The
Principal, Olashore International School, Mr Derek Smith canvasses the
change of habits and habitats of schools and students in order to
increase creativity. According to him, the habits of our institutions
and the habitats they occupy have a way of influencing what they think
and what they do. He stated this during his speech on ‘The Future Of
Education’ at the 2016 Africa Outstanding Primary School Awards recently
held in Lagos.
“We
need to consciously change our habits and habitats in order to increase
creativity. We think teaching is all about having teachers stand in
front of willing recipients, but it’s more than that. Critical thinking,
Communication, Collaboration and Creativity will help students learn
better. The world is changing very fast. Every Child is an opportunity.
We don’t need to copy the developmental stages of any country, rather we
should think of how to move ahead. The greatest challenge when you are
good at something, is how to keep being the best.”
“The
solution to make students successful is that we need to engage our
learners, transform our schools, employ efficient and easy use of tools,
and connect to the real world. There’s no right way to do this than to
introduce the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK),
Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK), Technological Knowledge (TK),
Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), Content Knowledge (CK),
Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). The three (3) legs of the school’s
21st century learning are Pedagogy, Content and Technology,
and that is why we need if and when we are going to create a revolution
in education, he reiterated.”
He
pointed out that teachers need to be trained on the use of technology
so they can impact on the children. “Learning will be effective with
technology, however training teachers should be a pre-requisite for one
on one e-learning project. Do not put technology in any school until
teachers are trained in order to give them the confidence to train the
students. Let them know how to combine pedagogical and technology in
teachers whether they are PHD holders or not. Technology can make
teaching real”.
He
admitted that Olashore International School spent about eighteen (18)
months planning the implementation of iPads in the school, and sent
teachers for trainings, before the implementation of the iPad usage in
the school. He explained that the importance of the iPad to Olashore
students cannot be far-fetched from Technology Empowered Training, Apps
that enhance learning, Collaborative learning, Engaged learners, Instant
feedback and Happy Learners. He mentioned the core skills of blending
technology with education to include Critical thinking and problem
solving, Collaboration and Communication, Creativity and Imagination,
Global Citizenship, Digital Literacy, and Student leadership and
personal development.
He
reiterated further “Change takes time and deep change may take longer.
In future, no one will pay you for knowledge they can look up. We are
however creating graduates perfectly developed for a world that no
longer exists. At the World Economic Forum (WCF) which brings Business
leaders together every year at Davos, plans are made to see the
opportunities that lie ahead of business in five (5) years’ time. In the
same vein, as educationists, we should ascertain what becomes of our
children in five (5) years’ time, this is because the future of
education lies in the continuous application of creativity. He listed
some of the expectant top skills of students as at the year 2020 to
include, Complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people
management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgment
and decision making, Service Orientation, Negotiation, and Cognitive
flexibility”. He stated clearly that divergent thinking is different
from creativity.
Established
in 1994, on 60 acres of land, Olashore International School is a
co-educational school which offers high quality education in a wide
range of subjects at Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary along with a
University Foundation Programme in partnership with Lancaster University
and the Institute of Education, Dublin. Over the past 20 years, the
school has succeeded in developing a cluster of world class services
around the school including a first class hotel, a golf course and a
leadership training centre that all combine to give the school a unique
identity. The school is particularly appealing to discerning Nigerians
at home and abroad, as well as expatriates residing in Nigeria, who
desire a school with a strong value system, demonstrable track record
and a clear sense of purpose. @olashore_s
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