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Innovation: The DNA of Modern Education

Paid Post:Stamford American School Hong Kong
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Innovation: The DNA of Modern Education

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Innovation is a global focus in an ever-changing world. The past two years of the pandemic have only highlighted this critical need for novel ideas more than ever. Education has evolved to position students as successful leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. No longer can students focus on subjects in isolation. Students need to work across multiple disciplines and be inspired to become future innovative leaders. The transformation of learning approaches develops students with the skills they will need to be successful in today's careers by fostering multiple social-emotional skill sets and technological competencies.

At the core of a Stamford education are four I's-Innovation, International, IB-Centric, and Individualized. Innovation lives in the Stamford American School Hong Kong DNA through the embedded STEMinn curriculum (science, technology, engineering, math, and innovation), the Cornerstones hands-on project-based mentorship program, and experienced faculty leveraging the latest technologies and tools to deliver future-proof education.

STEMinn: Delivering Relevant Education
In 2020, the World Economic Forum published data on the most in-demand skills, demonstrating a need for technological literacy combined with various higher-order thinking skills. The STEMinn program at Stamford builds these core skills at every grade level using age-appropriate technology and integrating the core units of students. Hands-on and project-based, the students must collaborate, problem-solve, and display resilience as they work to achieve challenging and exciting outcomes.
The PP students play some matching games using Osmo Reflectors to consolidate their learning about the 5 senses.
The PP students play some matching games using Osmo Reflectors to consolidate their learning about the 5 senses.

In addition to the core units, students are stretched each year by two innovation-focused project weeks: "Mission Inspire" and "Sustainable Stamford." Students from Pre-primary to Grade 12 focus on a school-wide theme to encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration that builds a community of innovators across grade levels. Students have delivered unique projects during Sustainable Stamford (focusing on sustainability), including underwater vehicles with embedded AI technology to track ocean garbage and cultivate alternative food sources to combat food scarcity.

During Mission Inspire, which encompasses a variety of inspiring themes, Grade 10 students explored the "diddley bow" that influenced the development of the blues. After devising a plan, measuring, and prototyping, students constructed their final product with a wide range of tools and incorporated electrical transduction, and tested their final electric bows, tweaking a necessary. This project demonstrates how a simple machine can bring about historical change while allowing students to experience the design cycle firsthand.

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