The percentage of children attending school has increased dramatically in the developing world. In 1909, only a minority of boys were enrolled in school, but by the turn of the 21st century, nearly all children were attending school. In 2016, 91 percent of children in low-income countries were enrolled in formal primary schooling. Yet, despite the improvements in education, a learning crisis has emerged across the globe. A World Bank study revealed that 53 percent of children in low-income countries cannot read a simple story. Fortunately, there are ways to help the learning crisis in our planet’s low-income countries.
Formal education
The purpose of formal education is to increase the well-being of individuals by improving their cognitive and non-cognitive skills. To develop effective education policies, an understanding of the process of formal education is crucial. Economists call this process “education production”.
In informal education, the purpose is not to improve the individual, but to foster a community of shared life and flourishing. According to John Dewey, “education is a way of sharing a common life”. In informal education, teachers make no formal plans; instead, they react spontaneously to situations. A typical informal educator will attempt to get people to think and feel in ways that they might not otherwise have. In this way, they are more likely to achieve their goals.
International student exchanges
International student exchanges contribute to the United States’ global reputation. Not only do they benefit American universities, but they also promote goodwill among allied nations. In 2009, the U.S. Secretary of State called international student exchanges “a U.S. foreign policy imperative.” Moreover, educational exchanges provide meaningful economic benefits for the U.S. economy. In 2009, 5.5 percent of all U.S. college students were foreign exchange students.
Some exchange programs have strict rules and regulations for students. For example, almost all US organizations do not allow exchange students to drive a car. Some require students to sign contracts and abide by certain standards of personal conduct and grades. Other programs may not have supervisors at all. While it is true that the cost of participating in an exchange program varies, participants generally fund their participation through loans, scholarships, or self-funding.
Story-telling
The need for story-telling in education is universally acknowledged by teachers. As a result, policy-makers and practitioners have attempted to educate and train teachers on the subject. A recent session on storytelling in education in India was conducted by Vision Only for 140 teachers in MCD schools in the North Zone. The session discussed the benefits of storytelling, its techniques, and how to incorporate the practice into the classroom. Examples of story-telling in classrooms were also presented.
Depending on the audience, students can either tell a story about the planets in the solar system, or memorize the order of the planets in the solar system. The story should be relatable to the planets themselves, without mentioning supernovas or black holes. Another way to hook the listener is to start the story with an ‘inciting incident,’ which is a powerful hook. Besides, this technique can be used in any lesson.
Unschooling
If you are interested in learning more about Unschooling in education, you may be interested in watching the documentary film Unschooled, which follows three inner city high school students on a journey to change their education. The documentary follows these kids as they change their education by taking a break from the traditional classroom, allowing one of them to pursue his passion for photography. Unschooling in education is not only a great way to give your child the freedom to pursue his or her interests, but it can be a fun, creative, and powerful way to learn.
Unschoolers learn according to their interests, personalities, and learning styles. They decide what subjects they’d like to pursue and stop as soon as they find it boring or irrelevant. It’s all about what they enjoy! The benefits of unschooling in education are many, and they’re well worth exploring. If you’re not sure whether Unschooling is for you, start by checking out the definition of the term. Then, you’ll be well on your way to making an informed decision.