Curriculum
WHAT IS A 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS-BASED EDUCATION?
Sidney Rose FRSA answers:
Creativity. Collaboration. Joy. When you think back on your time in school, what comes to mind?
The 21st-century skills classroom recognizes that tomorrow’s jobs don’t exist yet — and that the way to prepare students for the “real world” is changing.
Imagine a classroom where students are tasked with helping a fictional fashion company determine the logistics of their line of designer leashes for — This isn’t a business or fashion design class. It’s a 21st-century, skills-based physics class.
Students apply their understanding of net force, acceleration, and circular motion to complete this playful, practical activity. The result? They are better able to recall information from the beginning of the year, through a project that encourages play and discovery.
What Is a 21st-Century Curriculum?
Today’s world requires a multi-dimensional approach to the learning experience. A 21st-century skills-based curriculum pivots away from content acquisition and rote memorization to focus on the skills and abilities that will best serve our generation of young minds. Student engagement and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning are championed over conferring information.
The 21st-century classroom focuses on a creative, collaborative approach to learning. In a computer programming class, students play musical chairs to solve a coding task. They write a few lines of code, move chairs, write a few lines on that person’s screen, then repeat the process. Compared to completing the coding task on their own, students learn more by seeing how their peers approached the problem and found a solution.
In the realm of education, a well-designed curriculum is the cornerstone of student success. British schools have long recognized the significance of this and have invested heavily in developing comprehensive and engaging learning experiences.
Experts like Cambridge International Education play a pivotal role in shaping these curricula. Their expertise in curriculum design ensures that students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and understanding they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
What makes British curricula so effective?
Rigorous Academic Standards: A focus on core subjects like English, mathematics, and science provides a strong foundation for future learning.
Global Perspective: British curricula often incorporate international perspectives, fostering cultural awareness and understanding.
Holistic Development: Beyond academics, British schools prioritize personal and social development, nurturing well-rounded individuals.
Academe International has much experience and expertise with Cambridge International Education in a number of countries, cultures and scenarios.
International Baccalaureate (IB) vs Cambridge – Curriculum Explained
Selecting a curriculum or framework for an international school is a very important decision for school owners. A school's curriculum is a sequence of learning opportunities that shape your child's education and learning environment. Two of the most popular curriculum options in international schools include the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge Curriculum. So what are you really signing up for International Baccalaureate (IB) vs Cambridge? Which one is right? Academe International have no preference and have worked extensively with both.
Curriculum vs Framework
In the academic world there are many different theories of teaching and content to teach. Once a school has selected a framework/curriculum the teachers follow the guidelines that come with it. Let’s break it down as curriculum vs framework. A curriculum is developed and delivered within subject specific domains, this includes specific content and learning goals. A curriculum often has a framework attached to it. A framework is a structure that shows teachers\students how to work through information in all subjects, no specific content is provided but a guideline specific to skill building is used. Picking a curriculum or framework dictates how a student engages in their academic world and how learning will take place. The process of learning relies on how we process and understand information therefore it is essential to pick the correct curriculum for your child’s needs.
What is International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate is an education framework that covers a more diverse and global education therefore helping students understand different languages and cultures. The framework is divided into four programmes: Primary Years Programme (3-12 years old), Middle Years Programme (11-16 years old), IB Diploma (16-19 years old) and Career related (16-19 years old). The IB framework is internationally transferable, meaning that the content taught is based on international knowledge and information, hence not country specific. How does this translate to the classroom? Each child will be given the opportunity to inquire, act and reflect around a topic of interest. This allows a student to obtain a mastery of skills in a specific subject matter. The IB Diploma Programme is research-based and develops disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge. Its holistic approach means that students engage in thinking and discussion, alongside independent research and community service.
As stated by the IB: “at the heart of all IB programmes is the IB learner profile. Each programme is designed to match the educational needs of students today and tomorrow, and to nurture the skills and attitudes they need to excel at their careers of choice and lead meaningful lives.”
What is Cambridge Curriculum
The Cambridge Curriculum has pre-defined, country-specific, very straight-forward examinations with a definite content based goal. The curriculum is divided into four phases: Cambridge Primary (5-11 years old), Cambridge Lower Secondary (11-14 years old) and Cambridge Upper Secondary (14-16 years old) and IGCSE and A Levels (16+ years old). How does this translate to the classroom? Each teacher will have a curriculum guideline with specific content to teach. The students engage with, learn the subject matter and will be tested on the content in a prescribed examination. This exam is internationally comparable to assess a students abilities. Cambridge provides a straightforward path for making choices on where to go for a tertiary education.
Cambridge boasts “[IGCSE Certificates] are recognised as qualifications that prepare and equip students with the skills they need to succeed both at university and beyond. Universities tell us that they value the independent research and critical thinking skills, as well as the deep subject knowledge that our qualifications bring.”.
Sidney Rose FRSA explains
International Baccalaureate (IB) vs Cambridge Difference
Difference 1
One of the main differences between IB and Cambridge is the core content. The IB program allows for universal knowledge, topics and content to be studied. Contrarily the Cambridge curriculum is largely based on that of the English National Curriculum. Subsequently if you would like students engage in global and diverse topics, select IB. If your goal is for students to transfer to a UK based school or Cambridge university or the likes of, select Cambridge.
Difference 2
The second noteworthy difference is the assessment process that students undergo. The IB programme focuses on skills therefore a continuous assessment process is carried out in presentations through the academic year. Cambridge focuses on specific subject content and outcomes that students are then examined on in formal summative assessments known as examinations and are awarded a certificate from Cambridge for each examination subject taken. This is seen by some teachers and parents as the IB being more skills driven and the Cambridge is more result driven. However both programmes produce excellent academic results.