Phenomenon Based Learning Implemented in Abu Dhabi School Model

Abstract

 

“Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe.

But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.â€

 Indian Proverb

 

The aim of this case study was to find out whether PhenoBL (Phenomenon-Based Learning) approach connected to storytelling has a positive impact on the reading skills and on the students’ motivation to read. The key method in delivering ADSM curriculum with a holistic, cross-curricular approach was built on stories. The classic children stories were chosen after a thorough review of the themes and outcomes of ADSM curriculum. The outcomes of all subjects were taken out and combined according to different stories to build a holistic picture. The teachers have a Finnish teacher education background which gave the possibility to combine the best practices from Finnish Educational Approach to learning and from ADSM (Abu Dhabi School Model).

The reading progress was screened with the Running Records assessment tool in the beginning of the terms one, two and three. The results can be described promising. Significant improvement in reading skills could be noticed with the entire test group. Forty-four out of 147 Emirati students (30 %) reached the international level and even the level above their age range in reading during the two terms. This article will describe how the Storyville project was conducted, what were the benefits and challenges teachers faced and how students’ reading was improved during these two terms. The overall benefit of this project can be seen in students’ increased motivation to read and learn through the stories, in parents’ satisfaction and in teachers’ collaborative enthusiasm to create meaningful learning with a PhenoBL approach for the students.