Nurturing minds and building character
EDUCATION today goes beyond academics and content and has evolved into nurturing a sustainable “lifelong learner”. At Sunway International School (SIS), offering both the Canadian (Ontario) and IB curriculum, the statement could not be more true. Both programmes have expectations beyond the classroom and hope to nurture the attributes and characteristics of an ideal student that also translates into a set learning outcome.
The 6Cs of the Canadian programme
The 6Cs concept, developed by Michael Fullan, a respected leader in education research and former dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), is synonymous with the Canadian (Ontario) curriculum. The 6Cs of the Canadian (Ontario) programme is six interrelated clusters that provide rich learning experiences and develop valuable skills and dispositions sought out by employers worldwide.
The 6Cs are character education, citizenship, communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. Each cluster is applied in a variety of ways in the Ontario curriculum.
Character education is nurtured through activities that engage students and enable them to reflect on the importance of traits such as tolerance and perseverance and how to apply these traits to their academic and professional lives.
Citizenship stresses the students’ global knowledge, including sensitivity and respect for other cultures. SIS’ international student body enables the sharing of cultures and ideas.
Communication is a daily practice in SIS. Students constantly share their ideas, while the school takes full advantage of the Internet as a powerful communication tool.
Critical thinking teaches students to problem-solve and critically design and manage projects. This leads students to be effective decision makers.
Collaboration revolves around effective teamwork, which is stressed through team-based activities that SIS teachers facilitate.
Creativity is evident in both teaching and learning. SIS’ dedicated teaching staff offer many activities that inspire students to take the initiative, assume leadership roles and pursue novel ideas.
The heart of IB
At the heart of the IB curriculum is the learner profile, which is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century. The ten
Both the Canadian (Ontario) and IB programmes offered at SIS aim to nurture students to succeed by providing them with skills and attributes that goes beyond classrooms.
aspirational qualities of the learner profile inspires and motivates the work of teachers, students and schools.
IB outlines 10 profiles: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Openminded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balance and Reflective.
Inquirers: Students to develop their natural curiosity and acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning.
Knowledgeable: Students explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance to develop
understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognise and approach complex problems and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators: Students understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication.
Principled: Students act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities.
Open-minded: They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities.
Caring: They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others.
Risk-takers: They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies.
Balanced: They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
Reflective: Students give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations to support their learning and personal development.
Both programmes aim to nurture students to succeed by providing them with skills and attributes that goes beyond classrooms.
nEnrolment for the January 2020 intake has begun. For more information, call 03-7491 8070/07533 8070 or visit sis.sunway.edu.my