THE MAKING OF THE HERODesigned for ages 7 to 12, The Alpha Mind approach replicates the learning process of children using their natural inclination (grow, create, socialise, discover). The outdoor environment and non-classroom setting engages them on their visual, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities. Stimulating subjects not covered in school’s academic syllabus make this programme appealing to children who have a hunger for knowledge of the world they live in. Good values weaved into nested narratives creates a safe exploratory setting for children to experience cause-and-effect in a nurturing way. Every child walks away from an Alpha Mind programme growing in body (fitness), mind (maturity), and soul (self-awareness).
INTANGIBLE BUT IMPORTANT OUTCOMES
Children will:
TANGIBLE OUTCOME
Journaling is a Crucial Part of our Approach
Writing our feelings, thoughts, and actions in a journal allows us to discover and nurture our sense of self and solidifies our identity. It helps us reflect on our experiences and gives us a chance to create and consider the narrative of our life, with all of the choices you have made and the memories that make you who you are today. We will be exploring different styles of Journaling Techniques which would allow children who are not proficient in writing (or don't want to) be able to express themselves through other forms. Programme Delivery:
Due to the organic nature of The Alpha Mind programmes, each session will yield different results unique to the individual. Unlike academic subjects, there is no one size fit all blueprint when it comes to inculcating values and expanding mindset in a child. It is advisable for children to repeat these workshops regularly to reinforce the lessons that they discover after each session. |
PSYCHOLOGY MEETS PHILOSOPHYThe Alpha Mind methodology incorporates professional profiling tools and cognitive psychology to identify the best response type and learning pattern for each individual participant, and guides them through an experiential narrative where participants can correlate their behavioural choices and desired outcomes, leading to a greater understanding of their personal triggers and the optimal responses to any given situation.
School develops your intellect, The Alpha Mind develops your wisdom. |
THE 3EsA student's life in school and at home forms his environment. He is moulded by customs, trends and traditions. Experience is earned through encountering unique situations that shapes one's mindset. Knowledge acquired in school and by mentors give the child the early education required to excel later in life.
Environment
Taking the #OutdoorClassroom and #NestedNarrative approach, children are immersed in an environment where they are given the opportunity to take part in risk-assessed activities and fully engage their senses. This will help children develop problem solving and survival skills. Education There's more to this world than spelling tests, memorising text books, and finding 'x'. We believe that by exposing our children to a wide array of subjects will allow them to apply the knowledge gained in one discipline to a different discipline as a way to deepen the learning experience. #ConstructivismTheory Experience Our experiences influence our learning process. Knowledge is the result of one's grasping and transforming the experience, and that includes learning from failures. Children are guided through Reflection Observation and Active Experimentation, which helps them make better connection with Abstract Conceptualisation. #ExperientialLearning, #Journaling |
THE HERO'S JOURNEYThe Hero Within's Learning Journey is adapted from Campbell's Monomyth, which depicts key stages of a protagonist's heroic growth. Initially designed for storytelling purpose, this modality has been widely used in professional Character Development programmes.
Our version focuses on the 9 stages that are monumental in a child's life. Changes to our personality, values, and mindset happen at these milestones. We drive this Learning Journey by using themes that children love - investigative, mystery, fantasy, science-fiction - and weave the lessons we want to impart in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style of storytelling. Children get to make choices that leads to different outcomes, some good and some bad. |
This sort of sandbox learning environment allows children to experiment and make mistakes in a safe way. When they feel safe, they will feel more encouraged to explore and discover new experiences for themselves, which in turn leads them to form better pathways in understanding abstract situations that have yet to happen.
The magic happens when children have a qualified coach to guide them towards making sense of their experience and finding their own answers from within. |
INTERDICIPLINARY APPROACH
When children are exposed to a wide range of skills and topics, it is only natural for them to not be able to fully absorb the content. However we have already planted a seed in their minds. The more children expand their knowledge, the more they will draw from past experiences and form meaningful insights to new learning pathways. This is when greater learning occurs. #SignificantLearning
According to The National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE 1995) "educational experiences are more authentic and of greater value to students when the curricula reflects real life, which is multi-faceted rather than being compartmentalized into neat subject-matter packages."
According to The National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE 1995) "educational experiences are more authentic and of greater value to students when the curricula reflects real life, which is multi-faceted rather than being compartmentalized into neat subject-matter packages."
JOURNALING
Journaling is one of the most effective exercise in increasing one's IQ and in honing one's ability to express thoughts and emotions, which in turn leads to better communication skills. The other proven benefits are: healthier immune system, improved working memory, increased mindfulness, reduced stress.
The main objective of journaling is to establish a relationship with one's own mind, and there are many ways one can do so if the written word is not exactly a forte. The wonderful thing about journal writing is that its personal and it's not graded based on the number of "big words" you use. The Alpha Mind has a journal framework that would guide you into talking about your innermost thoughts. #mindfulness #creativewriting |
CREATIVE WRITING LEADS TO CRITICAL THINKING
Before Eugene Tay founded The Alpha Mind, he was renown for the creative writing programmes he developed for Monsters Under the Bed (MUTB). Creative writing still remains a core feature of The Alpha Mind programmes not so much to score A's for English essays (though thats a happy byproduct of what we do), but to help children develop their critical thinking skills and to articulate it through a tangible medium that can be measured.
Stage 1 - Appreciating Archetypes
In our creative writing modules, we teach children to identify and describe characters based on their appearances, behaviour and psychology. They will be aware of character archetypes, demographics, and how culture and era play a part in a character's development. Young writers will develop Observational Skills and have a deeper appreciation for those are different from them.
Stage 2 - Identify Feelings
Feelings are what brings characters of your story to life. In order to do that, the writer must understand a range of emotions, what triggers them, and how to show the behaviour resulting from these emotions. In this stage, children will learn complex emotions and relationships that go beyond the usual happy-angry-sad state. When they are able to infuse emotions and actions into their character, children will be better equipped at dealing with real life interactions.
Stage 3 - Able to Inference, Projection
In more advanced writing modules, children will venture towards dealing with abstract thoughts. They will learn how to Infer and Project with their characters. This require thinking about things that are implicit. Children will be able to deduce ideas based on the context of the story and their personal experiences to consider possible permutations of what could happen in the story.
Stage 4 - Develop Empathy
As writers, children will be wearing multiple character hats and expected to see things from different perspectives. The mark of a mature writer will be one who is able to use a strand of logic to form plausible, believable motivations for their characters. They are interested in looking at the "why" behind how things happen. All these stages will lead the child towards developing Empathy.
Stage 1 - Appreciating Archetypes
In our creative writing modules, we teach children to identify and describe characters based on their appearances, behaviour and psychology. They will be aware of character archetypes, demographics, and how culture and era play a part in a character's development. Young writers will develop Observational Skills and have a deeper appreciation for those are different from them.
Stage 2 - Identify Feelings
Feelings are what brings characters of your story to life. In order to do that, the writer must understand a range of emotions, what triggers them, and how to show the behaviour resulting from these emotions. In this stage, children will learn complex emotions and relationships that go beyond the usual happy-angry-sad state. When they are able to infuse emotions and actions into their character, children will be better equipped at dealing with real life interactions.
Stage 3 - Able to Inference, Projection
In more advanced writing modules, children will venture towards dealing with abstract thoughts. They will learn how to Infer and Project with their characters. This require thinking about things that are implicit. Children will be able to deduce ideas based on the context of the story and their personal experiences to consider possible permutations of what could happen in the story.
Stage 4 - Develop Empathy
As writers, children will be wearing multiple character hats and expected to see things from different perspectives. The mark of a mature writer will be one who is able to use a strand of logic to form plausible, believable motivations for their characters. They are interested in looking at the "why" behind how things happen. All these stages will lead the child towards developing Empathy.