US Education

There are many differences between the characteristics of an American education and a traditional Asian education: We strive to instill critical thinking through activity and project based cooperative learning instruction in all areas of our curriculum. The differences between American education values and a traditional Asian education are well known and we draw from the strengths of each.

American Education Values Traditional Asian Education Values

Student Development

 Children develop at individual rates and we cannot expect them all to master the same material at the same rate. Individuals have different strengths and weaknesses and the purpose is to identify both and direct students according to their abilities.

Attention to Student in the Classroom

 Each child is unique and has a distinct learning style of his or her own that must be honored if learning is to be maximized. Every individual is a member of a society and the needs of society take precedence over the unique needs of any individual.

Genuine Learning

 Genuine learning consists of more than mere command of a body of facts; it consists of deep understanding of the significance of these facts and an ability to apply what one knows in a variety of situations. It is important to commit to memory the wisdom of the past. Memorizing and reproducing by rote are important tools of learning.

Understanding of Coursework

 Understanding consists of the ability to construct personal meaning from what one is studying. Constructing personal meaning is not as important as understanding and accepting the wisdom of the past.

Questions in the Classroom

 In order to construct personal meaning students are encouraged to ask questions and challenge ideas. Asking questions or challenging a teacher’s presentation of material can be disrespectful.

Lesson Reflections

 Learning is greatly enhanced by a process of individual or collective inquiry, exploration and thoughtful reflection. Learning is a social process that is greatly enhanced by respect for the past and understanding of the lessons taught by it.

Teacher’s Role in the Classroom

 The teacher’s role is to be a facilitator of learning rather than a dispenser of knowledge. The teacher’s role is to be a dispenser and interpreter of knowledge as well as a model of scholarship .

Learning Environment in the Classroom

 While teachers may occasionally lecture and give direct instruction, they need to balance such instructional techniques by creating learning situations in which students have opportunities to explore, research and discover knowledge on their own. A teacher’s role is primarily to share the knowledge that the society has developed and to insure that students record it accurately and can transcribe it accurately on examinations. Students are not to be encouraged to give their individual interpretation.

Student Responsibility

 Students must be taught to take responsibility for their own learning. This means being responsible for recording their homework assignments, meeting deadlines, and for asking questions and for help when they do not understand something. Students are not yet conscientious enough to take full responsibility for completing the school work required of them. Therefore parents expect that teachers will do whatever needs to be done to insure that students complete all assignments.

How to Think

 Students are taught to be and encouraged to be critical thinkers,creative problem solvers, and decision makers. The ability to imitate and to produce accurate replicas of something is highly valued.

Parental Involvement

 Parents are expected to be partners with teachers in their children’s education. Teachers are responsible for insuring that students learn and do the work required of them.

There are differences between an American education and a traditional Asian education. At APU, we adhere to American education values and teach our students to think critically, ask insightful questions, use critical reasoning and solve problems creatively. Our approaches to teaching are designed to challenge every student to excel both inside and outside the classroom. We strive to offer a student centered culture informed by decades of classroom-best practices. We welcome parent involvement and believe that students prosper when teachers, parents and administrators work cooperatively.