To know more about the Moscow Global Forum- City for Education- 2019, visit https://moscowglobalforum.ru/en
How would the schools in 2030s or 2050s look? The answer was brimming bright in the schools of Moscow, Russia. Prior to the Moscow Global Forum City for Education 2019, a tour to the evolved schools of Moscow was arranged for esteemed media delegates from different parts of the world. This press tour, a pre-extended part of MGF 2019, held from August 27 to August 28, 2019 was a replica of visiting schools in future.
The first day embarked with the visit to a Moscow school- 2114 where the Headmaster Kolosova Irina introduced a plethora of skill based activities in the school. It was surprising to see that a classroom designed as lecture hall was not encouraged much. Each room of the school was designed to promote peer learning, collaboration, design thinking and the spirit of freedom to learn, experiment and amaze!
Tech Savvy Learning
The technology workshop designed for students is very interesting. It has two different modules:
- In the first one, the children study the technology of artistic wood processing, preparation of metal products on lathes and milling machines.
- In the second module, they master high-tech digital equipment. Using the capabilities of modern equipment with numerical control, laser cutting machines, modular material processing machines, students create decorative products, wall panels, elements of wooden composite toys.
Through such equipments the school helps the child to master the competencies that are necessary for highly qualified personnel of working professions.
One Lab Solution
One of the most striking feature of this school is IT-polygon, a single laboratory complex which is used by all students and teachers for workshops and interdisciplinary studies, for the work of circles, implementation of applied projects. The laboratory complex contains equipment for:
- Creation and programming of robots, competitions according to international standards in the field of robotics
- Software development and graphic design
- Administration of computer networks and servers, study of information security methods
- 3D modeling, scanning and printing
- Study of circuitry and electrical engineering, technologies of application of programmable machines
- Interactive panels of the Moscow electronic school
The Moscow Center for Educational Quality was a tomb of tech savvy surprises. Consisting of the Preschooler Lab and VR Lab which are visited by over 3000 specialists of education system, the walls of center talk, express and make learning an interactive experience!
Delegates were inspired by the Interactive floor as a learning tool. It is a floor projection that reacts to the movement of children. Getting into the projection zone, the child by his actions makes the picture “come to life”. Also, children are provided with the opportunity for a cozy corner to sit with a book. They have observed that when communication with the book gives pleasure, arouses interest, then the child has prerequisites for reading. Even more captivate non-reading preschooler books allow modern gadget – “talking pen”. With this tool, children get acquainted with the contents of books and even invent and record their stories with the help of special stickers.
The VR Lab in the centre serves the platform for real learning. Moscow educationists stated that diagnostics in the format of virtual reality is the best opportunity for students to learn the real level of knowledge and skills in various subjects. What fascinated the delegates most was how the field of astronomy was introduced to students. They get into a detailed simulated solar system- 10 planets, an asteroid belt, satellites of planets, and even space debris around the Earth- through two modes:
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Learning mode
Here, the student, in an interactive form, travels to all the planets of the solar system, while the Voice Over tells about the history of the planets and their physical and chemical properties
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Diagnostic mode
The student is required to pass a series of tasks to test their knowledge about the solar system. Based on his actions and answers during the diagnosis, an assessment of the completeness of knowledge is formed.
After a day of experiencing the school education in Moscow, butterflies filled up the stomachs of delegates- what is the design of real life opportunities where genius young tots excel at the evolved learning practices? The second day was filled with experiencing first-hand the most fascinating new age smart city and interactive museum where new age career profiles are pipelined.
Skolkovo Innovation center was amongst the proud infrastructure that stood high bearing all the opportunities for the Gen Z skilled youth. From high-end research to innovative entrepreneurship, a combination of diverse career opportunities is plattered in this illustrious smart city. Here, the tour for delegtes was led by Andery Shket, Advisor to VP for Communication and Community Development.
A dedicated tour to Innopark was quite interesting. This science museum tells how the world around us works through collected dozens of exhibits that reveal the essence of physical laws and natural phenomena. Visitors have to freedom to set up experiments, assemble a magnetic sculpture, launch a big wave, play basketball without the help of hands and even arrange a small earthquake!
Two of the most thought-provoking exhibits were:
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Double pendulum:
It is a system of two pendulums connected by a spring. Energy is transmitted from one pendulum to another along this spring, which makes the second pendulum swing. The oscillations of such a pendulum create waves in the environment that surrounds it. The stronger the pendulum swings, the greater the wave amplitude. The faster the pendulum swings, the shorter the wavelength.
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Musical fork (tuning fork):
If you stick your head in and with an effort to hit the tuning fork, you can hear the sound. What is sound? These are mechanical waves propagating through the air – sound waves. As soon as the delegates hit the tuning fork, it began to vibrate. In the first second, the sound produced by the tuning fork is not very pleasant, because its main tone is mixed with overtones (or harmonics), and dissonance is heard. But after a couple of seconds, weaker overtones are quenched by the main tone (sound). And this sound is heard not only “inside”, but also around the tuning fork.
All in all, the press tour was a perfect blend of introducing the success of Russia’s evolved education system and what was waiting for the delegates amidst the halls of Moscow- Global Forum- City for Education- 2019. The trailer was fascinating. Delegates were now waiting to mesmerize themselves with incredible learning practices at the global forum- MGF 2019!
