Blog Post

Do you know what sets Crawford International Schools apart from all other schools in South Africa? 

It comes down to an educational environment infused with unique learning opportunities, embracing endless dynamic experiences, that encourage our students to explore and understand the world around them.

 

Crawford International has four dynamic, internationally aligned academic pillars that all our schools foster and include across all teaching and learning. These pillars focus on our educational offering: Being Locally and Globally Relevant, Embedding Future Focused Skills, Designing a Personalised Learning Journey and Empowering Student Agency. Collectively, all of these offer Crawford International students an education beyond expectation.

In this blog we delve into the detail of our Pillar focused on Student Agency, and the exciting concept of ‘Voice and Choice’

 

Student Agency


What is Student Agency you ask?

 

The term refers to the action of learning through engagements and experiences that are meaningful and important to the student. These interests are often driven by the student’s own wonder, curiosity and the exploration of these is often self-initiated.

 

To put it simply, Student Agency is the act of a student shaping their own education by a) Voicing their ideas, designing their own inquiries, leading discussions, and setting goals; and b) Choosing how they learn and how they communicate their new understandings.

 

Voice and Choice


Traditionally, South African schools were governed by set rules, regulations and procedures, and conformity was non-negotiable. Traditional teachers were mostly dictators with a ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ stance to learning and students were considered just a small part of a greater whole. 


Crawford International Schools work differently, embracing the individuality of their students and encouraging them to make important decisions for themselves in regard to their own learning journey.


Choices students are encouraged to make include:


  • Choosing their own bouquet of subjects,
  • Choosing which teachers they would like to work alongside,
  • Choosing to adopt practices that suit their learning styles,
  • Choosing which multiform combination they would like to wear.


Personal Investment


It’s a fact that the concept of ‘Voice and Choice’ not only helps students to feel personally invested in their own education, but it also allows them to be actively involved in shaping their own learning pathways, progress and ownership of the journey they are personally part of. It’s a concept that centres on the sharing of knowledge, skills, ideas and understanding of deeper concepts, rather than a one-way push of information.

 

Disengagement


Student disengagement has long been a challenge for all schools, but it has been proven that with concepts such as ‘Voice and Choice’, students are naturally more engaged, willing to participate, debate and be actively involved in lessons. This is because they have been given the opportunity to capitalise on their interests, passions and their strengths, which naturally raises their level of commitment in learning. And with increased engagement in lessons comes increased performance as students identify their next steps to their own success and progress.

 

Transitions


School leaders and world educators have said that schools that have authentically implemented Student Agency as ‘Voice and Choice’ into their learning model, have experienced a far smoother transition into blended, online and distance learning, in the face of the current worldwide pandemic.

 

This is because students as agents of their own learning do not need to wait for a teacher to tell them what to do. These students are able to more readily move forward academically, compared to others who have never had the experience of taking ownership in shaping the path of their learning. 

 

Student Agency, featuring the concepts of ‘Voice and Choice’ learning is just one of the dynamic educational pillars offered by Crawford International Schools to our students.

 

There are a further three unique learning pillars to explore, including:

•  Being Locally and Globally Relevant

•  Empowering Future Focused Skills; and -

•  Designing a Personalised Learning Journey

 

We will explore insights into the other three pillars over the coming weeks.

 

For more information on this or any other Crawford International Schools related content, visit www.crawfordinternational.co.za

22 Mar, 2024
Discover the secret to harmonising your family's busy lives with our top 8 tips for managing schedules effectively.
15 Mar, 2024
Unlock the essence of pedagogy in education with this insightful overview, explaining its meaning and exploring diverse teaching methods.
01 Mar, 2024
Discover the auditory learning style: a comprehensive guide exploring the characteristics, advantages, and strategies for auditory learners.
23 Feb, 2024
Uncover the key life skills that will empower your child for future success, from problem-solving to effective communication, in this comprehensive guide.
16 Feb, 2024
Delve into the complexities of peer pressure, distinguishing between its negative and positive impacts on youth behaviour and development for informed guidance.
09 Feb, 2024
Explore the nuances of negative reinforcement with children, highlighting its impact on behavior modification and effective parenting strategies.
02 Feb, 2024
Discover how learning a second language enriches children's cognitive development, enhances academic performance, and opens doors to cultural understanding.
Crawford International Alumnus
26 Jan, 2024
Inspired by Crawford International teachers to become a teacher herself, this is the journey of Petra Saringer.
Crawford International Matric Class of 2023
19 Jan, 2024
The Matric Class of 2023 have produced exceptional results, and we couldn’t be prouder of our students. Crawford International wishes to extend gratitude to our school community, students, parents, teachers, and support staff for their contributions in providing support to our students. These results underscore our continued commitment to academic excellence and our dedication to preparing students for the next phase of their lives. With the release of the Independent Examination Board (IEB) results, Crawford International has garnered a total of 1430 distinctions across all six South African Colleges, averaging 2.6 distinctions per candidate. A quick look at each campus’ performance: Crawford International La Lucia College: Total distinctions: 299 5 students achieved an average of over 90%, while over 37 students averaged between 80 and 89%. Crawford International Lonehill College: Total distinctions: 280 4 students obtained an average of over 90%, and 23 students averaged between 80 and 89%. The college's average distinction rate per candidate stands at 2.59. Crawford International North Coast College: Total distinctions: 136 The average distinction rate per candidate is 2.03, with 2 students averaging well over 90% and 10 students maintaining an average between 80 and 89%. Crawford international Pretoria College: Total distinctions: 166 2 students achieved an average of over 90%, and a total of 12 students maintained an average between 80 and 89%. Crawford International Ruimsig College: Total distinctions: 120 8 students averaged between 80-89%. Crawford International Sandton College: Total distinctions: 429 8 students achieved an average of over 90%, while 35 students maintained an average between 80 and 89%. The college's distinction rate is at an impressive 3.7 per candidate. As a school we continue to stand proud of our students on their impressive collective efforts. Crawford International firmly believes in equipping our students with globally competitive education, enriched with a future-focused skill set. We have full confidence that our Matric Class of 2023 is well-prepared to face the challenges of the world and strive to become global changemakers in their chosen contributions to society.
By Karabo Molokomme 05 Jan, 2024
Why Learning an Instrument Is Beneficial for Children Listening to your child learning to play an instrument can be challenging. Nobody handles the same key being played repeatedly well. And if you think the piano is bad, try listening to a child who is learning to play the drums, a trumpet, or the violin! But wait, before you pull the plug on lessons, you need to know how much benefit there is for your child in learning a musical instrument. We have outlined 10 benefits below: 1. It’s Fun Music is and should be fun. Sure, while your child is learning a new instrument it may be a little frustrating (for them and for you), but there will come a point where the penny will drop, and the instrument will serve its purpose. Being able to play songs that your child loves will be a huge personal achievement for them and the more they play, the better they will be and ultimately the more fun music will become. 2. Improved Coordination There are hundreds of toys on the market aimed at improving your child’s motor skills and coordination, but before you drop some significant money on a short-term toy, think about a long-term instrument. A study conducted in the United States proves that there is a big difference in fine motor skills and coordination development between a child that plays an instrument and one that does not. This is because an instrument forces a child to use their hands intentionally and at specific moments to get results. 3. Reduced Anxiety and Depression There are many reasons why learning to play a musical instrument helps anxiety and depression. Besides the fact that playing an instrument is one of the purest forms of self-expression, it also ensures that a person who needs time for themselves is spending time with themselves as they master their instrument. Added to that, mastering an instrument brings a person a sense of self achievement and increased mood. All of that, combined with the actual soothing or uplifting sounds of music, means that anxiety and depression are reduced. 4. Creates Responsibility Every instrument needs to be cared for. Guitars and pianos need to be tuned, drums need to be reskinned and maintained and flutes need to be cleaned with a rod and cloth. Having your child take care of the instrument they are learning to play and having them also stick to practice schedules means they are learning responsibility. 5. Exposes Children to New Cultures We all know that music plays a huge role in culture and history. It not only reflects different eras of time, but it has also been instrumental in implementing significant social and political change. Understanding different music, and its purpose, means exposure to different genres and instruments. For instance, get your child to explore the guitar and then expose them to the sitar from India. 6. Mathematics Skills Playing a musical instrument holds parallels with critical thinking and problem-solving skills , which are the cornerstones of mathematics. When learning an instrument, children will have to count and measure scales, all of which requires numbers. And when children learn rhythm, they are learning ratios, fractions, and proportions. Instruments are a great way for children to learn Maths in a creative way. 7. Increases Memory When learning a musical instrument, children need to memorize sheet music and finger placement. They need to also remember cues and arrangements. It is proven that children who play a musical instrument have increased brain function, better focus, and therefore increased memory. 8. Improves Listening Skills Children who play a musical instrument need to listen to a variety of things, including rhythm, pitch, and speed. And they also need to listen to what other people are playing and, of course, instructions from the conductor or teacher. 9. Improves Social Skills Musical instruments are often played in a group, such as in a band, a production, or in an orchestra. This requires the musician to work “harmoniously” (see what we did there?) with other musicians to achieve the desired outcome… harmony! It is a proven fact that children who take part in music, develop higher levels of social cohesion. 10. Perseverance Learning an instrument can be challenging and your child’s music teacher should outline both short-term and long-term goals to monitor milestones. Achieving these milestones are both rewarding and encouraging for your child and these things drive perseverance – a wonderful trait and skill to have.
Show More
Share by: