WEEKLY WHITEBOARD ??
8billionideas
Our mission is to give every student on the planet the skills and belief to change the world.
Your weekly dose of all things education is back!
Here's a quick refresher on the Weekly Whiteboard. This is your go-to spot for the latest education news, actionable teaching tips, and latest trends in our field
How is the new academic year treating you? We hope everyone had a good start to the year - and that no one was greeted by a mouldy apple left in their draw.
We've had a brilliantly busy summer hosting our first ever camps in Dubai. To witness the children grow in confidence and self-esteem, presenting their showcases with enthusiasm and gusto, and seeing the huge smiles on their faces is a testament to the fantastic job our facilitators do.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2024 report highlighted that the percentage of 18–24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training has decreased from 16% in 2016 to 14% in 2023. This improvement highlights the importance of sustained efforts to keep young people in education.
?With this in mind, here's what we'll cover in this edition. ???
?? Deep dive: Unpacking the OECD's 'Education at a Glance' report looking at levelling the education playing field for high-quality and lifelong learning opportunities.
?News updates that matter:?
?? Quick giggles for the classroom:
Why did the student eat his homework?
Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake. ??
FRIDAY SPOTLIGHT: OECD's 'EDUCATION AT A GLANCE'?
?? Deep Dive: Here are some key takeaways from the OECD's report.
???? UK among nations with lowest spending per child on pre-primary education: The child-teacher ratio in preschool education in the UK increased by more than 5% per year, according to the study.
?? Parents’ education has a strong impact on the educational attainment of their children: In the UK, 74% of 25-64 year-olds with at least one parent with tertiary attainment also attained a tertiary qualification. In contrast, only 25% of 25-64 year-olds with parents without an upper secondary qualification have obtained a tertiary qualification themselves. This compares to the averages of 72% and 19%, respectively.
?? Significant gender differences in education paths found: In all OECD member countries, women aged 25-34 are as likely or more likely than their male peers to have a tertiary qualification (54% compared to 41% on average across OECD countries).
Although the picture is reversed when they enter the labour market, outcomes are generally worse for women than for men. In the UK, 88% of young women with a tertiary qualification are employed, while the corresponding share for young men is 94%.
This report is a great read for policymakers and educators alike! It not only offers a clear snapshot of the current state of education but also dives into how various countries tackle educational challenges. Plus, it highlights effective strategies that could boost education outcomes.?
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Free resources for teachers
Sustainability programme for your school
Grow 24 is an engaging FREE PSHE sustainability programme developed in partnership with Farms For City Children. The programme includes 6 interactive videos workshops that help Primary students deepen their connection with nature, sustainability, food and the environment.?
?? Grand Prize: Your class could win an unforgettable 5-day trip to one of our farms!?
TOP THREE EDUCATION UPDATES ??
The latest news: ?
1?? Children missing from school:?
It's not new news that school attendance is a huge issue for schools, but most recent data Children's Commissioner's office suggested 13,100 children had left the state education system during the period between the spring terms of 2022 and 2023, and had subsequently been taught at home. Nearly one in three of those were SEN children.
Why it matters: According to a Teacher Tapp survey commissioned by BBC Radio 5 Live, 28% of school leaders across the state sector said SEN funding was their top financial concern. (Via BBC news)
2?? Dubai's education showing continued growth:
Dubai boasts 223 private schools serving over 365,000 students and offering 17 different curricula. The sector is growing, with six new schools opening this academic year, alongside 29 new early childhood centres and 4 new education institutions. It should however be noted that three schools were closed at the end of 2023-2024 for failing to meet quality benchmarks.?
Why it matters: It signals that while KHDA is successfully attracting many institutions to the region it is actively monitoring and enforcing quality benchmarks in schools. (Via Gulf Today)
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3?? Children's brains appear older post lockdown:
Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle gathered 160 MRI scans from 9-17 years olds and then revisited the same cohort post-lockdown to compare. They found that Girls' brains appeared 4.2 years older than expected after lockdown, compared with boys' 1.4 years. "We were shocked by these data, that the difference is so dramatic" said Prof Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences. Interestingly, this isn't the first report to note that post-lockdown brains are ageing faster.?
Why it matters: This article has sparked significant conversation among educators worldwide. How have you observed the developmental age of your students evolving? (Via The Guardian)
8billionideas Tales ??
It's only September, and our team is already making waves across the globe, one learning experience at a time! ??
Just last week, some of our team members brought our dynamic live programmes to the International School of Stuttgart ???? for their 'Ignite Your Mind' week. We were thrilled to hear that many students ranked 8billionideas as their absolute favourite part of the week, even with other options like body drumming and marine biology in the mix.?
Simultaneously, we had the pleasure of introducing our cutting-edge learning platform to our partner school in Thailand, Denla British School ????. Their feedback was incredible — they were amazed by the platform's user-friendliness and interactive design. The school will use the platform to incorporate our Perform Better programme into their curriculum.?