Why did you create this innovation?

In an era of unprecedented change, particularly stemming from rapid technological progress, what can we do to ensure that learners have the skills they need in order to succeed in all areas of their life? What will the future look like? What are we preparing our learners for?
The Five Areas of Development is a wholistic approach to learning that helps learners actualise their potential.

How does your innovation work in practice?

The Five Areas of Development is a holistic approach to learning that strives to break down the silos in education and ensure the development of a learner in all Five areas of Development - Cerebral, Emotional, Physical, Social and Spiritual. Through this process of development, we hope to inspire our learners and equip them with the skills and processes that will help them navigate new content and challenges that the future might present.

The Royal Academy, a residential school in Bhutan, has developed a holistic curriculum focusing on the 5 Areas of Development. Each area is given equal weighting and the interconnection between all areas is emphasised.

The structure of the school day guides holistic development. The day begins with student-led group physical exercise followed by reflective mindful practice. Students then participate in learning experiences, which includes time in nature and engaging with the communities. The resources collected by the students during the nature retreat (week long trips into the nature) and food recipes, indigenous games, patterns, songs, dances and language from their communities become an integral part of the curriculum. Learners are able to flow between the learning experiences based on preference for teaching style should they wish to do so. Based on the individual passions of the students, teachers will provide feedback to the development coordinators to ensure the curriculum covers all areas of interest.

The goal is to help all students actualise their potential. There is a strong focus on assessing students against themselves, not each other through the creation of individual Roadmaps. Indicators of success outlined in the Roadmaps, along with anecdotes from self and teachers form the basis of assessment. Review papers individualised to the student and combination of domains and Areas of Development provide opportunities for students to showcase their growth. Teachers also focus on their own development in order to support this holistic environment, becoming co-learners in the model.

A brief overview of how the innovation looks in practice can be found - https://swiy.io/5Areas

A short video from the innovator, Mr Arun Kapur, can be viewed here - https://swiy.io/Innovator_hundrED

How has it been spreading?

Over the last two years, the innovation has been adopted by Pallavan School, Jhalawar, India and Paradise Valley school, Oman.

In 2021, the Ministry of Education, Bhutan decided that the Five Areas of Development will be the driving force behind the Education Reforms in Bhutan. To this effect, the innovation is transitioning to the Five Areas of Development in Dechencholing Higher Secondary School and Wangbama Central School. The Five Areas will be adopted in 20 more schools in Bhutan in 2022.

In September 2021, Five Areas of Development has been nominated as a finalist for Falling Walls 2021 in the category, Future Learning. The full list of finalists can be found here (https://falling-walls.com/breakthroughyear/finalists-2021/)

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Integrate the 5 Areas of Development into the school's learning framework

Integrate the 5 Areas of Development into the school's learning framework

Before adopting the 5 Areas of Development, a mindset shift at the school may be needed, along with some practical preparations.

Kindly refer to the documents shared and reach out to us if you need additional clarification.

Thank you!