"The student is our starting point"
Resources and processes in the KED Program are purposely designed to liberate as much high-quality teaching and learning as possible. First, the logbook is used daily by students to keep track of their personal goals, work path and progress. Second, the curriculum is organized in progressive step courses and integrated theme courses. Depending on the purpose of the learning activity, students can be taught in lectures, seminars, workshops, communication sessions or laboratory sessions. Third, the schools are built according to their own, internationally acclaimed design focused on light, visibility and openness. A welcoming place, where everyone is seen, is created with glass walls, clearly marked zones for different subjects, and with spaces accessible to everyone. The school building is designed to make everyone feel secure, encourage various types of student-teacher meetings focused on learning, and allow a smooth flow between learning activities during the day.
In combination with the rest of the components of the KED Program, every student gets the chance to learn effectively as a result of the logbook, step and theme courses, and the purpose-built rooms for learning. Students can acquire the relevant knowledge in an optimal setting, at a pace best for them.
For example, a high-achieving Year 7 student can quickly progress through the curriculum for Year 7 and already start with the coursework for Year 8 during his seventh year. The idea of organizing subject content in steps allows teachers to differentiate content for different types of learners in a straightforward manner. Learning is never put on hold. Students keep following their path. Through hard work, ambition and perseverance, students learn more than they thought possible.
Today, teachers have a full-scale Learning Portal as their online platform for sharing course content. From the portal, students retrieve the learning resources for each subject. Teachers also collaborate nationwide to develop the content for every curriculum topic. With the Learning Portal serving as the hub, teaching material from one KED school can be easily shared with another in the network.
Teachers who find counterparts with similar challenges at other KED schools can inspire one another, exchange ideas about teaching methods, compare their interpretations of the national curriculum and discuss how to best approach it within the KED Program.
Teachers are experts in their subjects, but they also act as personal coaches. As a student, it means that one teacher is dedicated to you. This teacher makes sure you are learning and helps you find the right strategies to reach your personal goals. One-on-one weekly, structured coaching sessions help students plan backwards from personal ultimate goals, which are broken down into yearly, intermediate and weekly goals. These sessions are a regular opportunity for students to reflect on their work, performance and strategies.
KED Buddies gives students a true learning experience that intensifies the impact not only on their fact-based knowledge, but also on their emotions and personal development. It opens up students’ perspectives on other people’s lives, and helps them develop skills such as communication, preparation and tolerance of different cultures.
The Kunskapsskolan schools are among the leading schools of Sweden. The success of its KED Program can be judged not only by students’ performance being higher than the Swedish national average, but also by the growth of KED schools across international boundaries. Currently, over 100 KED schools and KED Inspired schools are operational across Sweden, UK, the Netherlands, India, USA and the Middle East. The schools follow the curriculum of each country and grade student performance according to national standards.
Kunskapsskolan Education,
Box 11205, SE-100 61 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel +46 8-506 910 00