Education has leaped to new highs in the 21st century - both in terms of syllabus and delivery of the syllabus. With the advent of new-age learning techniques, schools need to incorporate them into everyday teaching.

Schools that cater to Generation Z, must have specially designed, dedicated facilities that evoke rich learning experiences and create higher levels of engagement among students for deeper benefit.

What do Dedicated Spaces imply in the context of primary schools?

Experts insist on imbibing the four core values of Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical-thinking among students from a young age. These 4Cs - when weaved into the school curriculum through fun and interactive spaces - give students bigger avenues to explore and innovate, as well as deeper knowledge of things learnt on a daily basis.

Schools that provide great facilities in the form of dedicated spaces for these activities reap richer benefits for their students. 

Such spaces imply exclusive areas  in the school premise that help the students learn beyond the four walls of the classroom. They offer tools and platforms to cultivate 21^st century skills among primary school students  beyond the confines of a traditional classroom.

Lets see how dedicated spaces and custom-designed facilities at primary school foster the 4Cs of 21^st century learning among students:

Dedicated spaces for Collaboration

Collaboration is one of the soft-skills that students must learn in order to ready themselves for the future. Traditional classrooms foster only limited collaboration under the supervision of teachers. However, new age collaboration requires independent team-work and a flexible environment where students can freely interact and brainstorm with peers.

Students collaborating and working in teams at Learning Commons

Dedicated spaces like Student Lounges, Student Group Rooms and Learning Commons at GIIS are great examples that facilitate collaboration. Primary students are often seen using these facilities to work together on  assignments and brainstorm on team projects.

Learning Commons at GIIS - unique learning spaces between two classrooms

Sixteen SGR rooms, equipped with TV screens, and wifi facilities enable students to research online, and reach out to experts at the click of a button when necessary.

Take a glimpse at how GIIS fosters collaboration among primary year students

Dedicated spaces for Creativity

Creativity is definitely one of THE most important criteria for student development and success. Primary schools have a role to play in ensuring that students tap into their creativity, be innovative and give shape to their ideas to be better learners. Through spaces like Maker space, Design Studios and various art studios, primary schools provide a platform for students to explore their creativity and come up with newer solutions to age old problems.

At GIIS, these dedicated spaces expand from science to art. Graphic Design Studio, Ceramic Studio, Art and Music Studios are standard, but additionally the school has programmes like Real World Challenges Convention where students are given a stage to present their new ideas, and winning entries get prizes. 

One such effort was the Hunger Warriors - a student group which was recognised by the United Nations for their project on eliminating world hunger through collective effort. 

Check out the NextGen facilities at GIIS Singapore

Dedicated spaces for Communication

Generation Z, now followed by their younger counterparts, Generation Alpha - are natural communicators. They are at ease on social platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok, where they post videos of their creations without hesitation. 

Such inherent inclination towards communication needs proper channeling, and primary schools play a large part in such an endeavour.  New age communication skills go beyond writing, speaking and listening skills.

A 21st century primary school must have facilities that focus on developing the confidence of students in using various channels of communication.

Students learning art of communicating through podcast and radio shows

Radio Studio, TV Studio and Language Labs at GIIS are some of the new age facilities that take training in communication to the next level and help primary grade students learn communication beyond the realms of creative writing and public speaking.

Projects like Virtual Filmmaking and Jockeying for school podcasts are some of the avenues GIIS provides to bring out the communicator in students. Many have contributed through vlogs and participated in contests online at culinary show hosts, which has won them accolades.

Dedicated spaces for Critical-Thinking

With strong emphasis on developing critical-thinking as one of the key 21^st century skills among students, primary schools must be equipped with dedicated facilities that foster problem-solving skills among students. To be critical-thinkers, students need to relate concepts to the world outside the classroom.

Check out the facilities at GIIS, like Environment Lab, IT Lab, coding workshops and Robotics workshops - where students can apply the concepts learnt in class to real-world situations. Through their own inclinations and with the help of mentors and teachers, students have made projects like Self-Watering Plants, Ocean cleaners and Anti-Dengue kits - which were recognised at the IIT level and through the media. 

Going hands-on is the best way to learn a skill and develop critical thinking. Primary schools should expose students to multiple areas where they can come across challenging concepts and hone their problem solving skills.

Building ICT skills early at dedicated IT Labs

Conclusion: An engaging ambience for 21st century learners is not just an extra addition but a core necessity where students will thrive and grow. Primary schools should have dedicated facilities that offer them a NextGen learning experience, promote peer-to-peer collaboration, and widen the learning from the confines of the classroom to the entire school premises.

GIIS is way ahead in providing these facilities to students to make them better learners with a solid foundation to take on challenges in secondary school. 

Check out more about GIIS Primary Programme

Join us for a Coffee Morning Session with our Primary Programme experts to understand about our academic curricula and holistic approach. Click here to register for the Coffee Morning.

Note: Pictures used in this article are from pre-covid times.

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