The 4 Pillars of Education

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How a student can reach his/her fullest potentials greatly depends on what is the curriculum or list of subjects presented in the classroom. Teaching is not only a matter of giving facts, telling who and what. Teaching is not only about developing your mind or intelligence.

It's necessary that a teacher will develop his/her students holistically. It's not enough to state a fact or to memorize theories.Teacher should emphasize how the learning of his/her students can benefit not only their own selves but also the humanity.

It’s amazing how fast the exchanges of information today which also demands variety of skills needed to accomplish transactions and communications. That’s why our education should be aligned with these changes equipping the students the necessary skills that this age demands. But bear in mind that no matter how fast this world changes, our main concern is to use these knowledge and skills to develop our self into a person that cares not only for his/her own but also for the sake of other people and the community which he/she lives in.

The 4 pillars of education will be the teachers’ guiding principles to develop a kind of student who possess not only a big mind but also with a big heart.

So what are these 4 pillars of education?

4 Pillars of education

1. Learning to know

"It's better to know how to learn than to know"
- Dr. Seuss

This pillar goes beyond learning facts. This emphasizes on how a person learn. Mastering one's ability to gain knowledge in a smart way.
We must realize that learning is a "life-long process, as individual our main goal is to realize our potentials and make use of these to be a better member of the community.
Learning to know means developing our instruments to learn like:
• Concentration
• Memory
• Imagination
• Reasoning
• Problem solving and etc.

Teachers should help the students on how to process the information that is readily available today like selecting to process the kind of information that we really need and also developing in them the instruments they can use to master how their own selves learn.
Therefore, learning to know is not simply acquiring knowledge, it is a process of continuously learning to develop your instruments to learn.

2. Learning to do

"To learn and not to do is really not to learn
To know and not to do is really not to know"
- Stephen R. Covey

Mastering their own way of learning will prepare them to apply what they learn which is the focus in this pillar.
Our knowledge will be more useful if we apply it to our daily life. Teachers are expected to develop the skills of the students that will be use to further unlock their own potentials.

As society changes, the demands for skills and competencies also change. Teachers must be updated with the necessary teaching medium to cater these changes in the society. As for students, different opportunities will arise, therefore, they should not limit themselves with what is presented to them. Continue seeking knowledge to develop your potentials. And one way to develop your potentials is by offering your service to the society. Opportunity is where the demand is.

Teachers must develop these skills to the students:

• Social behavior
• Personal initiatives
• Willingness to take risk
• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Adaptability
• Social responsibility
• Leadership skills

Teaching them with these skills will make it easier for them to open themselves to different possibilities to develop their own talents and make a vision of themselves along with the skills they started to develop.

3. Learning to live together

"Let us live and move in harmony. Let us grow together. Let us live in complete harmony without any misunderstanding."
- Sathya Sai Baba

What is the purpose of learning? Why do we need to develop skills? Why there is a need to make these skills be useful to our community?

This pillar focuses on developing values for the learners to be a better member of the community. We are social animals, right after we were born, we already had a community that we belong which is our family. As a responsible member, it’s our main concern to maintain the peace in the society and contribute for a better community.

Understanding ourselves first before understanding others is a crucial process to take into consideration to fully realized this pillar. Accepting that there are diversities and knowing how these diversities can work together should be emphasized.
Values to be developed amongst students:

• Non Violence
• Cooperation
• Selfless attitude
• Developing values
• Accepting human diversity
• Instill an awareness of the similarities and interdependence of all people

To develop a sense of belongingness, using your potentials for the benefit of the humanity will be a great help. Helping other people, being open for change and other people’s point of view and respecting every culture that is different to your own are examples that our children should manifest.

4. Learning to be

"One of the main reasons people fail to reach their own potential is because they are unwilling to risk anything."
- Anonymous

This pillar focuses on the total development of a human person. Achieving one’s highest potential by developing in all aspects like moral. social, spiritual, physical and intellectual.

There are different kinds of learners and each of their skill has an equal opportunity to be developed as part of a complete development which this pillar aims.

With the evolution of technology and information, it may be hard sometimes to deal with information overload. Becoming fully aware of one’s personality and the society will help the students to select the kind of information that they believe will be valuable to them personally.

Other pillars greatly contribute to what kind person you are. So in our curriculum every subjects should help us in all aspects of development.

Education should not only be available inside the four corner of the classrooms; it should be our way of life. Education is the opportunity of our children to unfold their hidden potentials and make way for an ideal person they want to become.
As teachers, it will not be easy for us to let the students realized of their capabilities, there will always be setbacks, unexpected failures and discouragement. Our educational system must be guided with these 4 Pillars of Education for us to have a community whose members are fully developed in physical, mental, emotional and social aspects.

References:

http://bednotes.blogspot.com/2012/10/four-pillars-of-education-as.html
https://www.slideshare.net/statisense/the-4-pillars-of-education
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/cops/Competencies/PillarsLearningZhou.pdf
http://www.oosci-mena.org/uploads/1/wysiwyg/Delors_article_review_of_education_2013.pdf