What Is Holistic Learning, Why Is Holistic Education Important?

The students of today’s generation face diverse challenges, and the system of education increases its preparedness so that the students successfully cope with them. Education brings in the overall growth and development of an individual. Therefore the key stakeholders addressed the need to do more when it comes to designing the entire curriculum for students. 

The talks and discussions on holistic learning are quite active in the academic circle, holistic education and learning can successfully tackle the present challenges of the students and usher in comprehensive development. 

This is why pedagogical experts and educationists are working on new education methods and models intended to shower benevolence on today’s children. Gurgaon based Pragyanam School currently the India’s top school who completly nurturing their student around holistic learning, in this article Head of the Pragynam School sharing her experience around Holistic learning and its importance in the contemporary sphere of education and the learning ecosystem. 

What Is Holistic Learning?

We have all been hearing about education, learning, and enlightenment. But what exactly is holistic learning? 

It is a comprehensive approach to providing education that focuses on the social, ethical, and academic needs. Here the school works persistently to meet the academic and non-academic needs of the student community. 

Here the teachers teach the students to reflect and think deeply about their actions and also their impact on the local and even the global community. 

Discussions and talks between the teacher and students find the key focus here. This engagement develops the habit of critical thinking (out-of-the-box thoughts) in solving real-world problems. Hence, the difference it (holistic education) strikes with the traditional education is in the approach. The former is tailor-made to confront the existing and imminent challenges. The top school in Gurgaon focuses on this methodology to create a difference. 

Models of Holistic Learning 

Holistic learning is a broad subject, and it has different models. So let’s acquaint ourselves with the learning models that incorporate themselves under the core subject:

1. Experiential Learning

Here the students try different teaching methods to understand which one is more effective in teaching them. They constantly experiment with different learning styles and experiment with the problem-solving approach. It helps create innovativeness and creativity among students.

2. Interdisciplinary Coursework

Interdisciplinary coursework is a framework that improves the cognitive development of a student. Engagements like research, travel, internship, and fieldwork help students prepare themselves better.

3. Self-Guided Learning

The speed of learning for all the students is not the same. The teachers allow the students to learn at their own pace and style. They find it a great way to address traditional education systems’ inadequacies. In the practical field, the implementation of this model requires classrooms with smaller batches of students. The teachers provide them with personalized attention. 

Why Is Holistic Education Important?

There is no doubt on the fact that holistic education has its benefits as it addresses the contemporary needs and wants of the student community. This is why you will see that even the top school in Gurgaon is trying to implement this system to the core to create a difference among the kids. 

The core belief that it is hidden within the system is a comprehensive approach to solving the present problems. Therefore it’s quite pertinent that we understand the importance of holistic learning.

1. Builds Confidence Among The Students 

With the help of holistic learning, the teachers instill confidence in the students. This is because the students have a direct hold and engagement in learning. The system identifies the students’ unique strengths and treats each student equally. This helps eliminate inferiority complexes within them.

2. Emotional Backing 

Here the students are taken emotional care of. This feeling helps students and teachers gain each other’s trust. Mutual trust helps them find a better environment in learning their subjects.

A holistic environment helps students openly express their emotions and share their thoughts. 

3. Physical Development 

This system completely despatches the approach of Jack and advocates the importance of physical and extra-co-curricular activities. Sports teaches, in a child, the core philosophy of cooperation, selflessness, teamwork, and brotherhood.

Let’s put it in fact. A test was performed on 210 teenagers (3.81% male, 56.19% female) to determine the relationship between physical fitness and concentration. 

It was found that the higher fitness level groups scored better than, the lower fitness groups. A large number of studies vindicate the fact that there is a direct relationship between physical activity and the cognitive functioning of children.  

4. Creation Of Bond

The traditional systems of education are quite rigid and copybooks in their style. Here the teacher and the students share a formal relationship. This teaching mode takes place within the four walls of the classrooms.

On the other hand, holistic learning ensures that the bonding between the teachers and the students is strong. Holistic learning provides a friendly learning atmosphere where learners engage in extracurricular and co-scholastic activities. 

5. Reducing The Academic Pressure 

Holistic learning and education reduce the academic pressure on students. Recent observations showed that students are burdened with heavy loads of learning. They rob all their time and engagement. 

The existing system of education and learning moves the kids away from socialization and stops them from getting holistic development.

But on the other hand, holistic development stresses the need for extracurricular activity and sports and reduces the load of academics. This helps students excel in their education and learning. 

6. Active Learning

Active learning can be defined as any kind of learning where the students partake in the learning procedure. Experiments, projects, and the visual experience are part of active learning. 

Active learning is much more effective because the students realize that they have learned something through engagement. 

They learn concepts that stay in the brain for a long time. The learning helps them in their education career, professional career, and beyond.

Closing The Discussion 

Contemporary learning has gone beyond the periphery of traditional learning. Holistic learning is the need of the hour. The stakeholders directly and indirectly attached to learning must address the needs of today. But at the same time, they must address the need of the present time and try to adapt to the new learning and development models. The one solution-for- all approach can not be that effective here. Holistic learning is the future. Also if you are a parent looking for school admission in Gurgaon for your child, “Pragynam School” is one of the most preferred cbse school by parent, they nurture around holistic learning of their students to make them champion in their life. 

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