Our education system advances, even if at a slow pace: introduction of new technologies, attempts that the weight does not always fall on memorization, more interactive classes, a greater understanding of the needs of students according to their development.
Or not ?: classroom behaviorism, the same type of furniture that was used 20, 30, 40 years ago, knowledge transmission by subjects as if they were 'watertight compartments', lack of motivation on the part of the students. The results offered by Spain according to the percentage of school failure are not very promising, and I would not blame only the students saying that "they have to learn to try harder."
In any case I wanted to talk about a model that is far from what we observe in our environment, both for the design of spaces and for the role granted to students. But is everything that glitters gold?
Vittra schools (Sweden) propose an education without classrooms where children can learn at their own pace and with a lot of freedom. A place where they meet and know each other without anyone separating children from kindergarten and primary education.
In Vittra prioritize open and creative spaces, the solid implementation of technologies, and real bilingual learning (Swedish / English). What exactly do parents look for when they enroll their children in a Vittra school? It is valued that they allow children to learn based on experience, that self-confidence is fostered, and that they have the opportunity to develop communication and interpersonal relationships with other children regardless of their age. It also seems that teachers are able to guide the focus of studies according to the needs of each student.
But this kind of education ... is it very expensive ?, will think more than one; Well, not because the Vittra are arranged, that is, the parents may have to assume more expenses than in a public one (as in Spain), but they are state-funded schools. Also, if you want to go to Sweden, you should know that there is an obligation in schools, to provide students with foreign roots, learning the language of the country from which it comes.
Is everything as pretty as they paint it?
There are three aspects that I really like about the model: the spaces, the fact that small and large students have a lot of interaction, and that active learning is allowed. In fact, the innovations of the most alternative schools are highly valued by teachers from other countries who think they can serve as referents.
But of course, there is no news without criticism, and these schools do not get rid of the latter: Some say that the system works very well with intelligent and disciplined children, but that the attention to special students is not too good. We have also been able to read that the number of teachers in charge of each group of students is lower than that of public schools (although higher without hesitation than our children have in Spain) In any case the model itself, and more considering that the expenses are paid by the State, it has many things from which ideas can be extracted, provided that we take into account that when it comes to public money there should be (I don't know if it will be) a control by the Administration.
Doesn't the model catch your attention attending to your scenery?
The photos that illustrate the post are from the Vittra school in Telefonplan (in Estocolomo) and the spaces have been designed by Rosan Bosch's studio: inert trees that inspire thinking, a central iceberg that houses the projection screen, the exercise room, the booths for children to meet spontaneously.
The whole environment of this school is in itself a pedagogical tool
In case it is not yet attractive enough, I will tell you that the teachers do not stand next to the board to write dictations, but that recreate real-life situations, to stimulate creativity and the ability to solve children's problems. In addition, children have portable equipment available for group work.
The results of the Swedish education system
These schools may make a difference, inside and outside the Swedish education system, but I would like here to recover the vision of the Swedish pedagogue Inger Enkvist, which is very critical of the education of his country.
Mrs. Enkvist is also an education consultant for her Government, and states that the current focused on democratizing education has caused declining academic results and an increase in disrespect towards teachers and among students. Although it seems that these results may also be attributable to social changes, the expert states that the good results of the other Nordic country and of which we have heard so much (Finland), are based on maintaining a stable system over the years , Y enhance student effort.
For me Raising interest in learning instead of forcing learning is an approach that makes a lot of sense, and in that aspect I don't think they are very misguided in Sweden.. But it is true that in order for students to be able to self-regulate and freely exercise their rights, there must be an awareness of coexistence in society, and for that, it is clear that they need the guidance of experienced and common sense adults. Learning without limits I do not think of good results, as it does not give students to consider what if they were inanimate objects in which to pour knowledge that often has nothing to do with their daily experiences (and this sounds a lot around here, does it true?)
Images | Vittra Telefonplan School
In Peques and More | Finnish school, what's so special? Finnish school, what can we learn from it?
In Babies and More | Classrooms in Sweden, far from traditional schools
