Research: Silicon Valley Schools

• For example, a typical lesson for fourth grade students might include learning about Norse mythology by making their own pictures of the stories, acquiring problem-solving maths skills through knitting or practising a modern language by playing a game of catch.
• Amico insists that this more creative approach to education brings lessons to life and is far more effective than showing students a series of images on a screen.
• “Lessons are delivered by a human being that not only cares about the child’s education, but also about them as individuals,” she says. “What do you remember as a child in the classroom? It is usually field trips, getting your hands dirty in a lab or a beautiful story. Those are the things that stay with you 50 years later.”
• The idea is to remove the distraction of electronic media and encourage stronger engagement between teacher and pupil during lessons.
• It teaches students the innovative thinking skills many employers desire. She adds that students weaned on technology often lack that ability to think outside the box and problem solve.
• “Teaching is about human contact and interaction. I don’t think we are doing children any favours by teaching them through machines at that young age.”