Teaching and Learning at SJI International The teaching and learning at SJII is aimed at producing curious, independent and confident learners from Grade 7 right through to Grade 12; principles that underpin the IB learner profile. The most important principle within the school’s educational philosophy is that of active learning. This is based upon the fact the students learn and, above all, understand best when information and concepts are processed. This processing best takes place through varying sorts of activities. It is even more powerful when students first discover for themselves the information or concept and then process it. Crucially active learning is about students doing. This involves a wide range of activities, which will vary according to the subject: research, role plays, simulations, thinking exercises, decision making exercises, debates, presentations and so on. This provides a very stimulating educational environment and one which is intellectually more challenging for the students. With a greater emphasis on the students’ learning there also comes greater demand for participation from the students. It is not a matter of putting questions to the teacher, but of the students expressing their own opinions; being able to debate, defend, challenge, deduce, analyse and synthesize. This type of learning is facilitated by smaller more interactive classes which rely on a blend of teacher led activities, group work and class activities which may well be led by students. This means that lecture or lecture- style lessons are an extremely rare method of delivery at SJII.
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