LLAMA Learning Hub
Improving Students Critical Thinking Ability, Collaboration and Engagement through Self-Guided Learning with LLAMA Learning Hub
Executive Summary
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Recommendation
Five 2-4 month courses on LLAMA for Students to Understand Global Issues and Enhance Engagement and Providing Support for Teachers to Create Lesson Plans
Problem
Lack of Engagement Incentives in Canadian Global Issues Curriculum Leads to Disengaged Students
Outcomes
Students can Apply Practical Skills Learned in Their Course to Future Opportunities to Make an Impact and Help Understanding and Awareness of Global Issues
Isolated Classrooms Isolate Students
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Fragmented Learning
Students learn subjects in isolation, missing the interconnectedness of real-world challenges. Only 17% of high school students feel integrated learning is effective. This approach limits students' ability to use knowledge broadly and solve complex problems. The low percentage is concerning as it shows most students aren't getting the comprehensive education needed to address complex issues.
Disconnected Curriculum
56% of students globally find education irrelevant, suggesting that a substantial portion of learners find the content taught in classrooms disconnected from the challenges of the real world. When students are only taught to memorize information without practical application, it creates a gap between what they learn in the classroom and its relevance to real-world issues. This approach fails to engage students in critical thinking and problem-solving, as they are not encouraged to apply their knowledge to practical situations
Lack of Community of Learners:
Only 20% of students participate in global collaborative project. With isolated classrooms, students miss out on exposure to diverse perspectives and collaborative learning opportunities. Without these experiences, students are unprepared for today's interconnected world, where cooperation across borders is vital. 70% of students agree that online classes are better than traditional classroom settings Elearning has also provide to allow students to retain between 25% and 60% more information.
Students Grades 7+
Who Can We Impact the Most
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The education system has been failing students aged 7 to 17 by not providing them with knowledge about global issues that affect their present and future. LLAMA is here to change that by empowering students to tackle their problems on a larger scale. The skills and knowledge gained through LLAMA will not only benefit the students but also contribute to building a better future for our planet.
There were around 5,738,181 youths in Canadian schooling in 2021/2022 and according to an international study in 2020 96% of students want to learn more about global issues but 31% do not have the opportunity. By creating new learning paths that help students build their foundational skills and pursue their passions, LLAMA can give them the confidence and tools they need to tackle complex challenges on a global scale. This will not only benefit Canadian youth, but also Canada itself and the world.
WHAT SHOULD K TO G12 FOCUS MORE ON?
Answered “How to take individual action on climate change”
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70%
2x
STUDENTS WHO LEARN
About global issues are more than twice as likely to see the importance of personally taking social action. .
CHARACTERISTICS ON CANADIAN STUDENTS ABOUT GLOBAL ISSUES
Improving Students Awareness and Understanding of Global Issues Using Active Learning Methods
Our Solution
After completing modules in their course, students take action on the issues and demonstrate their understanding by creating a project that addresses a topic relating to their global issue. Students develop their systems thinking skills by understanding connections between their topic and the issue to create a meaningful project. Students will also discuss with professionals and be assigned a mentor in that area who will guide them in creating their project.
Our online learning platform, LLAMA Learning Hub, will provide courses for students who want to learn about a topic that they cannot learn in school and is relevant to a current global issue. More specifically, the courses offered will cover important background information and contain structured lessons for students to develop systems thinking while learning about the issue. In this way, students who use the LLAMA Hub can develop their learning along with their ability to think about the issue in a more strategic manner.
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Capstone Projects
Online Learning Hub
Students who complete their LLAMA course are now able to engage and participate in events regarding global issues and discuss from a more knowledgeable standpoint. By giving more young people the chance to become aware of and up to date on current events, we create more involved, creative, critical, global-minded people who are ready to tackle global issues..
Community of Engaged Young Learners
STUDENTS LEARN THEIR INTERESTS IN A NEW WAY
STUDENTS CAN BUILD COLLABORATION
STUDENTS CAN TAKE ACTION ON ISSUES THAT MATTER
Giving Young People the Ability to Improve In Multiple Areas At Once
The Need for LLAMA Learning Hub
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5.. https://www.gallup.com/education/244022/school-engagement-talk.aspx
8. https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-k-12-students-systems-thinking/
LACK OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS
A Gallup study shows that engagement in classrooms is declining. Almost half of the students they interviewed are disengaged with learning in a way and engagement steadily declines from elementary to high school. A reason for this is that students do not feel supported in their learning from teachers or their schools5.
STUDENTS WANT TO LEARN MORE
Student engagement is a product of motivation and active learning6. 96% of students already want to learn more about global issues, so a learning environment where students are encouraged to participate and engage in is necessary to help students be engaged again.
DEVELOPMENT IN SYSTEMS THINKING SKILLS IS BENEFICIAL
Beyond a lack of engagement and wanting to learn more, schools also do not teach or train students to use systems thinking or critical thinking7. Systems thinking helps students make connections between many complex parts of other systems and this is useful for training students to understand global issues and connections between them8.
The three core pillars of the learning platform we’re recommending
How LLAMA Learning Hub Works
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AI-GENERATED LESSON PLANS
The course modules can be easily translated to a lesson plan format teachers can use within their own classrooms. Teachers would be able to easily curate lessons plans that already include recommendations of activities and projects they can bring to a inperson setting. This has been done through various ChatGPT prompts and websites. This reduces the need to change the curriculum of education broadly around the country as teachers will have the independence to do so in their own classrooms using these recommended lessons plans. Students get relevant information in school and teachers don’t have to rely on a lengthy curriculum change to take action: a win win.
SELF-PACED MODULES
A comprehensive learning module for covering core parts of a curriculum based on large scale issues in the current world and the 10 target areas referenced by WEF on key careers. Skills will be offered with modules and their respective projects. Each module will require 80-100 hours of work which is feasible in 2-4 months—in line with similar courses offered online today at Coursera, Udemy, or Newton School. Daily check ins based on a systems thinking approach will help students further develop their thinking skills.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Individuals success and progress will be measured through projects each relevant to the course module. By having a visual representation of course content, students retain more information and have a meaning behind what they learn. Visual models have also proven to be effective through studies.
GIVING YOUTH SKILLS THEY NEED
SHOWCASING THEIR WORK TO COMPANIES
PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH COURSE MATERIALS
How the LLAMA Learning Hub Will be Structured
The Curriculum Overview
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Projects provide an opportunity for learners to apply what they have learned in a practical setting. This experiential learning is crucial for reinforcing knowledge and skills, making the learning process more engaging and effective.
REAL WORLD RELEVANCE
By focusing projects on real-world problems, learners are encouraged to think critically and creatively to find solutions. This not only enhances their problem-solving skills but also prepares them to tackle similar challenges in their professional lives.
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
Projects often require a combination of skills and knowledge from different modules, mirroring the interdisciplinary nature of addressing global issues. This encourages learners to integrate their learning and think holistically.
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DEVELOPED TO ENCOURAGE GLOBAL LEADERS
These courses have been developed with research on large global issues present along with skills that the World Economic Forum has recommended for the next generations.
ENHANCED SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Each module is designed not just to impart knowledge but also to develop specific skills relevant to the topic- including soft and hard skills: including collaboration with others, effective manners of using technology, management skills, improved cognitive skills and developed coding skills.
STRUCTURE OF THE MODULES
Modules will have a combination of articles, videos and recorded lectures from professionals available to the public. This will allow professional input into the education being received by students
MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY
Once students start a module, they will have access to the corresponding community forum where they can ask questions to those who have already completed the module. Mentors will also be suggested based on the module a student is in to further support their progress.
The targeted global issues are defined as large problems and this concept has been transferred over by non-profit 80,000 Hours.
Issues that are solvable, usually large in scale, and neglected will impact generations to come making them a priority to understand and confront
What LLAMA Learning Hub will look like and how to develop the platform
Platform
COMPREHENSIVE COURSE STRUCTURE
The platform offers courses covering significant global issues such as Global Health, Digital Citizenship, Climate Action, Creative Thinking, and AI. Each course is divided into modules, providing a structured approach to learning.
ALIGNED WITH WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S SKILLS
The courses incorporate skills recommended by the World Economic Forum for the next generations, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and digital literacy. This ensures learners are equipped with essential skills for the future.
OUT OF CLASSROOM ASSESSMENTS
Project-based assessments will allow learners to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios. Guidance and support for learners as they work on projects, fosters collaboration and offers opportunities for feedback and reflection to promote continuous improvement.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Effectiveness of the platform will be assessed through course and project progress, allowing performance data to be collected and necessary adjustments to be made.
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We’ve analyzed many companies in Canada and the Global Online Academy showcases an effective e-learning method
Virtual Learning Modules are Effective
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Accelerated Learning is Valued by Post-Secondary Institutions
Over 90% of GOA students find their courses more challenging and valuable than traditional in-person classes, indicating the effectiveness of GOA's approach in cultivating modern learner qualities. The Dean of Stanford, Rick Shaw expressed his appreciation for accelerated learning platforms that GOA provides, allowing students to learn in a different environment and be more comfortable and independent learners
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“GOA is special in that they allow curious young people to explore what they’re passionate about by learning with a spectacular teacher and other, equally interesting young adults."- Rick Shaw,
GOA's impact extends beyond students to teachers, providing them with a platform to engage in transformative educational practices. By joining GOA as a member school, educators gain early access to all courses, allowing them to enrich their teaching repertoire with high-quality educational materials.
"The fact that students are re-enrolling at a rate we’ve never seen before is a good indicator that students are actively looking for great learning opportunities no matter where they take place."
- Michael Nachbar (Executive Director of GOA)
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BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GLOBAL ISSUES
Students can have a better grasp on global issues, why they occur and the systems that interact within that issue. Students will self-report a 25% increase in their learning on a global issue in surveys completed after the course
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INCREASED COLLABORATION
Students can collaborate with other students to work on projects relating to global issues and encourage more people to make a positive impact those issues.
DEVELOPED SYSTEMS THINKING
Students are able to think using the systems thinking method and understand connections between different industries and how global issues are interconnected.
INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL
Students who take a course on LLAMA will be able to engage better in discussions at school and with other experts in their fields of interests.
By 2028, our solution would enable 268,278 Canadian students to understand global issues and jumpstart their opportunities for impact on these issues.
What our recommendation means for grade 7-12 students in Canada
Driving users through advertisement with social media, and website traffic based on our demographic
User Acquisition
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268,278 users
DEMOGRAPHIC
ADVERTISEMENT
By utilizing Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram our website traffic can be boosted by 40%
INSTAGRAM REACH
Instagram ads are an incredibly powerful tool, capable of reaching an impressive 849.3 million users.
By 2028 we intend to have 268,278 users in the program through advertisement, and web traffic
Our demographic are youths aged 11-17 in Canada with a need to continue their education and care about the world around the,
Timeline
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September - December 2025
January - April 2026
May 2026
Students, teachers and mentors will all submit feedback on the use of the program and how much they felt it improved their learning and if they would take or teach another course again.
The roadmap for implementing our recommendation
Schools that signed up in Fall/Winter now have access to the LLAMA platform for students. Feedback is taken continuously to ensure the platform is working properly, and students have access to the courses they have chosen.
LLAMA is advertised to schools across Canada and select schools are given the opportunity to register their school to participate in the pilot program for LLAMA.
Summer 2024
Initial planning for the LLAMA hub starts and website developers are hired. Outreach to potential mentors and teachers who would like to partner also starts.
Thank you World Economic Forum!
We are deeply inspired by the World Economic Forum's efforts to ensure students and teachers understand complex systems. We appreciate the opportunity to address ways to ensure global challenges and issues are understood by students. This has been an enlightening and exciting learning experience for us, and we hope our recommendations are valuable.
Sophia Itulua
Inayat Kang
AnneMarie Hoang
Khaliya Ladha