CONCEPT Design | Innovation | Joy | Learning
For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald
TABLE of contents Mission Statement Our Core Values Our Framework Manifesto Our Pillars A look back at 2022 acomplishments Important links Reading suggestions Contact details
MISSION an academically rigorous, challenging, inclusive, global education designed to develop happy and thoughtful human beings who positively impact the world we live in. The school's program is designed to nurture the dispositions of lifelong learners who collaborate to co-create, embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, understand the meaning of living sustainably, and are globally and digitally fluent. Learners apply habits of mind to their daily actions, use the language of thinking to communicate, and understand the elements of design thinking to problem-solve and innovate. Learning is facilitated and assessed through relevant, project-based experiences. Upon graduation, learners will be prepared for their university of choice in Brazil, or elsewhere around the world.
STATEMENT
ESCOLA CONCEPT OFFERS
OUR CORE
Innovation We value the ability to think creatively and to come up with novelty ideas that can solve complex problems to mobilize positive change.
Continuous learning and improvement We believe that learning is a lifelong process. We are committed to continuous learning, growth, and development in all that we do.
Creativity We believe that creativity is essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. We are committed to fostering a culture that values and nurtures the active use of imagination in all its forms.
Intercultural competencies We believe that to navigate the complexities of the world we inhabit, inclusivity and diversity need to be intentionally addressed and supported. We are committed to cultivating a welcoming and inclusive environment that values and respects all individuals.
Academic mindsets We value the ability to think deeply and critically about complex issues and to approach problems with an open and curious mind. We believe in setting high expectations, viewing mistakes as part of learning, and in cultivating culturally responsive practices. We are committed to supporting our community in understanding their belonging and value, alongside who they are as learners to empower their successes.
Ethics and integrity We value honesty, transparency, and strong ethical responsibility. We are committed to acting with integrity in all that we do. Social responsibility We believe that we have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the world and are committed to using our resources and expertise to create positive change.
VALUES
Beyond our four pillars of collaboration, sustainability, digital fluency, and entrepreneurship, we chose to highlight seven core values that ground us.
OUR We believe that creativity is an important part of the innovation and success journey. To foster creativity, academic mindsets, and innovation within our school, we encourage a culture of feedback/feedforward, collaboration, open-mindedness, risk-taking, and continuous learning. We provide opportunities for our team to collaborate, cocreate, and share ideas, while we embrace failure as a natural part of the creative process. With this being shared, it’s important to note that when we launch ideas and projects we embrace the mindset of, “let’s try this and see if and how it works for our community.” Most likely the idea will go through multiple iterations after it’s launched and it’s important to know: that’s okay. Our projects are dynamic and we are aware that there is no single right path or answer to how we can approach solutions. We choose to look at every problem with curiosity and awe and see these as ideas because we understand that every solution also starts as an idea. This framework allows for a lively, vigorous, and innovative environment that enables us to think about what the unimaginable could look like and how to generate innovative ideas to solve the problems we face in the world.
FRAMEWORK
Our framework outlines the principles and approaches that we use to foster creativity, academic mindsets, innovation, and design-led projects.
Habits of Mind At Escola Concept we strive to develop mindful, caring, and joyful citizens who are committed to their personal growth, the growth of others, and the growth of their community. When we commit to growing the habits both individually and as a community, we become more thoughtful, responsive, and innovative. This framework for thinking, which includes 16 dispositions called the "Habits of Mind" are used as a foundation to support this positive mindset that permeates our community of learners. Thinking Culture At Escola Concept, the slogan, "learning the meaning of learning" comes to life through the Cultures of Thinking. Learners are continuously encouraged to think about their thinking, pose questions, make relevant connections, identify how their thinking has evolved/changed over time, and identify possible challenges a specific idea poses, while exploring questions they may have about a specific concept. There are 8 cultural forces that shape the culture of our learning spaces, which include: routines (visible thinking routines), opportunities, time, modeling, language, environment, interactions, and expectations . These forces provide students with an environment that enables critical thinking and builds the capacity for positive social learning and a deeper understanding of knowledge co-created in the classroom.
Design Thinking Problem-solving approach that involves empathy, prototyping, and iteration. It is often used in the development of new products or services and is applied to educational contexts in tandem with the project based learning approach. Futures Thinking Involves considering potential future scenarios, trend analysis, and strategic foresight to make decisions based on informed predictions. Futures thinking supports individuals and organizations to make data rich decisions and prepare for the future by considering a range of possible outcomes and the factors that may influence them. Academic Mindsets Beliefs and attitudes that students have about their own learning and academic abilities. Belonging, resilience, purpose, perseverance and growth mindset are major competencies for a deeper learning experience. Deeper Learning Involves learning that goes beyond the basics of knowledge acquisition and evolves into a focus on developing skills such as critical thinking, problemsolving, and collaboration. This approach emphasizes the importance of student ownership and agency in the learning process and encourages the use of authentic, project-based learning experiences.
Science of reading Grows confident and capable readers based on the science of how proficient reading and writing develops. Reading outcomes are improved, while empowering educators to elevate the reading and writing profiles of learners. Learning Architecture Refers to the design and structure of a learning environment, including the physical space, the use of technology, and the roles and responsibilities of the learners and educators. Learning Analytics Use of data and technology to track, analyze, and impact growth on learning and performance with the goal of personalizing the learning journey, while continuing to enhance the teaching and learning capacity. Agency Striking the balance between scaffolding and achieving autonomy. It refers to identifying valued goals and desired outcomes and learning how to pursue the goals and outcomes purposefully, effectively, and proactively, while taking ownership of the intentions that will lead to actions and behaviors.
Mathematical Mindsets Refers to the active approach to growing maths knowledge, competencies, and the deep understanding of number sense and quantities to develop mathematical fluency and the application of maths thinking and sequencing to all areas of learning.
OUR MANIFESTO
WE BELIEVE: that all learners have the potential to be creative and innovative thinkers, and we are committed to fostering these dispositions in all of our learners. in the power of collaboration and teamwork to encourage our learners to work together and support one another in his/her learning and growth. in the importance of personal and social responsibility, and action to instill these values in our learners through our curricula and programs. WE ARE COMMITTED TO: using the latest research data and technology to enhance the learning experience to prepare our learners for success in an ever-changing world. building strong partners with our immediate and greater community to enhance the success of our learners. WE VALUE: thinking, inquiry, curiosity, projects of impact, collaboration, diversity of thought, questions, predictions, global & digital fluency, alongside a welcoming and inclusive environment where all learners are valued and supported to achieve their utmost potential. creativity and innovation in all areas of learning, alongside a culture that fosters and supports these dispositions in our learners, faculty, staff, and greater community. WE EMBRACE: a culture of continuous learning and growth and we encourage our learners, faculty, and staff to take risks, embrace new ideas, and strive for excellence in all they do.
We believe in citizenship. We believe in sustainable decision making followed by sustainable action while potentializing the use of our resources.
CONCEPT is sustainability
CONCEPT is collabora(C)tion We believe in fostering joyful learning environments and learning from one another. Synergy is at our core. We believe in bringing awareness about diversity while embracing differences and celebrating uniqueness.
CONCEPT is entrepreneurship We believe in developing strong networks, in growing leadership capacities, and cultivating long lasting relationships.
CONCEPT is digital fluency We believe in the multiple global languages of innovation, integration, and accessibility.
But innovation - whether driven by an individual or a team - can happen anywhere. It’s fueled by a restless intellectual curiosity, deep optimism, the ability to accept repeated failure as the price of ultimate success, a relentless work ethic, and a mindset that encourages not just ideas, but action. Tom Kelley & David Kelley Creative Confidence
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CONCEPT Design | Innovation | Joy | Learning