The secondary education system in the USA is more project-oriented and emphasizes independent work. Teachers help students master the material while allowing them to learn independently. High schools in the USA have a general curriculum where students make decisions about their future career paths in their final year. Electives offer students more flexibility in choosing subjects, unlike the rigid system in our high schools. Students can explore their interests and passions by studying various subjects like digital marketing, design, culinary arts, engineering, and foreign languages.
Prof. Višnja Kovač Vezmarović recently completed the Fulbright TEA scholarship in the USA and learned about new digital teaching methods. She shared her experiences with colleagues and believes that our secondary education system can benefit from fewer subjects and more standardized electronic tests to track student progress efficiently. She also emphasizes the importance of investing in teachers to improve the quality of education. Despite the differences in education systems, there is room for improvement and exchange of best practices to enhance the learning experience for students.
Lessons are longer, allowing students more time to grasp concepts and work on projects in school rather than at home. The goal is for students to learn independently, with teachers helping them master the material. Digitization is prevalent in classrooms, with all students having laptops and using digital tools like Google Classroom. Assessment is done more frequently through electronic standardized tests, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of student progress.
Schools have a support system of counselors and advisors to assist students and teachers, creating a more structured learning environment. Prof. Kovač Vezmarović believes that our secondary education system can benefit from fewer subjects and more standardized electronic tests to track student progress efficiently.
In conclusion, there are several differences between our secondary education systems that could be beneficial if we were to incorporate some of them into our own system. Investing in teachers’ training could improve the quality of education, while digitization could make lessons longer and provide a better learning experience for students.
Overall, despite these differences in education systems across countries, there is always room for improvement and exchange of best practices to enhance the learning experience for students worldwide.