This paper is a research study conducted within the private educational sector, focusing on both theoretical and practical applications of holistic education principles. In today's era, where social media and technology have revolutionized every aspect of life, there is a pressing need for a paradigm shift in education and learning. Education, often conflated solely with schooling, encompasses a broader spectrum, including essential life skills. Parents, teachers, and employers frequently express concerns that the young generation lacks these skills, expecting schools to cultivate strong, healthy, and capable individuals through comprehensive learning and training.
Holistic education, as noted by John P. Miller (2018), aligns with our brains' natural inclination towards holism, fostering an environment where individuals develop not only academically but also mentally, intellectually, and spiritually. This study focuses on Learning Together, an educational center in Arad, Romania, established in 2017, which uses a transdisciplinary methodology to teach English and Romanian.
For seven consecutive years, this center has hosted a summer school that serves as an educational and holistic event. The research highlights the development of an educational community through a holistic approach, demonstrating its effectiveness, complexity, and integrative nature. Each summer, over ten weeks, participants engage in simulated real-life scenarios, fostering acceptance, learning, and development across multiple dimensions. The findings suggest that the concept of an educational community is crucial, not only in Romania but globally, supporting the idea that “when one teaches, two learn” (Robert Heinlein).
Keywords |
educational community, holistic education, life skills development, private educational sector, transdisciplinary methodology |
REFERENCES |
[1] Cockell, M., Billotte, J., Darbellay, F., & Waldvogel, F. (2011). Common Knowledge: The Challenge of Transdisciplinarity. CRC Press. [2] Darbellay, F., Cockell, M., Billotte, J., & Waldvogel, F. (2008). A Vision of Transdisciplinarity: Laying Foundations for a World Knowledge Dialogue. CRC Press. [3] Lin, A. M. (2016). Language across the Curriculum & CLIL in English as an Additional Language (EAL) contexts: Theory and Practice. Springer. [4] Miller, J. P., Karsten, S., Denton, D., Orr, D., & Kates, I. C. (2012). Holistic Learning and Spirituality in Education: Breaking New Ground. State University of New York Press. |