Discover how two young learners at Citizens School turned a classroom project into School uniform. A collaboration between two young innovators, Bers & Artem from Year 6 (now in Year 7) has led to creation of a unique T-shirt design that is now part of Citizens School’s official school uniform. Read more about how they created the design and our curriculum in Khaleej Times.
Eight participants from Citizens School completed the ‘Advanced Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring in Educational Settings’ on 28 June 2024, marking the end of a transformative six-month journey.
Citizens School is proud to be the first institution globally to implement this programme, reaffirming its commitment to redefining education by prioritising educators as coaches and mentors. Citizens recognises the vital role mentors play in transforming education. By emphasising coaching and mentoring as a pedagogical approach, trained mentors empower learners with essential life skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and confidence.
Hi Everyone ! Welcome to my blog, delving into the future of education and specifically the distinction between students and learners and how at Citizens School Dubai we intentionally do things differently and are at the forefront of this educational revolution.
Let’s start by defining our terms. What is the difference between a student and a learner?
A student is often seen as someone who attends classes, completes assignments, and passes exams. They follow a structured curriculum designed to impart a fixed body of knowledge.
A learner, on the other hand, goes beyond this. A learner is someone who actively engages with the material, seeks out new knowledge, and applies what they have learned in real-world situations. Learners are curious, adaptable, and self-motivated.
Learners are motivated by an intrinsic desire to learn, to grow, to discover. Students do what they are told when they are told (mostly!)
Learners strive and often have a number of ‘messy’ attempts, failures and hit deadends that cause them to re-evaluate, think critically and problem solve, that then leads them to greater insights. Students on the other hand strive for perfection.
Learners chafe at overly restrictive directions. They revel in the fuzzy boundaries and uncharted territory. Students minimize risks by following directions. The clearer the directions, the better.
The learner sees mastery as a continual and deepening practice, with mastery an elusive but worthwhile pursuit. The student associate’s mastery with passing the test.
The Need for Learners in Today’s World:
The world we live in today is characterised by rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving industries. According to studies, the technical knowledge we gain today has an increasingly short half-life. This means that much of what students learn in traditional settings becomes obsolete quickly.
In this dynamic environment, it is not enough to simply know; one must learn how to learn, unlearn, and relearn. The world demands quick adaptation and creative problem-solving. Known answers are in short supply, and the ability to think critically and innovate is paramount.
At Citizens School , we recognize that each child is unique, with their own strengths, interests, and learning styles. Our personalised learning paths allow students to explore subjects that intrigue them and link to the passions they pursue.
Our curriculum integrates the latest technological tools and innovative teaching methods. This not only keeps our learners up to date with current trends but also prepares them for future technological advancements.
We encourage a growth mindset in our learners, fostering resilience and a love for continuous learning. Mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth, and challenges are embraced as part of the learning journey.
We are creating a school culture in which being a learner is more valuable than being a student. We engage and facilitate ways for learners to learn anyplace anytime and remove the concept that you only learn in a classroom environment.
At Citizens we achieve this by active collaboration and feedback from others, designing learning experiences based on our learner’s passions and interests.
So, as we move further into the 21st century, the demand for learners, not just students, is more critical than ever. Citizens School Dubai is not just preparing students for exams; we are cultivating learners who will thrive in an ever-changing world.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
By David Lees
Head of Secondary – Vice Principal
At Citizens School, we are committed to transforming education by redefining the role of teachers as mentors. In a world that is constantly evolving, knowledge is now easily accessible to all, thanks to the internet and digital resources. Therefore, we view teachers not merely as transmitters of knowledge but as dynamic mentors who guide learners to effectively utilise the abundant information.
With the rise of AI and the overwhelming amount of information accessible, it is crucial for learners to become critical thinkers. Our mentors help learners develop the ability to question, evaluate, and synthesize information, ensuring they know what to use and what to leave behind. They focus on teaching learners the skills to analyse and interpret data, and to make informed decisions.
Our mentors prepare learners to navigate through complexities of the modern world by cultivating these critical thinking skills. They equip learners with the necessary tools to harness the power of knowledge, apply it effectively, and adapt to new challenges. In alignment with our vision and ethos, this approach equips learners to thrive in a rapidly changing environment, ready to contribute thoughtfully and innovatively to their communities and beyond.
Mentors at Citizens School play a crucial role in empowering learners to take charge of their educational journey by adopting a coaching approach: they provide guidance, encouragement, and inspiration, to enable learners to set their own educational objectives and navigate their learning paths.
Mistakes are viewed as valuable learning opportunities, cultivating a growth mindset that emphasises perseverance and continuous improvement. Constructive feedback from mentors creates an inspiring classroom environment where learners feel safe to express their ideas and take risks. This feedback helps learners understand their strengths and areas for improvement, encouraging them to view obstacles as opportunities. By providing specific, actionable advice, mentors guide learners in developing their skills and confidence, creating a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement. This supportive atmosphere enhances academic performance whilst building resilience and a powerful sense of self-efficacy.
In our coaching-oriented educational paradigm, powerful questioning and active listening are essential skills mentors’ possess. Mentors use thought-provoking questions to ignite curiosity, encouraging learners to think critically and explore ideas independently. Active listening, involves understanding emotions, identifying unspoken thoughts, and validating learner experiences. By practicing active listening, mentors understand learners’ unique perspectives, promoting a sense of validation and support. This transforms the classroom into a vibrant hub of exploration and discovery.
Empathy is another cornerstone of our mentoring approach. Empathetic questions address student concerns and goals, building trust, encouraging open dialogue and personal growth. This empathetic connection helps learners navigate their educational journey with confidence.
Our mentoring approach extends beyond the classroom, instilling a lifelong passion for learning. By embracing their roles as teachers and coaches, mentors at Citizens School inspire the thinkers and dreamers of tomorrow, shaping a bright and promising future in education.
By Nagham Naamani
Vice Principal
Traditional methods of learning – textbooks, exams and lectures have long been the standard approach to education. In today’s rapidly changing world, the need for a more adaptable educational model has become evident.
Citizens School represents a breath of fresh air for those seeking a dynamic, learner focused and experiential way of learning. Founded with a vision to offer students (learners) a transformative educational journey, we stand as a catalyst for change in UAE’s educational landscape.
While traditional schooling has its merits, we believe in a more innovative approach that builds on the existing educational practises. Citizens School cultivates a flexible and adaptable learning environment that empowers learners to deepen their academic understanding and develop essential life skills while creating a lifelong passion for learning. Our curriculum promotes inclusive and engaging project-based learning that supports intellectual, social, and emotional development, preparing learners to thrive in the 21st century workforce.
‘One-size-fits-all’ has been the hallmark of traditional schooling, where teacher led instruction and passive student roles dominate the classroom. Heavy reliance on tests and exams as a measure of success has reinforced a culture of memorisation over critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
In contrast, Citizens offers personalised learning pathways tailored to the unique needs, interests, and learning styles of each learner. By bridging classroom teaching with real world applications, our model encourages active engagement, practical knowledge application, and the development of critical thinking & problem-solving skills. At the heart of our curriculum lies a strong emphasis on Entrepreneurship. Through projects, experiments, hands on learning, we encourage learners to think critically, take calculated risks and develop a growth mindset. These essential skills help shape the innovators of tomorrow, ready to tackle challenges and embrace opportunities of the future.
At Citizens we also recognise the invaluable role of Mentors, as architects of a holistic educational experience that goes beyond textbooks and academic success. They guide the overall development of our learners and create a learning environment that nurtures talent and moulds children with an adaptable, future-ready skills and mindset.
Representing a fundamental shift in the approach to education, we offer a compelling alternative to the traditional learning model, one that could revolutionise the way we perceive education in the years to come. At Citizens, we take pride in reimagining education and empowering our learners to become responsible global citizens, adept problem solvers and innovative thinkers.
By Nagham Naamani
Vice Principal
The ability to innovate is not just an advantage; it is a necessity. At Citizens School, we meet this challenge head-on by integrating innovation skills into our curriculum, fostering creativity and adaptability in our learners. By thinking laterally and exploring new ideas, we aim to create a culture where creative thinking thrives. This process begins with equipping our mentors with the tools they need to allow children the freedom to experiment and take risks.
Providing opportunities for creativity leads to ideas or inventions, which can then be developed into innovations. Through projects, prototypes, or new methods, students’ inventive activities bridge the gap between imagination and practical application. These inventions then become the foundation for broader innovations, influencing how we solve problems, improve processes, and enhance everyday life.
We encourage our teachers, who we call mentors, to incorporate creativity into the classroom. I recently ran an innovation workshop highlighting a range of creativity tools, specifically focusing on De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats and Design Thinking. Both methods adopt a human-centered, empathetic approach to problem-solving, crucial for developing emotional intelligence and diverse perspectives.
The mentors were split into groups and given a challenge to solve. Each member was given a hat, representing a different mode of thinking: factual (White Hat), emotional (Red Hat), critical (Black Hat), positive (Yellow Hat), creative (Green Hat), and managerial (Blue Hat). When employed in the classroom, this technique enhances learners’ ability to think comprehensively and collaboratively, enabling them to address complex problems by considering multiple perspectives. It also develops their ability to switch thinking styles, improving cognitive flexibility and teamwork.
Design thinking incorporates the stages of empathising, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. It encourages learners to understand user needs deeply, fostering empathy and promoting innovative solutions tailored to real-world problems. This iterative process develops resilience and adaptability, reacting to feedback and continuously improving ideas.
Understanding the balance between innovation and consolidation is critical, as illustrated in Clayton Christensen’s “The Innovator’s Dilemma.” This concept teaches that while it is essential to pursue groundbreaking innovations, it is equally important to consolidate and strengthen the existing systems. Schools must decide when to innovate, stay ahead and when to consolidate to maintain stability. By recognising the right moments to embrace disruptive changes and to reinforce current practices, educators can create a balanced environment that nurtures sustained growth and innovation. This delicate balance ensures that educational institutions remain dynamic and forward-thinking while providing a stable foundation for student development.
The innovation workshop was the first in a series of professional development sessions to ensure that we deliver on our promise to ‘Reimagine Education’. We are committed to integrating cutting-edge technologies and fostering a culture of continuous innovation to prepare our students for the challenges of the future. This dedication to technological advancement and innovative practices ensures that our learners are ready to face the future and equipped to shape it.
By Dr. Terry McAdams
Vice Principal
