IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2018 | Page 33

Education Special Section
“The way students learn, share ideas, get
access to content, create, and collaborate
is fundamentally different,” says Anthony
Salcito, vice president of worldwide
education at Microsoft. “Their mindsets
are different, and the workplaces we are
preparing them for are different, so we
have to recognize there has been a lot
of change. What we’ve now got to do
at a system level, the institution level, is
not only embrace that change but use it
in a purposeful way to drive a different
dynamic in classrooms.”
Experts believe that the human
psychology of learning has seen little
change over time, but external factors,
including the digital revolution, have
unstoppably shaped the way in which
we learn and teach. Technology has
brought about exciting and innovative
ways for personalized learning and
novel approaches for teachers to address
gaps in learning processes. Yet one
constant remains in education, and
that is the critical role of teachers.
Human interactions are undoubtedly
crucial both inside and outside of the
classroom. The inspiration and support
provided by teachers is what can
make a student successful, even if that
student is provided all other tools and
opportunities needed to succeed.
Preschool Education
If you’re interested in
potentially taking on the cost
of a second mortgage, look no further
than sending your child to preschool.
When seeking out the program that is
right for your child, many considerations
are taken into account including safety,
cost, location, teacher credentials,
accreditations, and how each of these will
meet your child’s individual needs. Once
thought of only as daycare, preschools
are shaping their early education
programs to mold even the youngest of
students for future success.
Across the U.S., the demand for
quality early learning programs is
on the rise, with STEAM concepts
(science, technology, engi neering, arts
and mathematics) making their first
appearance to students at the age of 3.
Early Learning facilities are proving their
worth through implementing quality
metrics, investing in technologies,
and by offering an array of options for
curriculum- versus non-curriculum-
based learning to best suit the learning
style of young students.
Preschools and educational daycares,
a newly coined term, are implementing
Quality Rating Improvement Systems
(QRIS) as a standard for success in
early education. The National Center
on Early Childhood Quality Assurance,
funded by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, developed
QRIS as a systemic approach to assess,
Continued on next page >
BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL
❘
FALL 2018
31