Education Special Section
“ The way students learn , share ideas , get access to content , create , and collaborate is fundamentally different ,” says Anthony Salcito , vice president of worldwide education at Microsoft . “ Their mindsets are different , and the workplaces we are preparing them for are different , so we have to recognize there has been a lot of change . What we ’ ve now got to do at a system level , the institution level , is not only embrace that change but use it in a purposeful way to drive a different dynamic in classrooms .”
Experts believe that the human psychology of learning has seen little change over time , but external factors , including the digital revolution , have unstoppably shaped the way in which we learn and teach . Technology has brought about exciting and innovative ways for personalized learning and novel approaches for teachers to address gaps in learning processes . Yet one constant remains in education , and that is the critical role of teachers . Human interactions are undoubtedly crucial both inside and outside of the classroom . The inspiration and support provided by teachers is what can make a student successful , even if that student is provided all other tools and opportunities needed to succeed .
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION If you ’ re interested in potentially taking on the cost of a second mortgage , look no further than sending your child to preschool . When seeking out the program that is right for your child , many considerations are taken into account including safety , cost , location , teacher credentials , accreditations , and how each of these will meet your child ’ s individual needs . Once thought of only as daycare , preschools are shaping their early education programs to mold even the youngest of students for future success .
Across the U . S ., the demand for quality early learning programs is on the rise , with STEAM concepts ( science , technology , engineering , arts and mathematics ) making their first appearance to students at the age of 3 . Early Learning facilities are proving their worth through implementing quality metrics , investing in technologies , and by offering an array of options for curriculum- versus non-curriculum-based learning to best suit the learning style of young students .
Preschools and educational daycares , a newly coined term , are implementing Quality Rating Improvement Systems ( QRIS ) as a standard for success in early education . The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance , funded by the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services , developed QRIS as a systemic approach to assess , improve , and communicate the level of quality in early and school-aged care and education programs . In Pennsylvania , the Keystone STARS ( Standards , Training / Professional Development , Assistance , Resources , and Support ) program focuses on the importance of employing quality staff , professional development , early learning programs , partnerships with family and the community , and leadership and management of facilities . Within these structured guidelines , the state aims to ensure that quality care is provided to preschoolaged students at all facilities . But some educational daycares are working to “ up the ante ” on the level of education students receive .
According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children , there are a variety of ways to implement
effective classroom practices involving technology and interactive media . As preschoolers are immersed in the use of technology at home — with their parents on their phones , siblings on their tablets , and watching others use the computer — they are curious about the technologies around them . From a young age , they are encouraged to communicate using a variety of expressions ; whether it is through coloring , painting , creative movement , singing or talking , children look to the world of possibilities to be creative .
Digital technology is another outlet for learning and creativity , and with its inherent use throughout homes in the U . S ., children are learning to explore touchscreens and other forms of interactive media . Educational daycares are utilizing digital technologies to explore e-books , watch educational videos , and explore places and things that children may not see within their own environment ( videos about visiting a factory , or pictures of people and places that are foreign to them ). Programs that allow students to freely explore these types of digital media are designed to facilitate active and creative use and are encouraged to be done with other children and adults as a form of social engagement .
Use of technologies is only one of the variety of options that figure into the aspects of choosing a classroom that is right for a young learner . Parents are playing a larger role in shaping their early learners with the choice of play-based learning programs versus academic learning programs . Play-based or childcentered programs focus on the current interests of the child . Classrooms are set up in different sections , such as a kitchen , home , science area , reading nook , or water area , for kids to engage in social interactions with others and learn valuable skills based from play . Academic or didactic , teacher-directed programs are structured with a curriculum involving planned activities guided by teachers and designed to prepare students for a kindergarten-type setting . Either method for learning prepares young children for their future interactions , both socially and educationally . Finding the learning style that best suits your own child ’ s needs will set him / her up for success .
K-12 EDUCATION It is early in education that students start to become competent in utilizing the tools needed in our society . Reading , writing , math and language skills are all core competencies that need to be mastered at a young age and are
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