interest, defining their pace for learning. With greater control over their progression, the child can have better retention of the knowledge attained, a crucial factor in the modern workplace.
The traditional schooling approach is not fit for the current or future workplace. Enrolling your child at an Acton Academy can help equip them with the necessary skills to keep them creative, collaborative, and self-directed. To enroll in a Chandler private school, reach out to East Valley Acton Academy.