Trends that are shaping the Future of K-12 Education

Things evolve with time. What was probably a ‘norm’ in the last decade might probably not even be an option today. Seeing education through the new lens is gaining faster recognition and is bringing positive impact on the learners, the current and also the future generation. The schools today have started to see education in different light, as not just as a medium of learning, but also the source from which he/she gains maximum significant take-aways. This new vision has paved way for an entirely new model of educational system that is headed to change the educational landscape of the country. The best international schools are focussed to direct this to building a better tomorrow, that will start with enlightening the young minds; through education

Trends shaping the future: The five keys to it

Here are the five keys that are shaping the future of K-12 education. Take a look at how the CBSE schools in Vizag are making the shift. 

Shift in focus: A focus on the real-world needs has become the main motto. Whether focus on problem solving, community building, technological awareness, these areas were practically given zero attention. The traditional schooling system was never adequate to prepare the child for a challenging world tomorrow. With this shift in focus, there is going to be a betterment for the child.

E-learning: With the rate of online learning alternatives that are in existence today, learning has never been so accessible to all, and by all. This trend has gained a momentum with the higher education and professional development and acts more like an opportunity in the new K-12 education.

Community involvement: Communities today believe that a better learning is facilitated among children when parents involve with their children’s learning. This trend focuses on the child as a whole, and not just on his/her educational needs, unlike the past. Parents are today finding niches to see where their child will fit in. This trend is totally in line with the overall development of the child, in meting out help to prepare him/her for a future tomorrow. They also work together to ensure the child maximum attention and help.

Alternate communities: Alternate communities of learning like a larger network for charter and online school is a new trend today. This, today, is not merely a small community today and is treated in par with the public and private sector schools. Monetary assistance and moral support are some of the help these alternate communities receive today and the government also keeps a close watch on the other alternate communities that might crop in the future.

Hands on the mission and vision: One big advantage of the alternate community is the transparency of the mission, goals and practices. In these transparent spaces, there is ample opportunity for you as a parent to involve and make suggest changes to match the mission and goals. Charter schools are evolving and will provide an opportunity for the parents and teachers to see what isn’t working and make changes along the way.

The road ahead

The road ahead of this trend is a straight one, one that offers the maximum view and a picture of what your child’s future would look like. One of the good that is arising out this trend is individualized learning. Moving away from the traditional models of learning and allowing the child to foster in their blessed talent is something this trend is preparing the children for. With this, there is more focus on what each child is capable of, and analysing how this can be fine tuned assumes importance. Small classrooms and smaller group will ensure the child does not get frustrated and will flourish with their capacity in terms of focus and daily learning. Focusing on what works and what will not, needs attention today. These methods of training have proven beneficial for a lot many families and children in particular. The results are hard to deny.

Why it is Important to Inculcate Community Habits in Students

The joy of giving or helping someone in need is incomparable. In today's world of rat race and self-centrism, it is improbable for individuals to pause, ponder and help someone in need. Thereby, it is all the more important that such a mind-set is incorporated in our future generations during a young age itself, so that it becomes a natural action or response to them going forward.

This habit of helping others has myriad benefits for the child, he or she not only develops a compassionate attitude but also becomes more aware of the world around them. Many International schools today, have incorporated CAS (Community Action Service) as a critical part of their curriculum.

At Oakridge, under the CAS Umbrella, students have contributed towards Habitat homes in villages of Karjat, Pondicherry, and Araku Valley as part of CAS trips. They have led awareness campaigns for various causes such as "Swachh Bharat", "Save the Girl Child", "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"

Spoorthi is another activity, where children of the drivers and janitors working at the school are invited to the campus and they are taught various subjects like English, Mathematics, and Science by the Oakridgers. With less than adequate facilities in govt schools, there is immense potential to make a meaningful impact in their lives. In line with this, students of Oakridge take extra classes for them and arrange sports day and day outings, which are well appreciated by them.

In addition, Oakridge International School, Vizag have launched the “Save our Beaches” initiative through various awareness campaigns, cleaning drives and conservation projects to make the beaches of Vizag beautiful and conserve the marine life. Lately, students of Oakridge have also undertaken the proactive role of protecting the environment and have initiated a plantation drive across various gated communities in the city.

Students not only participate in the community service activities held at the school but sometimes they also get creative and do extraordinary things to make a difference and help the needy. Here are some of the instances.

One of the students of Oakridge, Tejasvi took matters in her hand and designed ‘Traffic Regulating Signs’ and erected the same in the newly constructed society which not only inspired her society residents to take action but also ended up getting real sign boards everywhere. Similarly, Oakridger Manav Khaitan designed an Instant Cereal Box, named ‘Breakfast’ to help those who forget to have it in hustle. It allows you to enjoy a healthy combination of cornflakes and milk anytime of the day, simply by adding some water and mixing the ingredients together which also received the first prize at ‘The Design Championship 2016’. Oakridger Sneha was truly inspired by her lessons at school to reuse and recycle instead of just throwing the plastic bottles away. She started growing a garden of organic veggies in discarded bottles. She plans to sell the produced vegetables from her garden and donate the money raised to help unprivileged kids

Is Sibling Rivalry a Serious Concern?

Sibling rivalry is normal in families with more than one child. It becomes a problem when one child bullies or dominates the other. It's also a more complex issue than it first appears. On the surface, you have two kids who are “at war” who never get along. There can be many reasons for this, but at the core of this rivalry is a common theme that runs through it all: the sense that one sibling is the victim of the other and somehow “less than.” And that child often believes that he gets less love from his parents than his dominant brother or sister does.

 

Sibling rivalry is a difficult and sometimes painful issue for many families, but rivalry and jealousy are a normal part of life. Your responsibility is to help your kids learn to manage the feelings that come along with it. If they don’t, these issues will get carried over into adult life. The feelings of injustice, unfairness, and victimhood that accompany sibling jealousy become even more crippling to confront with later on. There are some ways prescribed by experts in the field to reduce and manage it. 

Hold both kids responsible for their behavior: In many cases of sibling rivalry, both kids are almost equally responsible for the behavior. One child may start to tease the other or call the other a name, which starts a volley of teasing and name-calling. Set up a rule in your house that if fighting among siblings occurs, everybody is going to be punished.  It doesn’t matter whose fault it is, or who started it.

Stop refereeing your kids’ fights: How do you stop getting in the middle of your kids' fights? As long as it’s not a bullying situation, don’t play referee. Don’t become the judge of who’s right or wrong. And don’t try to decide who the worst antagonist is. Instead, you can say, “There’s no fighting in the house, and these are the consequences for your behavior.

De-fuse jealousy: If one of your children is envious of his sibling, then try to downplay it. Don’t make it a big deal. Probably you can just say, “Well, you know, that’s natural, we all feel jealous sometimes. Always point out your children’s good characteristics. Mention concrete things you saw and heard them do, and let them know that you’re valuing their efforts as much as their brother or sister’s.

Ideally, a family is supposed to be a safe place where everyone is loved and everyone is equal. Your children may feel jealous of each other, but again, jealousy is a normal human feeling; it’s a perception. Schools and teachers can also take care of these things and instill love and affection in children towards their siblings like IB schools in India.