SALA Sunshine Coast

19/03/2025

Hey,
We realised that it was better to use a facebook group for this as we can all interact with each other. Please join this facebook group for more news: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1173138044435389

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17/09/2024

Picture this: You’re in math class, and after several weeks of studying the Pythagorean Theorem, it’s time for the test. You’ve worked hard and earned a 75%. Next week, the class will move on to Trigonometry.

Now, 75% is a decent grade, but it shows that you didn’t completely master the topic. You’re not 100% confident in using the Pythagorean Theorem. Meanwhile, the class moves on to another subject that builds on the skills you haven’t fully mastered. This will continue for years, and you’ll cover new topics that build on past ones you didn’t fully understand. It might make you feel like you’re always behind.

Why is it set up this way? It’s usually because the goal is to pass standardized tests. But what if the focus was on making sure you really understand each topic before moving on?

That’s where Mastery Learning comes in. What if you could go at your own pace and move on to Trigonometry only after you’ve mastered the previous math topic?

In a classroom, everyone learns at their own speed. Tom might understand the Pythagorean Theorem faster than others but might need more time to master Trigonometry.

Mastery Learning means truly understanding each topic before moving on, rather than just gearing up for the next test.

03/09/2024

Where Does Our Current Education Model Come From?

With the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, we needed a way to prepare the workforce for factory-type labour. At that time, not many people were schooled, just the elite.

That’s where leaders, inspired by the Prussian education system, introduced education for everyone. Many principles we use today come from there, such as having a standardized curriculum, separating students by grade levels, and dividing the day by instruction in separate subjects.

One of the main goals was to educate the masses and prepare them to work in a factory. Therefore, teachers acted as authority figures and provided guidance and knowledge to the students, similar to a supervisor on an assembly line. As in a factory, students needed to adhere to rules, be organized, and be uniform. Even the use of a bell to indicate the end of a period was used in factories.

And there are more comparisons we can make. This system was beneficial in its time for offering education to everyone, establishing a standardized knowledge baseline, and preparing students for the work they would do during the Industrial Age.

More than 100 years later, we still use the same model. The world has changed a lot, but the principles that organize schools haven’t. What would it look like to have a school that prepares children for the world we live in today?

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29/08/2024

🌟 Why SALA? 🌟

"SALA" means "school" in Khmer, the national language of Cambodia. Our journey into education began during our time living there, where we observed that many Cambodian schools follow a very traditional approach. Students often spend their time copying instructions from textbooks read out loud by the teacher. Asking questions in class is not encouraged as it's a sign of disrespect.

We believe schools should be a place where curiosity and learning are nurtured. We want to see children become lifelong learners.

Since children spend so much of their time in school, we see this as a crucial opportunity to make a positive impact. We're dedicated to transforming education into a place where every student can thrive and grow.

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13/08/2024

Welcome to SALA!

We want to build a community around starting a new school on the Sunshine Coast.

Here, we'll share the findings we've discovered about learning and education. Plus, we'll keep you in the loop with updates on the project to start a school.

Thanks for being here