Applications are closing soon for January 2025! Apply now here. 🌎
Applications are closing soon for January 2025! Apply now here. 🌎
As a learning facilitator and designer at School of Humanity, I have had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand the transformative power of a personalized, interdisciplinary educational approach.
Over the past two years, I’ve seen our pioneering cohort, Jupiter, take on more than 150 global challenges, developing a wide array of impactful solutions. Our learners join us with varying levels of competencies, goals, interests, and aspirations. While there has been tremendous growth among those who have completed two years with us, even learners who have been with us for just one term show remarkable development in their skills.
So how were they able to achieve this?
To explore this, I interviewed some of our learners. These conversations revealed the benefits of our personalized learning approach, including real-world applications, future-ready skill development, competency mastery, comprehensive guidance, and tools for human flourishing.
We believe learning should allow students to explore their interests without being confined to a rigid structure. That said, structure has its benefits in developing organizational skills, which is why we strike a balance, providing structure while offering flexibility in how learners achieve their goals.
Each term learners create a personalized learning plan with a curriculum specialist, aligning their current interests, passions and aspirations with the skills needed for their goals. If they’re unsure of their direction, our pathway advisors are are here to guide them—more on that later!
Our personalized learning approach allows learners to advance at their own pace while pursuing their passions. This flexibility is also useful for learners who are participating in extracurriculars, traveling the world, training for sports tournaments, or attending conferences (just some of the cases we have seen so far!)
So what does this personalized learning plan include?
Each term, learners begin by selecting a challenge they’d like to tackle.
At School of Humanity, we replace traditional lectures with meaningful experiences and real-world applications. Learners develop critical thinking through challenge-based learning, gaining hands-on experience to navigate the complexities of the modern world. Some of our past challenges include Understanding Minds, Designing Space Habitats, Social Entrepreneurship, Protecting our Oceans, and Maintaining Global Peace. These interdisciplinary challenges encourage a systems-thinking approach, leading learners to develop well-rounded solutions to global issues.
There is a unique sense of responsibility that comes with tackling real-world challenges. This sense of ownership and engagement not only enriches their learning experience but also empowers them to take charge of their futures and make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.
Ayesha: How has the challenge-based learning approach at the School of Humanity impacted your overall learning experience compared to traditional exams?
This past term, I had an incredible experience with the Protecting Our Oceans challenge group.
Throughout the term, learners were both surprised by the threats to our oceans and inspired by marine resilience. This sparked hope and a readiness to take action from a place of empathy.
Sofia, one of our learners passionate about Artificial Intelligence, combined math, computer science, neuroscience, and ethics in her work. During the Food, Water, and Energy Security challenge, she developed an AI model to optimize solar power in harsh Nordic winters. What’s more is that Sofia didn’t just learn; she made an impact in the world.
At the end of each term, learners have an incredible opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge in direct real-world settings. They work on internships with real organizations from around the world, solving real-world problems and gaining invaluable hands-on experience.
Ayesha: What has been your favorite micro-internship experience so far, and what kinds of knowledge and skills did you gain from it?
In addition to the challenge, each term learners choose from a variety of skill units that explore our eight literacies, as defined by the OECD as a blend of knowledge, skills, and dispositions. This literacy-based curriculum equips learners with essential skills for today’s world and tomorrow’s challenges. Our skill units enable in-depth exploration of areas of interest, allowing learners to apply their knowledge across challenges and micro-internships.
Our skill units enable in-depth exploration of areas of interest, allowing learners to apply their knowledge across challenges and micro-internships and vice versa!
Learners also develop their skills toward mastery through iterative project assessment.
At School of Humanity, we prioritize whole-human development by exploring emotional, existential, and somatic intelligence. Our goal is to provide learners with the tools and experiences to lead purposeful lives.
In weekly Flourishing workshops, learners engage in mindfulness, purpose, and existential inquiry, connecting with their inner selves and understanding their place in the world. They can also take skill units like “Happiness Philosophies” and “Healthy Body & Mind” to deepen their understanding of a fulfilling life. Many of our learners have athletic pursuits and after-school activities that they can explore further in their flourishing journey, developing their physical health and teamwork skills.
Community & Social LifeEach week, learners join live online workshops, engaging in discussions and activities that promote global citizenship and cultural appreciation. Annually, they come together for an in-person gathering, and those in cities with learning hubs can meet regularly to connect and collaborate.
What happens after school? One of the most daunting things I remember from my own high school experience was, feeling lost and unprepared for life after graduation, unsure of how to navigate my options. At School of Humanity, learners have these important conversations every term with pathway advisors. They also attend weekly pathway advisory sessions where they learn about building portfolios and resumes, acing interviews, navigating global university requirements, personal branding, entrepreneurship, networking, startups, and more!
Ayesha: How has Pathway Advisory influenced your preparation for the future?
Over the years, I’ve witnessed our learners take on unparalleled opportunities and platforms, from presenting at prominent events like GITEX and Dubai Future Forum to joining esteemed boards with global icons. It’s a testament to how an innovative approach can catapult learners into real-world achievements and recognition as they feel confident in their abilities
The stories from Vanessa, Luna, Haleema, Sofia and Hamza illustrate the profound impact an innovative approach to learning can have on learners’ lives.
Through these experiences, our learners not only gain knowledge but also develop the confidence and skills needed to positively navigate and impact the world and themselves. And this is just the beginning! As they continue to grow and transform into young changemakers, we are excited to see the incredible contributions they will make to their communities and beyond.
