CREATIVE SCHOOLS: GIVING AN ANSWER TO STUDENT NEEDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY (María Jiménez)

I DREAM OF A SCHOOL... 

I dream of a school ... FLEXIBLE.

Where classrooms have furniture that allows movement between teacher and students and they can be placed in different ways depending on the time.

I dream of a school ... IN CONTACT WITH NATURE.

It is shown that humans need to be in touch with nature for their good development. The school will have green areas that serve to teach in some subjects, to do exercise or rest during time breaks. Children will be educated to take care the environment and will be activities for this purpose, vegetable gardens, recycling workshops, botanical garden, etc. The school will have a part where children graduated will plant a tree, one for class.

I dream of a school ... WITH SENSE.

Where the assessments are formative not summative, which takes into account the work and attitude of every day not only one day in an exam. Where the result is not a number, there are a few comments about the learning progress. The process of each child is valued according to their potential and abilities because they have different conditions. Children have the same teacher throughout his primary stage, in this way they know each other and can better assess their attitudes.

Teachers should make formative and recycling courses to keep up of new technologies and teaching programs.

I dream of a school ... THAT GIVES CONFIDENCE.

The teacher is a guide in the learning process of their students, he should guide them, accompany them and advise them. The teacher is a friend, a trusted person for them without ever losing the respect he deserves. In this way students will be important to form part of their own learning process, they have confidence and are responsible for their progress.

I dream of a school ... FUNNY.

It is possible to learn in a fun way, it makes better internalize the subject and feel curious to learn more. The lessons will be taught with activities that are interesting to children.

New technologies will be important tools in the learning process. Children, out of school, are accustomed to them and should be used in classes.

I dream of a school ... THAT WORKS COOPERATIVE LEARNING

We know the many advantages of cooperative learning, it promotes helps each other, the fellowship and a healthy competition between students. The groups will be made in different ways depending on the aims they want to achieve and the subject is being studied.

I dream of a school ... WHICH PROMOTES HUMAN VALUES.

Students as adults will be architects, teachers, police or economists. But they must first have a good base as persons. To guest this objective the teacher needs the collaboration of their families to educate children on respect, friendship, tolerance, love, coexistence, etc. There will be two days a year, one at the beginning of the course and other at the end, where parents should go to school to get in touch with their children and teachers and establish a good relationship between all and know the daily lives of their children in class. There will be solidarity activities where families could participate.

I dream of a school ... OPEN SPACES.

Where classrooms are not just four walls with floor and ceiling, they are designed to help the development of children and make you feel comfortable. There are different colors depending on their content and the frame of mind you want to achieve in children depending on the activity or subject they are learning. Today many schools seem a prison, we have to change it.

I dream of a school... THAT MOTIVATES THEIR STUDENTS

Teachers should make students with an interest in their subjects, in this way they will go to class motivated and they will want to learn new things and further research on concepts already studied. To create a good base motivation is essential for their future, we do best what motivates us.

There will be a “cultural week”, activities for classes and groups. All these tests have had a didactic purpose and there are activities of all subjects. Gymkhanas, games, puzzles, a test of 10 questions and answers, movies, music, radio program, sports championships, etc. Endless tests that make us to go out of the routine, to learn otherwise, to share with friends of other classes and ages.

I dream of a school... EQUAL

Where all children are equal, no matter their skin color, gender, religious beliefs, national origin, economic status, their skills. All have the same rights and duties.

I dream of a school... WILL BE REAL with the effort of all, parents, teachers, politicians, etc. In order to our children have a better future because education is the basis of growth of any society.


María Jiménez