|
Education for the 21st Century… How do we get there?
By Gilberto Pinzon and Ana Maria Fernandez - (04-17-08)
The world is facing very important and dramatic changes. The globalization challenges the individuals who are not only competing within their own countries and regions, but with very well educated people from all around the world.
The manual labor has moved to less developed countries in South America and Asia. The development and research on new technologies and products not longer belongs only to the industrialized countries like Japan, Germany, England or America. There are new players in the game; China, India, Korea and Easter Europe and many more will join them. Our education system was set over a hundred years ago during the beginning of the industrial era. That scenario has changed. Our children need new competitive skills. Mathematics, language and science are not enough. The Arts are now playing a major roll when defining education for the 21st century. Cooperative work, creative and innovative skills, adaptability and global awareness are now leading the way!
Now the question is how do we get there? And although it sounds so complicated, the answer requires just a change in minds! Yes, there is a need to believe, support and endorse more team work, art classes, drama, design and technology, interdisciplinary problem solving and musical education. Of course no one will be leaving behind literacy, math, science and social studies; the key is to be able to work with them together being opened minded.
The arts, in general, and specially music have demonstrated to have many benefits on children’s development. Music promotes discipline, concentration, determination, self-esteem, communication and creativity. It enhances mathematical thinking and intelligence development and helps individuals in real and substantial ways: socially, academically, and in life in general. . According to Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report, students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances. The College Board in New York considers music to be one of the essential subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college. The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry are, nearly without exception, practicing musicians. A research team (Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennis and Newcomb1997) exploring the link between music and intelligence, reported that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills, the skills necessary for learning math, science and being able to solve problems making inter-disciplinary connections.
First Steps International Academy in Weston is a great example of multidisciplinary areas working together to offer a 21st Century Education. To begin with, children are understood to be global citizens and consequently the curriculum is carefully crafted following international and contemporary standards of education. You can find integrated to the core areas an art program where children not only learn in a fun way about art history and art masters, where they not only are exposed to different techniques, where children not only express their feelings freely through their creations but where they work cooperatively analyzing, discussing and following thinking patterns that lead them beyond the act of mixing material for a collage.
You will find a staff encouraging the art of drama through monthly assemblies where children, parents and staff take turns to perform. Where children attend monthly theatrical performances making comparisons and connections with previous experiences and where multicultural experiences are encouraged.
It is also a perfect place to see how Weston’s first Music Conservatory has become part of children’s daily life. It is amazing to see how children from 2 years old play in a gigantic pentagram following patterns while learning music language, to see 4 years old up to 12 years old playing violins, clarinets, saxophones and many other instruments. It is an unbelievable experience to see how children play together in an orchestra with out even noticing how their team skills, creativity, concentration, values, mathematical thinking, self steam between so many other skills, develop rapidly and strongly.
The commitment to strive for excellence and make a difference in children’s lives has to be a priority. Children need to stop being exposed to an education as if we were still living the industrial era. 21st Century is already here and children need to be thinking outside the box, being creative for a purpose, thinking globally, learning to work and think cooperatively, being aware of multiple ways to find information, and learning key concepts that will allow them to make connections and think critically to adapt to such a rapidly evolving world. And the fact is that it is through the acceptance and incorporation of the arts that we will help our children to get there!
Gilberto Pinzon and Ana Maria Fernandez educators and owners of FSIA open the first Music Conservatory in Weston for children from 2 to 12 years old.
If you think your child will benefit from this wonderful experience, First Steps International Academy invites you to call 954 888 9775.
|
