In Plato’s cave allegory, the prisoner can only see shadows and have a distorted vision of the real world. The shadow reality does not reflect the world as it really is – purely and simply an impression.
Science-based education is exactly the reverse of the dark hole. It brings light and opens the doors to knowledge for generations being prepared to turn the page to the 21st century. They need to learn with all colors and shades and be able to seek KNOWLEDGE.
Medicine used theory for diagnostics in Ancient Greece and has given a huge jump in recent years when artificial intelligence and genetics came to unveil a remarkable world of new treatments. This brings hopes and long life to humankind.
And the classroom? Historically, it has been impermeable to changes. All you have to do is to compare a photo of today’s classroom – with desks and teachers opposite the blackboard – with that of a 19th century. Many times, it is difficult to discern between yesterday and today.
Like medicine, teaching needs to leave the shadows and firmly embrace science, reasoning and humanism, the triad that drove enlightenment and buried the dark ages to take advantage of the fantastic technological advances and absorb them once and for all at school. Why should we not dare?
THE SHADOW REALITY DOES NOT REFLECT THE WORLD SUCH AS IT IS – IT IS PURELY AND SIMPLY AN IMPRESSION.
Today, technology enables us to know the student – how they learn, what intrigues them, what arouses their interest – making it possible to reach to the difficulties of each one and arising their curiosity. New winds led to more attractive and engaging trails than that of the blackboard, opening a new teaching frontier less encyclopedic and boring and more aired and dynamic. The languages of children and adolescents demand to be constantly challenged. The rhythm of the time we are living in is different. It is speedy, gamed and multidisciplinary.
The pandemic accelerated the need for school transformation. Millions of students the world over are now in front of a computer or a smartphone learning at a distance. Therefore, they gain resistance to adversities, autonomy and capacity for bringing together the pieces of the jigsaw of knowledge formulating ideas – socioemotional abilities that will be precious for them during their entire journey. After all, they are being prepared for a world in frank evolution where various professions where they will operate in do not even exist today.
THE RHYTHM OF TODAY’S AGE IS DIFFERENT. IT IS SPEEDY, GAMIFIED AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY.
Many follow the hybrid system of mixing online classes with traditional school lessons. We believe that this has come to stay since it is a modern concept: no matter where you are, you will always have a chance to learn more. Bricks and mortar schools, where the teacher stays face to face with his class, there is a convivial relationship with people, and a healthy shock of ideas will not disappear. It is vital and will only stand to gain from the new tools. However, the teacher’s function is different now. He is no longer there to pass on a mountain of content – his function is to drive and guide his students through the vast field of knowledge as a mentor. And how nice to have technology as an ally.
We are a product of this new era. We have been born into a digital age and trust that we can take solutions of teaching to the highest level, different realities, always conducted by the light of science. Square is ready to supply schools with truly transforming technology – from management to the end goal, the student whether at his desk or at home. We have put together an enthusiastic network of startups. Together they give the answer to every stage in the classroom of the future – by the way, for them, the future is already here. We have invested in what is most valuable to us who breathe education day and night with the major objective that no student will be left in the dark. Dare to know.
