Alternative Education: Raising Global Students

In today's age of standardized assessments and high-stakes testing, we seem to be sending the wrong message. How do we teach kids that learning goes beyond what they can bubble in on a piece of paper? We all know students learn differently, at different paces, come from different educational backgrounds, and have different needs, interests, and passions, and these all affect how well they do in school. So what are alternative was to teach students, to engage them, to instill in them a love of learning, to give them the skills (rather than the content) so they can keep learning after school ends and after their tutor returns home. What else can we put in their tool kit to encourage a deeper understanding, to show them how to ask the right questions, and how to find the answers on their own? In today's globalized society, how can we raise more "global students"?

A family in Oregon had a bold idea. Maya and Tom Frost sold their house, moved to Mexico, and truly engaged their students in a different model of education. USA Today chronicled the story in a fascinating Q&A: "We wanted our kids to develop full-tilt flexibility, so we sold everything and left our suburban lifestyle behind to have a last-blast family adventure abroad. We didn't have a ton of money, so we had to get creative and figure out how to work virtually while ushering four teenage girls through high school and into college in non-traditional ways... None of them ever submitted an SAT score or took an AP or IB class. They are flourishing -- and financially independent." All four daughters graduated college early, saved thousands by enrolling in high school and college concurrently, and had internships, research projects, and mentoring all over Latin America. Maya calls this the "bold school" approach - opting out of the traditional path and blazing your own trail.

Homeschooling is also picking up steam. Parents homeschool for a variety of reasons, from academic to social to being in line with their family values. It allows for more flexibility and more focus on the interests of their children. Sometimes classes aren't challenging enough, and they want to supplement the school work with their own academic activities. Sometimes kids get too caught up in social activities - or are bullied or left out - and having the control over the social environment at home is crucial. Being able to create your own curriculum, test it and engage your child in ways you know are best, winds up being a great solution for many parents.

With the economy transforming the workforce more than any time in 70 years, parents are coming up with creative ways to educate their global students. A tutor just reminded me of a good quote from Thomas Edison: "The teacher has not taught until the learner as learned." We've always thought of the teacher as the person at the front of the class; maybe now it's time to think of the teacher in different ways.