The A Level way; 'Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring' - Alexandar Pope
‘Going deep in a narrow space can generate unstoppable momentum’, was the gist of a talk by Strava co-founder and executive chairman Mark Gainey, who shared insights on how Strava found its niche. It brought to focus the debate of going a mile wide or a mile deep, a concept that translates to exploring many different things at a time or picking a core and working on it in-depth. This theory played a crucial role in developing our thoughts in making a choice, in Grade 10, of an international curriculum for pre-university years.
At Aditya Birla World Academy the students are given the options of the IBDP and A level programs for grades 11 & 12. They are taken through orientations and interactions with a counseling team, aimed at students being able to make informed choices. The process helped us to explore both the curricula in detail and match them to the temperament and interests of our child very efficiently. We have explicitly chosen A Levels for both of our children.
In our understanding, the A Level program works very well for a student who has clarity on their plans for higher education and can narrow their subject choice to a minimum of three, to be studied over two years. It distinctly aligns to the ‘mile deep’ principle. This gives students the option to study subjects in much greater depth, with an emphasis on independence and critical thinking skills; the much-needed tools to grapple with content in a meaningful way.
Also read: How Online Learning in an International School facilitates the overall development of students
It’s a stepwise approach where students use time to struggle, revise, get feedback, apply feedback, and try processes again and again. Thus, enabling and offering a unique opportunity to investigate a subject meticulously and complement it with subjects that can help build a better foundation and a structure supporting current interests and future dreams.
In comparison, in the ‘mile wide’ approach, while covering a broad network of topics that may or may not have clear relationships, students can have a hard time synthesizing what they’re learning and lack the opportunity to grow and improve. Some may argue on how students may disengage if they are not provided with a variety of topics and at faster speeds. In contrast, in the A Level program, the students stay captivated and excited by what they are encouraged to express, the dots they connect and the opinions they are nudged to form through their work.
Image source-Freepik
