Education that Works

We all know the outcomes that we want from education. An education that develops our children into problem-solvers, critical thinkers knowledgeable in the subjects, good team players, people who care. What would this kind of education look like?

Elements of an education that works:

If we look closely at the outcomes we all want, wouldn’t our vision for education look something like this:

1.        An education that works is based as much on the development of the person as on mastering a core body of knowledge

2.        An education that works is related to the ways in which we all learn and develop and interact with the world.

3.        An education that works incorporates outcomes that matter.

They form part of the picture of a complete education. We can ask for nothing more – and settle for nothing less.

Putting education that works into practice:

We have to make these goals real, put them into practice. It’s not enough to talk about developing the person—how do we actually do that? We can start by seeing the individual child. The ways we can do this are simple and obvious: by making eye contact with them, acknowledging them as individuals, listening to their ideas.  Any of us can do that.

We can also recognize that the child’s personal, social and academic development are interrelated. If we are aiming at developing the person as much as the knowledge and information base, for example, we will realize that a high school boy who’s struggling with learning Newton’s laws of physics may have personal and social issues that affect his academics. We will also find real-life examples to help that boy understand Newton’s laws and how they relate to his own life.  It’s not enough to scold him and ask him to pay more attention

We can also build the outcomes we want into education. In the right relationship with an adult, a child can learn to adjust in his relationships and develop teamwork and relationship-building skills along with learning a core body of knowledge in school.

How can this website help?

As the KPM Network, we have two main messages:

·       These three key points about education are interrelated. They are not goals we pursue separately. 

·       They have to be made real, put into practice.

This is a website all about the practical application of these three points about education.

As the KPM Network, we want to make these goals the core of education—not what happens when there is the occasional good teacher. They should be what we’re all focusing on.  They are realizable goals that we can all take part in, whether we’re parents or political leaders or teachers. We’re not talking here about particular educational systems or methods—we’re talking about basic principles that work everywhere, for all of us.

We can realize these goals and put them into practice. On this website, we offer podcasts, resources, tools for raising public awareness, and resources for implementing an education that works.

More about an Education That Works

*** 1. An education that works is based as much on the development of the person as on mastering a core body of knowledge

We can get to the educational outcomes we want without focusing on the development of the person. There has to be a developed person at the end of the educational process who can problem solve or analyze, or care for others. 

An education that acknowledges the person means acknowledging the child's ideas, listening and understanding the child's way of expressing his or her thoughts and feelings. It's also about the simple actions that acknowledge the person, such as looking at them in the eye, making them feel that what they are saying is important to hear. When we treat children like this, this is how they learn to treat others and how they learn to regard themselves.

Click here to find out more about developing the person. 

Most teachers already know certain basic principles about the way children learn and develop. 

1. Relationship is the foundation for development. Children learn by example, and their relationship with their teachers affects affects their personal, social and academic development. 
2. Children are natural learners. We learn as a matter of course. 
3. The child learns in an integrated way. We know that personal, social and academic development are integrated aspects of the child's experience.
4. Each child learns and develops in his or her own way. Teachers know that children learn in different ways. 

In each of these principles, we already have the core of the educational outcomes that everyone is looking for. For example, when the principle that children are natural learners is valued in the learning environment, the result will be an adult who enjoyed learning throughout his schooling, and is likely to enjoy learning throughout life.  

Click here to find out more about how children learn and develop. 

*** 3. An education that works incorporates outcomes that matter.

For years, the educational outcomes that matter to leaders, parents and the public have included a relevant body of knowledge, communicating skills, relationship-building, confidence, team-building and conflict resolution, creativity and initiative, analytical skills, critical thinking, problem-solving and systems thinking, people who care, and lifelong learning, and deep learning. 

These outcomes that everyone wants are usually seen as byproducts of education, not as the main curriculum. If we want to see these outcomes, we have to deliberately build them into the learning environment. 

For example, if we want to see children develop relationship-building and team-building skills, teachers can be effective role models, guide students in getting along with others, and create situations where students have to work in teams.

Click here to find out more about an education that incorporates outcomes that matter.