By Harleen Ahluwalia

“Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century” – S.J. Perelman

The vision of new age education encompasses empowering individuals to acquire skills, enabling them to successfully and purposefully traverse the VUCA pathways of the world. It is critical that schools not only adopt Pedagogy, Instruction and Curricula to foster critical thinking and creativity but also nurture a happy and healthy environment which fosters the well- being of all stakeholders. 

One of the focus areas of The National Education Policy 2020 is to transform India into a vibrant knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student. Intelligent Schools weave together all the new age approaches to teaching and learning, namely Multidisciplinary Approach, Personalized learning Pathways, Universal Design for Learning, Innovation and Technology, Diversity and Inclusion to create a multi-dimensional framework to help students succeed. This article intends to bring out the importance of the following bedrocks of an intelligent school.

Curriculum

Everything the school does and offers is based on the curriculum it is affiliated to, including the subjects offered, staff, assessments, value system, instructional design and more. Simply stated, the curriculum is the breakdown of topics and areas to be taught by the teachers. In the Indian context, most successful private schools offer a choice of following curricula

-CBSE/ ICSE/State Board

-International Curriculum – International Baccalaureate(IB), Cambridge

The International Curriculum opts for a more interactive approach in their teaching methodology.  In some cases, it involves the active participation of parents as stakeholders as compared to the National curriculum. The IB mission statement articulates the character strengths of an internationally minded person equipped to be a contributing member of the global community who helps to create a better and more peaceful world. New-age students have access to knowledge at their fingertips, but how and when to apply it becomes the job of a facilitator in the student’s life. The school curriculum should aim at helping children assimilate the concepts they learn and accommodate newer understandings of the information that already exists with them.

Pedagogy and Instruction

Pedagogy refers to the method of teaching used by a teacher, and Instruction refers to teaching. Personalised Learning Pathways, when adopted in classrooms, allow flexibility for students to carve out their own learning journey depending upon their own learning style to achieve an end goal which the facilitator has curated. Resources are suggested in the form of a playlist, and the student has the freedom to add/delete to this list. The role of the facilitator is to break down the larger learning goal into S.M.A.R.T goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). Students with diverse needs can avail of accommodations such as extended timelines and the mode of assessment. 

The facilitator usually chooses one topic in the term, which students pursue as a personal project. The culmination of this journey happens in the form of a learning walk where the students showcase their work and knowledge. An interdisciplinary approach is another enquiry-based learning cycle that the facilitator can adopt in her classroom, whereby two subjects synergise to achieve the learning objective. For example, a history facilitator could integrate architecture with visual art, and the students could showcase their learning by designing a postcard at the end of the unit. Such innovative teaching and learning approaches allow students to understand the power of new ideas. They learn to think rationally and deductively by calculating the risks and advantages of various options by utilising their mind power.

Well-being, Inclusion and Diversity

One of the most prominent challenges schools face is how to engage students in their learning. Students need to be taught how to be mindful, resilient and attentive. Emotions are the gatekeepers of motivation, cognition and attention; therefore, establishing a safe environment that focuses on well-being and belonging for all is a key role for teachers (Fullan, Quinn 2020:13). In 2020, UNESCO used the phrase “Maslow before Bloom” to articulate the vision they have of teaching the whole child. “If we don’t ensure our students, parents and teachers are cared for, Bloom will never happen.” UNESCO 2020:11. Furthermore, realising that your child has a learning difficulty doesn’t come easily to most parents and often leaves them in a cloud of emotions ranging from denial to anger. Their anxiety may manifest as criticism of the education system. The solution lies in compassion and hope, evidence of intervention and progress shared with the parents on a regular basis, and the formation of parent support groups where they can ask questions and express their emotions. Some tips for educators to make their classroom an inclusive space are:

-Build a connect with your learner

-Provide robust, individualised support – academic and emotional

-Use differentiation techniques

-Use a common vocabulary which is inclusive

Technology and Innovation

Classrooms that successfully integrate technology with learning help to develop lifelong learners. It empowers students to take ownership of their learning journeys through critical thinking, problem-solving, collaborating and creating. Technology in the classroom can be used by the teachers in the following ways

-Take the students on a virtual field trip

-Quieten a noisy classroom by using digital noise metres

-Using videos for mini-lessons

-Using multimedia for presentations

-Digital exit tickets to collect feedback and reflections

-Develop critical thinking skills by allowing students to critique content from the web

-Inculcate in students the importance of group work by launching a page for a collaborative assignment

Leadership

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other” – John F. Kennedy

Successful schools have leaders who build nurturing and learning communities based on trust where teachers are willing to explore new methodologies and strategies because they have the support of their leaders. In turn, students feel challenged and encouraged because they know they can trust their teachers. Parents feel supported because the leadership of the school and staff have built a relationship of trust with them. Efficient and passionate leaders in an Intelligent School

-Walk the talk by inculcating and role-modelling their school vision and core values. This is critically important to create a sense of direction and purpose and to enthuse energy in the entire organisation

-Facilitate clear and concise communication amongst the members of the institution

-Motivates the team to improve productivity through appropriate recognition and appreciation

-Plays to the strengths of the team members by identifying their boons and banes

-Help the team members sharpen their skills by providing professional development opportunities in the relevant areas.

Infrastructure

School campus is the second place after home, where a child spends most of their life until they are about 17-18. School infrastructure should be such that it provides ample opportunities for the students to pursue their passion in academics and sports or other co-scholastic interests. A well-lighted, clean, hygienic classroom with comfortable furniture ensures the child’s concentration and attention. Several kinds of research have proved that good infrastructure encourages students to attend school more regularly.

Conclusion

To conclude, the concept of an Intelligent School holds tremendous promise for transforming education in the 21st century. By tapping the power of effective leadership, technology, Artificial Intelligence, and personalised learning systems, intelligent schools can create dynamic, nurturing, student–centric learning environments. As we embrace the era of Intelligent schools, it is crucial to ensure that technology is ethically implemented, teachers are empowered as facilitators of learning and equity and inclusion are prioritised. With these measures in place, schools will be able to evolve as educational models that will empower their students with skills, knowledge, and adaptability to succeed in a rapidly evolving, knowledge-driven society.

The author is head of department, special educational needs, Shiv Nadar School, Noida. Views are personal.