Catholic schools leap forward

CISVA progresses with 21st-century education

St. Patrick's Grade 11 students Candice Binga-an (left) and Tracy Blanco use
a smartphone to research information on Canadian politics during their social
studies class. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic.

The B.C. Catholic has a story about some of the technological and learning advancements in today's Catholic schools:

The modern-day teacher can no longer be the sage on the stage, says Doug Lauson, superintendent of the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA); "They have to be the guide on the side."

Education has changed in the 21st century, and Lauson said CISVA has been a driving force. For the last decade CISVA has been getting away from an old education model based on reading, writing, and regurgitating. They now focus on developing a student's skill set by incorporating new teaching methods and technology. Lauson calls this shift "empowering education."

"We have a curriculum now that is based on learning outcomes: in other words, what you want the student to know when they finish the curriculum," he said.

The Ministry of Education recognized the success of this shift earlier this year and sent videographers to St. Patrick's, Our Lady of Mercy, Holy Cross, and St. Helen's schools to document these developments. The videos are on the CISVA website and appear on the B.C. Ministry of Education's YouTube channel.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.