A vision for education ...?

We need a vision for education and a plan for the 21st century

What does a high quality learning environment look like?

• Environments where learning experiences challenge?every child's conceptual understanding using inquiry and personalised approaches and embrace technology as a tool - with an emphasis on developing?critical thinking,?creativity, and innovation skills in the classroom and out developing real life skills.
• Where?collaborative learning, speaking, listening, reading and writing and other forms of communication are key features.
• Where ehe curriculum has an emphasis on providing an experiential learning experience using both local and global environments developing global citizens - so that it means something and is tangible for all.
• Where learning incorporates formative assessment, summative assessment and self-assessment which is the actual outcome of real learning - rather than test results. It celebrates what students can do - not what they cant!
• Where values of integrity, empathy, and compassion after all these students will be our global leaders.

Cyprus is unique.

It has an amazing diaspora of Cypriots who are not only engaging with Cypriots who have relocated back to Cyprus, but sharing globally the multiple advantages of Cyprus from foreign nationals who have either invested or established permanent roots on the island.

Cyprus is a global hub which is thriving in developing international relations through entrepreneurship, innovation, philanthropy, cultural and social engagement.

In March Cyprus Diaspora global leaders will meet and provide he outstanding partnership opportunities, topics of discussion, an online exhibition, for Cypriots of the diaspora to connect globally and showcase our wonderful island to the world.

The island nation now has several top-ranking universities that offer a wide range of academic programs in various fields - with several universities and colleges including the University of Nicosia, European University Cyprus, University of Larnaca and Larnaca College.

Leading learning .....and educating leaders - what next

• A vision for educating children to become independently thinking, globally and ecologically conscious, innovative, communicative and happy young individuals will inspire learners to achieve the best that they can with the gifts that they have and become leaders of their own learning.
• A move towards adapting teaching and learning so that the curriculum is ubiquitously linked with the real life - will make things real for students leading to much deeper and meaningful understanding.
• Empowering students to use their own learning style according to his/her talents preferences and abilities - a key to success.
• Mentoring, peer teaching, ongoing teacher training to ensure educators are equipped with the latest teaching methodologies, technology integration, and pedagogical techniques.
• Where foreign language education is a priority so that students can better engage with international communities and opportunities.

Experiential experiential experiential ....inspiring young people, is about allowing them to experience learning in the real natural world: so that they can experience the beaches in Cyprus, the Loggerhead turtle, the spring blossoms. the dams and why they are built, the limestone in the Avagas Gorge, the valleys and mountains, the Aphrodite Baths, mosaics and amphitheatres, a deep understanding of the Greek Ancient Civilisations.

21st Century skills ....AI?

Most important to employers nowadays and for the future is the application of skills to all learning so that they can solve problems and make critical decisions and nowadays using EdTech .

No longer are students seeing the teacher as the holder of all knowledge, but more working together in a collaborative classroom where they discuss and debate issues discuss concepts, solutions and use technology for communication and research,.

The teachers role is to use their acumen to develop innovative thinkers to aspire and reach “the highest internationally recognised performance standards” by becoming directors of their own learning.

Becoming independent learners develops self-confidence and empowers students to become more involved in service learning, supporting refugees, connecting with other schools locally and globally.

Once we as educational leaders start to value trust and respect, equality and equity, cooperation, empathy, freedom to express, the joy of learning, and that learning can be innovative, and we start carving the road to educating our children to become independently thinking, globally and ecologically conscious, innovative, communicative and happy young individuals ... then the magic will happen.

Dr Tassos Anastasiades