The Linden School's faculty -- all
specialists in girls' development and learning -- actively
applies their knowledge about how girls learn best to the
school's classrooms and co-curricular activities. Studies
have shown that girls acquire a better grasp of material when
they are allowed to construct their own understanding of concepts
rather than be required to accept or memorize rules or definitions
without an experiential context.
At Linden, classroom teaching includes small
group work, hands-on lab assignments, work on case studies,
co-operative strategy games, or sharing personal experiences
related to the curriculum. Departing from traditional pedagogical
practices, teachers act as facilitators of knowledge. This
means that rather than the conventional teaching method in
which teachers stand at the front of the class imparting a
mastery of content, they structure their classes so students
are participants and even leaders in the process.
This not only helps girls develop strong
analytical and critical thinking skills, but also fosters
problem-solving and communication skills, which are essential
to achieving success in a wide range of disciplines and careers.
The Linden School asks its teachers to create
a co-operative learning space where students are encouraged
to be self-reflective about their learning. Students are asked
to question knowledge itself in order to gain a wider understanding
of our world, the relationships that are formed in it, and
a sense of their place within this scheme.
As far as measuring progress is concerned,
Linden's methods of evaluating students are varied. As well
as monitoring individual progress and communicating regularly
with parents, the school employs plenty of opportunity for
peer evaluation. All girls share their ideas and feel safe
from criticism. The classroom is built on the idea of community,
respect and trust.
While collaborative and experiential learning
are the hallmarks of Linden's pedagogical practice, infusing
the curriculum with an anti-racist, inclusive philosophy is
an integral part of the school's mission to foster diversity
in its student body and faculty. The learning process at Linden
includes developing an awareness of issues related to systems
of oppression, promoting a sense of responsibility towards
the community we live in, and learning to understand how knowledge
can effect social change.
Excerpt from “Pedagogy in Theory
and Practice: Teaching Girls at The Linden School,”
Julie Wood, 2001.
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