Fostering Student Engagement at the University of Tomorrow with Canvas & Wooclap
Experts from Duke & Heriot-Watt University share their insights on April 16.
🌍 A World School transforms the entire planet into a classroom, providing education through travel, cultural immersion, and experiential learning rather than traditional classroom settings. Imagine students exploring ancient ruins to learn history, practicing language skills through conversations with native speakers, or studying ecosystems by walking through actual rainforests – learning becomes direct engagement with the world rather than an abstract study of it[1].
📄 PHILOSOPHY: At its core, World School education (also called worldschooling) embraces flexibility, personalization, and hands-on experiences. Unlike conventional institutions with fixed schedules and standardized curricula, this approach tailors learning to individual interests and abilities, allowing students to progress at their own pace[1][2]. The concept originated with Eli Gerzon, who defined it as "when the whole world is your school, instead of school being your whole world"[3].
📚 STUDENT EXPERIENCE: World School students develop distinctive skills through immersion in diverse cultures and environments. They typically become multilingual, culturally adaptable, and globally minded as they navigate different countries and contexts[4][5]. This educational approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and cross-cultural communication – all increasingly valuable in our interconnected world[6]. Families often participate together, strengthening bonds through shared adventures and discoveries[7][8].
🚀 GLOBAL IMPACT: World Schools exist across continents, creating multicultural learning environments that prepare students for global citizenship[9][10]. By emphasizing international mindedness, these institutions integrate inquiry-based learning with real-world challenges, encouraging students to explore global issues from multiple perspectives[11][12]. This approach helps develop empathy, cultural awareness, and social responsibility, preparing young people to navigate and positively contribute to an increasingly interconnected global society[10][13].
Sources —
[1] https://nomadmum.com/what-is-worldschooling/
[2] https://theblackexpat.com/why-worldschooling/
[3] https://brightthemag.com/when-the-whole-world-is-school-48da3dfc02b3
[4] https://primarysource.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PS_Elements_of_a_Global_School.pdf
[5] https://bostontribetravels.com/top-10-amazing-things-you-might-not-know-about-worldschooling/
[7] https://peoplelikeus.world/en/blog/embrace-the-world-8-benefits-of-worldschooling
[8] https://travelynnfamily.com/what-is-worldschooling/
[9] https://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/the-ib-by-region/
[11] https://www.ishcmc.com/news-and-blog/international-mindedness/
[13] https://www.ibo.org/ib-world-archive/september-2012/international-education-its-time-to-think-again/
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