This is the first in a series of posts explaining the Acton Academy Principles of Education.

Education Principle #1: Kids must learn to learn, learn to do, learn to be

Learn to learn:

When a child is asked to think about the impact of climate change on the small-scale family farmer in Northern Africa, how will she respond?  What will she think about? Will she think about the environmental impact on the region? The impact on agricultural productivity? The economic impact on the farmer and the region? The impact on the socio-economic fabric of the region? The potential migration due to hunger and poverty in the region? The resulting issues around food security and regional conflict?

How about if we ask a young student her thoughts on the impact of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning on our future?

Are we teaching our students the critical thinking skills that we need to? Are we teaching them how to think, how to research, how to learn about issues that impacted society historically and the ones that impact us today and will impact us tomorrow?

Our children at all levels should be able to learn general knowledge facts and understand how all these things are connected. For that, we need to guide students to build self-learning skills.

At Acton Academy Columbus, we will build critical thinking skills through Socratic discussions. Learn more about how a Socratic seminar works.

In addition, self-paced core studies will equip children with the tools needed to become life-long seekers of knowledge so they can think, discover, and build things.

“Are we forming children who are only capable of learning what is already known? Or should we try to develop creative and innovative minds, capable of discovery from the preschool age on, throughout life?” -Jean Piaget

Learn to do:

Before the modern school system was started in the early 1900s, it was common for children to be in one-room schoolhouses and to take on apprenticeships. This was a time where learning to know - memorizing general knowledge - was valued but so was learning to do. 

Historically, when we think about apprenticeships, we think about boilermakers, carpenters, and blacksmiths. And while those things are still important, there are opportunities today for students to learn other high-level skills. For example, if it interests them, our students should be able to learn to make websites, to code, and to do graphic design. Or what if your child is interested in nature and learning about flowers, plants, birds, and other animals. They should be able to explore the world about them beyond reading about it in a book. Research shows us that students can far more when they learn by doing than they gain by memorizing items in a book.

By focusing on a learning by doing curriculum, students will develop real life skills outside of books. They will learn how to do, how to lead, and how to manage their own learning.

At Acton, project-based and experiential learning (focused on science, math, arts, and entrepreneurship), as well as place-based learning, will help prepare children for real world challenges.

Learn to be:

What is the purpose of whatever we do? In our careers, we are learning to be great at what we do - whether we're medical doctors, data scientists, teachers, programmers, project managers, statisticians, etc. We study in school and for professional certification exams. We gain experience through work. And we do all this because we're learning to be something - there is a goal and we understand how to get there.  It drives us to do what we do.

How do we instill in our children their purpose for what they do? All the time they spend in school must have a purpose. If they know their goal, then students will, with guidance and independently, figure out what they need to do.

At the same time, how do we instill in our children the values of hard work, integrity, courage, persistence, and empathy? How do we develop a child’s growth mindset?

At Acton, every student knows that she is on a hero's journey. This journey begins once she step through the doors of the school. Learners at Acton are on an adventure with guides, friends (classmates), trials (challenges), and showdowns (barriers). They must go through this adventure and return a hero. The adventure will make them stronger and they will come back stronger to face the next challenge.

Acton Academy founder Laura Sandefer stated it best in her book Courage to Grow, "Children at Acton Academy know why they are being challenged to learn, to master, to solve, to forgive, to apologize, to discuss. They are doing so because it is part of their personal quest - their Hero's Journey - to find their greatest treasures, their inner gifts, and hone them in order to solve a burning need in their community, city, or world.

At Acton, we talk about this magnificent journey often. Whether it's learning multiplication or engaging in a heated match of GaGa ball, there is a clear and important reason that urges us forward. People in our community - from six-year olds to sixty-year-olds - embrace the challenge to learn and grow, knowing there will be suffering along the way because it's part of the journey. For this reason, we arm ourselves with courage every day. The courage to grow."

Want to learn more? See the research behind the principle.

Further recommended reading: Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer