Principal's Message

In the brisk air of November, I settled into my seat at the Marina Bay Sands for the Edutech Asia conference, ready to listen to the keynote address scheduled to be delivered by Mr. Larry Nelson, Regional General Manager of Microsoft Asia. As Mr. Nelson elucidated the future of education, my thoughts seamlessly aligned with the innovative assessment strategies we have been cultivating at St. Vivekananda English Academy.

Our unique approach to evaluation, particularly through our Skill-Based Questions, represents a radical departure from conventional methodologies. These questions, designed to be distinct from textbook content and regular classwork, are not direct inquiries but rather challenges that engage students in critical thinking and analytical reasoning from as early as the first grade. Right from their formative years in class one, our students are encouraged to explore answers through graphic organizers, such as Venn Diagrams.

In a country where reliance on guidebooks is rampant and rigorously solving the past decade's board exam papers is seen as a guaranteed path to success – with more than 95% of questions likely to be repeated – our initiative faced significant hurdles. Yet, we persevered, and presently, the Skill-Based Section holds a substantial 50% weightage in our evaluations. In a written exam of 80 marks, this meant that questions worth 40 marks were entirely novel, challenging students to think beyond rote learning.

At the conference, Mr. Nelson was presenting the findings of a recent survey conducted by the independent research firm, Edelman Data x Intelligence. This comprehensive study, spanning 31 markets and involving 31,000 participants – including business leaders, managers, and employees – took place from February 1, 2023, to March 14, 2023. The survey posed a poignant question:

In the advent of AI potentially heralding a new era of technological breakthroughs, which skills do you deem most crucial for your employees to acquire to adapt to these impending changes?

The answer lies in nurturing critical thinking and reasoning abilities, fostering a mindset that embraces challenges and continuous learning. Our students must be equipped with the capability to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing world, honing not only their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, key components of emotional intelligence, but also their ability to work effectively in diverse groups and pursue personal growth through spiritual awareness.

Firstly, to nurture analytical judgment and critical thinking, we must move beyond traditional rote learning. This requires a pedagogical approach that emphasizes understanding over memorization, encouraging students to question, analyze, and synthesize information. Classrooms need to become think-tanks where curiosity is fostered and critical questioning is encouraged. Interactive and problem-based learning methodologies can play a crucial role here, presenting students with real-world problems that require thoughtful analysis and innovative solutions.

On the grand screens of the plenary stage, an infographic came to life, illustrating that in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, the top three indispensable skills were Analytical Judgment, Flexibility, and Emotional Intelligence. This revelation resonated deeply with me, affirming our educational approach at St. Vivekananda English Academy, where we strive to cultivate these very competencies in our students, preparing them not just for exams, but for a future intertwined with the inevitable progression of technology.

One will agree that the findings of the survey bring us to a pivotal question: how do we, as educators, inculcate these vital skills in our students, thereby laying the groundwork for a future-ready workforce?

In developing flexibility and the ability to learn continuously, schools must instill in students the 'skills of learning how to learn.' This involves teaching them how to adapt to new situations, acquire new knowledge efficiently, and apply their learning in various contexts. Incorporating project-based learning, where students engage in extended projects that require them to manage resources, collaborate, and adapt to changing scenarios, can be highly effective.

Emotional Intelligence, encompassing both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, calls for an educational environment that promotes empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation. This can be achieved by integrating collaborative projects that require teamwork and interaction with diverse groups. Furthermore, including mindfulness and reflective practices in the curriculum can aid in developing self-awareness and emotional regulation.

The real challenge, however, lies in assessment. Moving away from the conventional examination format, which predominantly tests memory, requires a bold and innovative approach. Assessments should be designed to evaluate students' abilities to apply their knowledge in novel situations, to think critically and creatively, and to demonstrate their learning process, rather than just the end result. This aligns with the philosophy of Arthur L. Costa, Professor Emeritus, California State University in his seminal work 'Habits of Mind,' in which he states,

Thus, we are interested in focusing on student performance under those challenging conditions that demand strategic reasoning, insightfulness, perseverance, creativity, and craftsmanship to resolve a complex problem. Not only are we interested in how many answers students know, but also in knowing how they behave when they DON'T know.

In reimagining pedagogy and assessments, the decision between adhering to the traditional, populist approach or venturing into the less trodden, challenging path is critical. While the former offers comfort and predictability, the latter promises to prepare students for the complexities of the real world. Embracing this innovative path aligns with the societal responsibility of raising well-rounded, capable individuals, acknowledging the adage, 'it takes a village to raise a child.'

As we deliberate on these transformative educational strategies, it is important to engage in a broader community dialogue, inviting insights and collaboration from all stakeholders involved in shaping the future generation. Your opinions and thoughts on these matters are invaluable, and I invite you to share them at [email protected], as we collectively strive towards nurturing a future-ready workforce.