VERNUS WILL ADOPT A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING APPROACH TO LEARNING, TEACHING AND THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.
Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which it is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Students learn about a subject by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, challenge, or problem. It is a style of active learning and inquiry-based learning.
PBL contrasts with paper-based, rote memorization, or teacher-led instruction that presents established facts or portrays a smooth path to knowledge by instead posing questions, problems or scenarios. PBL is backed by thorough research as a 21st Century international practice that maximizes student engagement and outcomes.
The teaching and learning environment inside of the school will be interactive and engaging. The school will adopt high quality technology from the outset to promote blended learning in all aspects of the school. All students will be immersed in literacy in all aspects of the learning environment, especially to thrive in its PBL environment. Within each classroom, there will be interactive displays so that children can engage in critical thinking and language development through questioning. Literacy-rich environments instill confidence in children because of their immersion in opportunities to learn and to articulate their learning through language.
In each classroom, teachers will use strategies to build relationships with the children to increase their functional use of language, if they are not already fluent. Key questions and learning tickets will be used at the start of lessons to engage the children in conversation. Language development will be carefully linked to behavior management, with boundaries being set using positive terminology. A focus in each classroom will be on active listening using repeating, paraphrasing, and extending statements. These strategies will support complement the learning environment and build confidence in the Emirati students.
OUR PROGRAMS
ART & MUSIC
We recognize the importance of developing the whole child. Arts and music are critical aspects of developing the visual and imaginative qualities in children. Both art and music will be integral to our curriculum so that children develop their intuitiveness.
FOOD & COOKING
Students will learn and master core skills by growing food in high quality hydroponic systems. They will then harvest and prepare meals with their classmates and gain a deeper understanding of how important it is to sustain our environment and eat healthy.
SPORTS & WELLBEING
We understand the value in sports and play. Vernus International School focuses on educating the whole child. Our students will engage in physical activities and learn through sports. Our method of using sports for personal development will ensure they gain important characteristics such as resiliency, empathy, diversity, esteem, selflessness, and teamwork.
FARMING & GARDENING
Our school will contain a fully equipped laboratory for lessons in hydroponic plants for all children.
Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral solution only.
Students can keep up-to-date on developments in this area and display their organic products for the local community. This is what makes our school a leader in this field of education, globally.
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
WE RECOGNIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF LIFE AND EDUCATION TODAY. OUR CHILDREN WILL TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT ITS USES, BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS.
We believe that it is every child’s entitlement to become a fluent digital author and creator, capable of being heard through their mastery of different types of media.
Our children must also be able to think creatively, apply knowledge and act entrepreneurially in order to prosper and become the innovators, inquirers and entrepreneurs of the future. They must constantly be creating and recreating their own world.
New technology tools will be used throughout the school, with projectors and smart screens in all classrooms. Staff will coordinate and check online resources so that technology use is safe. The preferred mode for students is for them to be active and constructive authors and contributors rather than passive recipients of online content, and the school will encourage each subject department to nominate software and applications that allow students to practise their knowledge and skills thoroughly, with active feedback.
Within an effective educational setting, technology enables students to become:
- Capable information technology users
- Information seekers, analyzers, and evaluators
- Problem solvers and decision makers
- Creative and effective users of productivity tools
- Communicators, collaborators, publishers, and producers