FOUR of the Upper South Coast’s schools have recently introduced Thinking Schools South Africa’s (TSSA) teaching approach and methodologies into their classrooms.
This approach works to empower schools to embed critical and creative thinking into daily teaching and learning in the curriculum.
As the current schooling system churns out grade after grade, there is a growing realisation that if pupils merely memorise the content of the subjects they learn at school, it is no longer enough to achieve academically or in life. The youth are being exposed to increasingly complex problems for which there aren’t simple answers.
Not only are they required to think more effectively for themselves, they also need to master working collaboratively with others. This is impacting on education around the world, and Thinking Schools SA realised a new approach is required.
Over the last few weeks, teachers at Amanzimtoti High School, Amanzimtoti Primary, Umbogintwini Primary and Tecoma Pre-Primary have been trained to incorporate this approach into their teaching.
TSSA is a non-profit organisation that empowers schools to develop a culture of explicit thinking, so that pupils and teachers ‘learn how to learn more effectively’.
When introduced into a school, the goal is for pupils to become passionate, practised and resourceful thinkers and problem-solvers who will perform better at school and in all that follows thereafter.
The TSSA approach meets the stated objective of the national CAPS curriculum, namely to develop critical and collaborative thinking skills. It has already been shown to improve engagement and student ownership of the learning process, as well as academic results across the curriculum, including maths, science and English.
When present at the primary school training, held at Amanzimtoti Primary School on Friday, 26 October, the principals of the involved schools shared the many benefits to be reaped from this approach.
“Over and above, the TSSA approach also works to open pupils’ minds,” explained Tecoma Pre-Primary School principal, Peggy Brown.
“A close-minded pupil says ‘I can’t do it’, when struggling. An open-minded pupil says ‘I can’t do it yet’, and continues to strive towards self-actualisation.”
Teachers from all phases underwent training to better equip themselves to teach more appropriate methods to pupils. TSSA aims to add value to the work the syllabus provides, teaching pupils not to learn to pass but to learn and know the importance of it.
Amanzimtoti High School principal, Louise Lemmer explained that it was initially planned that TSSA be implemented at primary school level and only from the beginning of next year. However, after the apparent success of TSSA, the four local schools have jumped on board as ‘pilot schools’ which are introducing it throughout their grades right away.
The NPO pushes pupils to become lifelong learners, being successful at school, in life and able to make correct choices when situations arise. By utilising the approach, teachers embed active questioning and thinking strategies into the learning process for better results from the same curriculum.
Teaching Schools SA facilitates ‘drive teams’ from a cross-section of schools in each region, to support each other to continue to develop as a ‘community of practise’. This goes far beyond add-on training workshops, as thinking competencies become an ongoing agenda in teaching, learning, school dynamics and leadership. NGO, PBO and SACE registered, every cent is reinvested in South Africa to empower a thinking generation.
Respected professor of education, Dr Art Costa said that intelligence is knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do. Through facilitation, guidance and asking the right questions, this is what the four pilot schools of the area intend to instill in their pupils.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
