Prelude to the Studio story

We came upon a file named “Studio: An Introduction for Parents” dated August 2013, on a neglected portable hard drive. It is such a fascinating, refreshing and gripping read even for those of us around Studio classrooms all the time. It is a bold and resounding manifesto to usher students and families onto a creative and intellectual learning journey. And above all, it illuminates to us that Studio has stayed true to itself and its original vision after nearly four years of hectic growth -- very much propelled by families – from three students to hundreds, from just one classroom one centre to fifteen classrooms at two centres, from a couple of literary programs to over thirty courses: liberal arts, speech and drama, Kids Canon, mathematical explorations and coding, et al. When we could have expanded recklessly to cope with surging demand for financial gains, we have never strayed from what we said we were going to do.

Purpose

Studio is a new educational concept for international families in Shanghai. Studio provides intellectual and creative educational opportunities in terms of quality, content and style. 

Studio is both a means to an end and an end in itself. It serves and prepares students in their efforts to pursue an international education; and it provides – and – hails – education for its own sake.

Studio courses nurture the skills and attributes necessary for success in tests and for admissions to the world’s best schools; and simultaneously thrill in inspiring great thinking and creativity in intellectual pursuits.

Education 3.0

Studio is founded on the basis that every child can and should have opportunities to learn in an Education 3.0 environment.

That means not telling children what to learn but helping them learn to learn. It means helping children to think for themselves and to construct meaning in their intellectual explorations. It means children grappling with Why? and How? just as much as with What? It means children being given opportunities to share and collaborate, student to student, and being able to learn beyond what any given teacher can teach. It means children creating their own outcomes in extended projects and integrated productions, which are individually chosen and personally fascinating and engrossing.

 

Learn to learn

At the same time as being radically modern, Studio’s courses and classes are academically rigorous, growing out of a great tradition, particularly in British education, of pursuing knowledge and academic skills vigorously, in the context of open, expansive enquiry. With that rigor in mind, educational outcomes for Studio courses are in line with, and extend beyond, the best elements of formal educational standards from England and America. At the same time Studio maintains a focus on developing intellectual and creative capacity, ahead of the limiting effects of test preparation for any particular examination system.

The name Studio reflects a symbiosis of study and creativity – learning at studio is infused with, and inseparable from, the creative temperament of conceiving, exploring, trying, and applying new ideas. Studio’s programs go beyond memorization, understanding, and the application of functional skills; Studio’s programs develop the higher order thinking skills of analysis, evaluation, and synthesis – the essential elements of a flourishing intellect and of creativity.

We asked James, “Why on earth have you not shared this document with families and your own colleagues ever since?” And he mumbled, rather embarrassed, that there doesn’t seem to be a need – parents are readily falling in love with Studio and impatiently demanding more courses, and I forgot I had written that article pretty soon…

We disagree. There is every need to revisit where we got started and be encouraged that we have stayed focused and true to who we are and what we set out to do. And we ask old families to reminisce with us on the fantastic ride we have shared together, so far. And we invite all families to join us on the splendid journey forward.

—— To be continued ——

These stories are told from Studio perspective. Every family has its own story with Studio. We’d like to hear and publish yours too. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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