Giving the best to our kids is the goal of every good parent. From providing shelter to fulfilling their wishes, there’s no denying that our children’s happiness and success are ours as well. Because of this, it’s important that we also send them to a good school.
Studio schools have been a thrilling and emerging alternative to quality education. It’s often marked as experimental or non-traditional, offering learners a unique experience through academic lessons and real-world problem-solving as its foundation. But how would this apply in a large-scale setting, and how can we further understand this concept?
From their formation, benefits, and challenges, we will study how such alternatives provide a new avenue for quality education.
Studio Schools, What Are They?
Studio schools are educational institutes that tackle different teaching and skill application approaches. They use traditional academic curriculums with vocational education, arming learners with theoretical and practical skills in relevant workplaces based on their courses.
These schools are growing and marketing alternative education in perth, Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia, among others. Studio schools are also growing in communities in some states in the U.S. and other parts of Europe with the support of local businesses and collaborators.
Further articles and studies have found that through this style of education, students can effectively gain real-world experience, serving as an asset as potential employees and specialists.
Core Foundations of Studio Schools
Not one studio school is the same as others. While relatively new to the education sector, they have established similar core principles that shaped how students are taught.
Hands-on Learning: Instead of a textbook, traditional style of learning, students are mentored individually by industry experts, adjusting accordingly to their pacing and needs. This enables the school to adapt and create learning paths unique to each student, focusing on their strengths fit for their chosen professions.
Business Collaborations: Studio schools thrive through exclusive partnerships with industry experts and employers to design lesson content, connect with job selections and align outcomes with their requirements. For example, a student with interest and potential in farming may have a lesson plan on plant biology, agriculture, and science under the mentorship of an industry expert.
Vital Work and Industry Ethics: Students are taught the importance of ethics and the development of vital workplace values to prepare them for actual settings. Values like punctuality, professional relationship-building, conduct, and accountability have been deeply ingrained in them through their lessons.
Project-Based Sessions: Studio schools create hands-on, practical tasks for students to develop problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. These are the vital interpersonal skills one must have in the workplace and allow themselves to understand the subject through the application.
Benefits of Studio Schools
Through these principles, studio schools have produced competent students with a higher employability rate within their respective fields. The following are observed benefits these alternative learning institutions have provided in recent years.
Individual Growth: Through the personalized learning approach, students are encouraged to improve their skills and academic knowledge. This helps build confidence over time and makes professions better and faster.
Strong Industry Connections: Since studio schools have strong partnerships with local and international businesses, graduates can find faster employment through these valuable connections. Furthermore, it allows the studio school to adapt to newer industry trends and continuously teach learners more relevant lessons and projects.
Real-World Exposure: Internships, industry visits, and relevant projects allow students valuable exposure to various workplaces and professions relevant to their courses. This helps them set expectations and use what they’ve learned through hands-on projects and mentoring sessions.
Issues With Alternative Learning
Benefits come with issues surrounding studio schools. Because alternative learning is yet a rarely known option in the education sector, some things are associated with studio schools and alternative learning.
Stigma: Studio schools are new in the business, so there is initial criticism and stigma amongst educators, parents, and students unfamiliar with the concept, affecting enrollment rates.
Curriculum Planning: No two curriculums are the same, so the time and effort it takes to tailor-fit a curriculum to a student is significantly more challenging than traditional methods. Additionally, potential outcomes and experience may not guarantee a student’s ability to apply them effectively in real life.
Limited Choices: Because of the focus on vocational and specialized courses, studio schools can only offer a handful of academic subjects, which affects the institution from a business standpoint.
Policy Implementation: The impact of studio schools is still a debate amongst the education sector, and there are loose policies on regulation and optimal measurement of student experience and success of these practices.
Takeaway
Studio schools offer an exciting take on education, providing future learners with a well-rounded experience that offers practical lessons about their industry and workplace demands. As alternative learning continues to evolve in principles and methods, stakeholders this new avenue of education better to maximize its potential.
And in a few years, we might see a time where a new and quality learning environment can be made and foster a brighter future for the new generation.