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미국 최고 명문가 조나단 에드워드 목사님
독실한 신앙과 교육에 투자
www.facebook.com/share/v/17cNyrUm8Q/?mibextid=wwXIfr
무너진 공교육 대신 '기독교 가치관'을 택한 부모들
하나님은 사교육 없는 미국 명문대 전원합격으로 갚아주셨습니다.
제자국제크리스천학교 (Disciple International Christian School, DICS).
Educational Information
Table of Contents
1. Inner Growth: Where Reading Meets SEL
2. Children Who Overcome Their Environment: The Power Comes from Reading
3. Why Reading Is a Matter of National Competitiveness
4. Why English Bible Reading Education?
5. Paper Books vs. Screens: A Turning Point in Children’s Cognitive Development
6. Cases of Failed Digital Education: AltSchool and Vittra Schools
7. Education for Children in Silicon Valley
8. The Choice of Prestigious Private Schools in the United States: Humanities and Copywork
9. In the Age of AI, Why Literacy Matters Again
10. Jewish Education: Havruta
11. Reference Videos
스트레스 상황에서 활성화되는 편도체와 학습/절제를 담당하는 전전두엽의 대비를 통해, 왜 정서 안정이
선행되어야 하는지 시각화
“In an age where intelligence has become common, your tool for survival is not technology, but taste and emotion.”
The greatest danger is the decline of critical thinking. Sanchez warned that we must guard against “cognitive surrender,”
the act of handing over the entire thinking process to AI. A love letter filled with flawless sentences written by AI,
after all, cannot truly carry anyone’s genuine heart.
She advised that AI should be used as an assistant or a processor,
but we must never hand over the position of decision-maker.
Her final encouragement was this: “Do not lose your curiosity.
Develop the creativity to connect seemingly unrelated experiences, such as studying finance while writing poetry.”
Compassion - the ability to empathize with others’ emotions and meet their needs - will become even more important.
In the Age of AI, Our Survival Tools Are Taste and Emotion - AI Post Korea →
Beyond Material Support: Toward Inner Growth
Social deprivation can be addressed to some extent through material resources such as food, clothing,
housing, medical care, and educational infrastructure.
However, emotional deprivation cannot be filled by material support alone.
The power to fundamentally transform children’s lives lies in inner growth. For this reason,
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) education is needed to support the growth of the whole person.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social and Emotional Learning is an educational approach that helps children understand and manage their emotions, empathize with others, build healthy relationships, and make responsible choices. Beyond academic learning, it is gaining attention as a future-oriented form of education that develops essential life skills.
5 Core Skills
Self-Awareness: Understanding one’s emotions, strengths, and values.
Self-Management: Managing emotions and behaviors while working toward goals.
Social Awareness: Understanding and empathizing with the emotions of others.
Relationship Skills: Building healthy and positive relationships.
Responsible Decision-Making: Making choices based on ethical and safe standards.
Expected Benefits
Improved Academic Achievement - Emotional stability leads to better focus and learning efficiency.
Reduced Problem Behaviors - Decreases bullying, anxiety, and aggression.
Long-Term Growth - Improves career development, relationships, and overall life satisfaction.
Courtesy Is Not Just an Attitude - It Is Intelligence
Courtesy is the ability to read emotions, assess situations, and consider both relationships and
outcomes at the same time. It is not merely a polite attitude; it is the height of social intelligence (SQ),
enabling a person to understand others’ emotions and make the best choice for each situation.
Ultimately, respecting others is one of the wisest strategies. It elevates one’s own character,
reduces unnecessary conflict, and helps achieve goals more effectively.
Courtesy also involves metacognition - the ability to view oneself objectively - as well as self-regulation,
the ability to manage emotions in the moment, and risk management, which helps prevent conflict.
In this sense, courtesy is a highly advanced intellectual activity.
brunch.co.kr/@devmark/4 →
미국 영재들이 아침마다 하는 루틴
미국이 150조를 투자한 교육법
미국은 왜 '사회정서학습'에 주목했나?
감정을 지배하는 법, 딱 3개월이면 됩니다 김주환 교수
Building a Strong Inner Life Through Language Education: SEL
Language education centered on reading, discussion, and writing goes beyond simply delivering knowledge.
It naturally integrates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and leads learners toward holistic growth.
“The human ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions and the emotions of others also develops through language. The vocabulary we use is not merely a tool for expression; it is an important framework that shapes patterns of thought, will, and behavior.”
- Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University
Reading is more than the acquisition of knowledge. It is a high-level cognitive activity that constantly asks questions and tests ideas. It is like a window that expands our ability to see the world from multiple dimensions.
A rich vocabulary is not merely a means of expression. It expands the framework of thought and changes the way we interpret life, playing a central role in the formation of one’s worldview. As vocabulary becomes more refined, thinking becomes deeper and the brain becomes more flexible. This is because language is the cognitive structure through which we organize thought and understand the world.
In this sense, reading is an essential experience that develops language and thought at the same time.
Classics, philosophy, and the Bible, in particular, illuminate the complexity of human life beyond time and place, cultivating insight that penetrates to the essence of life.
Through this process, readers develop empathy for others, form multidimensional perspectives,
and build metacognitive skills that allow them to reflect on themselves objectively.
In addition, the process of exploring historical contexts and asking questions strengthens the ability to structure thoughts in precise language. The experience of reorganizing vast amounts of information and accurately processing complex content becomes the foundation for advanced literacy.
Identifying the intentions hidden beneath the surface of a text and analyzing inner conflicts deepens inferential ability based on imagination. The habit of recognizing logical errors also forms critical thinking,
enabling readers to distinguish truth from falsehood in a flood of information.
Through this process, readers discover new perspectives and develop independent thinking that
enables them to reach their own conclusions.
“The ability to connect content with other ideas, the ability to judge what is important within an event or piece of content, and then the ability to connect those things and turn them into new ideas - this is literacy.”
- Professor Kim Heon, Seoul National University
Deep reading expands the mind and becomes a guidepost for making wise choices in every moment of life.
It also forms the foundation of upright character. This cognitive and emotional maturity becomes the basis for internalizing self-regulation, social sensitivity, and resilience, ultimately leading to healthy self-esteem - the ability to affirm and trust oneself.
Resilience: The Muscle of the Heart
Resilience is not an inborn trait. It is a muscle of the heart that can be strengthened through
intentional practice.
It is the inner strength that helps us stand firm in adversity, adapt with flexibility,and continue to grow.
The Two Pillars of Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is a positive perception of oneself. It is built on two pillars:
The first is self-worth, which is formed through the experience of being unconditionally accepted.
The second is competence, which is based on self-efficacy — the belief that “I can do this.”
When I Met Students with High Self-Esteem | Professor Josephine Kim
불행의 굴레를 끊는 법
없던 병도 생기는 인간관계 갈등 해결하는 '이 방법'
화를 다스리는 법│아주대학교 김경일 교수
Children Who Overcome Their Environment: The Power Comes from Reading
“If books are windows that open the world, reading is a mirror that reflects the true self.”
Finland was once a nation that nearly disappeared from the map after being ruled by Sweden for 650 years and by Russia for 108 years. After World War II, it was one of the poorest countries in Europe. In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Finland faced a severe economic recession that threatened its very survival.
Yet, only about ten years later, in the 2000s, Finland rose to become one of the world’s most competitive nations and ranked first in the OECD’s international academic achievement assessments.
At the foundation of this transformation was a nationwide reading movement,
reflected in Finland’s world-leading library access, number of books per person, and library usage rates.
One book can change one person,
and one changed person can change the world.
Two Characteristics of Children Who Overcome Adversity
One book can change one person, and one changed person can change the world.
Two Characteristics of Children Who Overcome Adversity
-
Having a caregiver nearby whom they can emotionally rely on
-
Reading many humanities books and receiving comfort and wisdom from characters who faced similar circumstances
Examples: Think Big by Dr. Ben Carson, Oprah Winfrey, and Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
→ KDI Research on Reading
Transformation Through Prayer and Reading
Dr. Ben Carson
A world-renowned neurosurgeon and the author of Think Big
“What raised me was prayer and books.”
A boy from a poor Black neighborhood who was at the bottom of his elementary school class became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins at the age of 33. He later performed the world’s first successful separation surgery of conjoined twins.
Behind this remarkable transformation were the prayers and reading discipline of his mother, Sonya Carson. Although she herself was illiterate and had not received a formal education, she never gave up on her son. After earnestly asking God for wisdom, the prescription she gave him was clear:
Limited TV Time: He was allowed to watch only two pre-selected programs each week and had to stay away from television otherwise.
Required Reading: He had to read two books from the library every week and explain their contents to his mother. Until then, Ben Carson had never finished reading an entire book.
Although his mother could not read, she nodded and checked his reports as if she fully understood the books he described. The steady power of reading caused Ben Carson’s academic performance to rise dramatically, eventually leading him to Yale University and then to become one of the world’s leading doctors.
→ Ben Carson Book Information
요즘들어 자꾸 나쁜 생각이 든다면, 딱 '이 3가지'만 명심하세요
조세핀 김 교수님
하버드에서 만난 자존감이 높은 학생들
메타인지의 힘
'진짜 메타인지' 방법 | 리사 손 컬럼비아 교수님
김경일의 '메타인지와 공부실력의 관계
Oprah Winfrey: The Talk Show Queen Loved Around the World
“Reading opened every door in my life.”
Oprah Winfrey overcame a difficult environment and deep inner wounds to become one of America’s most influential female leaders. Behind her remarkable transformation were her daily Bible reading and disciplined reading habits.
Her father’s strict discipline: “Read a book every week and write a book report.”
During her troubled teenage years, her father, Vernon Winfrey, gave Oprah strict rules. No matter how busy she was, he required her to read one book every week and submit a book report.
The foundation of her vocabulary: Her father also had her memorize five new words every day, helping her build a strong foundation in language.
A Bible-centered life: Raised by her grandmother, Oprah began reading and reciting the Bible from the age of three. Because of this, she earned the nickname “The Little Preacher.”
These Bible-centered habits became the root of her language and values, forming the foundation for her powerful speech and deep ability to empathize with others.
Through her book club and public talks, Oprah has often emphasized, “Books were my pass to personal freedom,” confessing that reading was one of the key ways she overcame a harsh environment.
→ Oprah Winfrey’s Reading Story
The Impact of One Caring Adult’s Attention and Love on Children
The Power of a Single Word — Shin Chang-won and Lee Guk-jong
Why Reading Is a Matter of National Competitiveness
In the age of AI, the value of mere knowledge is gradually diminishing. The power to rise above machines lies in critical thinking, the ability to ask meaningful questions,
and the wisdom that forms their foundation - and it all begins with reading.
Ages 5 to 9 are the golden years for reading. The habits formed during this period can shape a child’s thinking skills for life.
Critical Thinking: The ability to analyze information independently rather than passively accepting it.
Questioning: The higher-level ability to ask meaningful questions that can draw the best answers from AI.
Complete Literacy: The fundamental ability to understand the context of written texts and organize one’s own thoughts logically.
Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, said:
“Books allow you to fully explore a topic and immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today.”
Major developed countries view reading not merely as a personal choice, but as a core resource that determines the future of a nation. For this reason, they continue to make bold investments in reading-based education.
1. Finland: The Root of an Educational Powerhouse Is the Library
-
A key to national competitiveness: One of the secrets behind Finland’s top performance in the OECD’s international academic assessments is reading education.
-
Outstanding infrastructure: Finland has one of the highest levels of library access and library usage in the world relative to its population.
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A national habit: More than 75% of the population reads for over one hour every day.
-
Social responsibility: Finland does not view declining reading habits as merely a personal issue, but as a serious social problem that must be addressed at the national level.
2. The United States: Nurturing Dreams Through Free Reading
An immersive environment: Elementary school classrooms are filled with large collections of books,
allowing children to encounter books whenever they want.
Self-directed growth: Through free reading time without a rigid framework, children naturally improve their reading ability and begin to shape their own vision and dreams.
3. Japan: “10 Minutes of Morning Reading” That Shapes Character
A key to overcoming crisis: In response to educational crises such as bullying and school refusal, Japan introduced the “Morning Reading” campaign.
The result of change: By helping reading become an enjoyable daily habit, schools were able to improve students’ learning ability while also fostering emotional stability and character development.
Many developed countries are intentionally designing reading programs so that reading becomes a natural daily habit for children. Through reading, they seek not only to cultivate higher-level thinking skills,
but also to develop the social ability to build healthy relationships with others.
This broader educational vision is designed to help emotionally sensitive students avoid the personal,
social, and psychological problems that can arise from digital culture.
- Han Sang-moo, Professor Emeritus at Kangwon National University, Why Does Reading Improve the Brain? And Why Does It Improve Character?
'나르시시스트'와 자기애 넘치는 사람을 구별하는 방법
소시오패스들의 특징
'착한 사람'이라면 반드시 주위에 '악인'들이 몰려온다
Free Voluntary Reading
Dr. Stephen Krashen, a linguist known for the concept of the “Reading Revolution,” argues that free voluntary reading — reading joyfully and by personal choice — is the most effective method in language education.
This means students do not need to write book reports, solve reading comprehension questions,
or look up every unknown word in the dictionary. They may stop reading books they do not enjoy and
freely choose books they want to read.
Of course, reading only light materials cannot bring a learner to an advanced level. However, light reading serves as a bridge to deeper reading. It motivates learners to read more and helps them develop the
language ability needed to read more difficult books.
Krashen especially emphasized that free voluntary reading is one of the best ways to help foreign language learners move from the beginner stage to a more fluent and advanced level.
Free Voluntary Reading programs are generally composed of three types:
Sustained Silent Reading:
A method in which teachers and students read together silently for about 5 to 15 minutes each day.
Self-Selected Reading:
A program in which students choose their own reading materials and later have time to discuss
what they have read with the teacher.
Extensive Reading:
A reading approach with minimal assignments, such as writing a brief summary after reading.
Why English Bible Reading Education?
“The richer a person’s vocabulary is, the more windows they have through which to see the world.”
- Film critic Lee Dong-jin
This means that language shapes the breadth of our thinking.
In particular, Bible-centered reading education becomes the highest point of this growth.
Before the Word of God, learners reflect on themselves. Through the lives of biblical figures, they indirectly experience the complexity of human life, and they learn the compassion of Jesus - a compassion that goes beyond empathy and leads to action. Through this process, they grow into people with a steady inner life
and mature character.
A Path Beyond Language Barriers, Connecting Learners to the World
With the advancement of digital technology, we now live in an age where anyone with sufficient English ability and a desire to learn can access educational opportunities around the world and move toward a better future.
However, in many regions, there are still practical limitations: access to professional teachers and systematic educational infrastructure remains difficult.
The most realistic and scalable alternative to overcome this gap is a multidimensional reading education based on the English Bible — a single text through which deep learning is possible.
Reading the English Bible goes beyond simple language learning. It becomes the starting point of integrated education that develops thinking skills, comprehension, and character formation together.
Literacy Completed Through Repetition and Connection
Professor Na Min-ae of Seoul National University advises, “If you truly want to develop literacy,
read one book repeatedly rather than skimming through many books.”
Based on this principle, repeatedly exploring a solid text such as the English Bible while connecting it with various audiovisual media - including comics, films, and animation - can dramatically improve learners’ literacy.
As learners experience the same story again and again through different perspectives and formats,
they move beyond simple memorization and begin to internalize the content deeply.
They also develop the ability to discover meaning for themselves.
This kind of intensive repeated reading helps learners overcome environmental limitations and open their own path of learning. Ultimately, it becomes the foundation for holistic growth, enabling them to design their lives with purpose and independence.
The Language Leap Created by Reading
In The Power of Reading, world-renowned linguist Stephen Krashen emphasizes that reading is one of the most effective ways to move foreign language ability from the beginner level to the advanced level.
Simply by reading interesting books in a comfortable environment, learners can:
Learn the way writers think Improve vocabulary and sentence structure
Naturally develop speaking and writing skills
In particular, reading becomes one of the most powerful driving forces for steady foreign language growth - even without direct teacher instruction, conscious memorization, or conversation partners.
Reading English Books — Reading Education for English Beginners
Whether in one’s mother tongue or a foreign language, learners should first accurately acquire the sounds of the language, and then gradually begin reading written words aloud.
For speech sounds and letters to connect efficiently in the brain,
phonemic awareness is the most important foundation.
Conditions That Help Learners Read More English Books
Develop accurate English pronunciation and listening skills
Improve English phonemic awareness through correct pronunciation and accurate listening.
Read at a sufficient speed
Reading ability develops in stages: reading aloud, silent reading, and then speed reading.
Build enough basic vocabulary
Vocabulary naturally grows through consistent reading.
Enjoy reading in the mother tongue as well
Reading ability in one’s mother tongue strengthens background knowledge and comprehension.
A foreign language can grow as far as the mother tongue allows.
When foreign language learners read books joyfully, they can grow from the level of simple everyday conversation to the ability to use language for advanced literary study or business communication.
Many studies show that when foreign language learners enjoy reading books, they can steadily improve their language ability even without sitting in a classroom, receiving direct instruction from a teacher,
consciously studying, or even having someone to converse with.
Paper Books vs. Screens: A Turning Point in Children’s Cognitive Development
The Importance of Paper Books According to Professor Kim Boong-nyun, Pediatric Psychiatrist at Seoul National University
Professor Kim Boong-nyun’s Instagram →
The Importance of Paper Books
View Instagram Post →
Screen Time and Cognitive Development
Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath: Screen Time and the Decline of Cognitive Development
“When technology enters education, learning ability declines.”
A historical regression in cognitive ability:
Since the late 1800s, every generation has generally shown higher cognitive ability than the generation before it. However, Generation Z has become the first generation in modern history to show lower cognitive ability than their parents’ generation. Declines are being observed across nearly every measure, including attention, memory, reading and writing, numeracy, executive function, and even general IQ.
The cause: digital devices in schools
Around 2010, the correlation between schooling and cognitive development began to break down.
An analysis of data from 80 countries found that the more widely digital technology was introduced in schools, the more significantly student performance declined. Children who used computers for more than five hours a day showed markedly lower academic performance than those who rarely used digital devices.
Biological limitations:
Human beings have biologically evolved to learn from other people, not from screens.
Screens interfere with this natural learning process.
A decline in the quality of education - skimming:
In the past, reading comprehension tests required deep inference and reasoning.
Today, many have shifted toward reading short sentences and checking simple facts.
Dr. Horvath criticizes this as a result of adjusting educational standards to children’s habit of “skimming”
when they use computers. He calls it not progress, but surrender.
Doctor on How Screen Time Hurts Kids' Cognitive Development →
Professor Jean Twenge: Technology Regulation and the Youth Mental Health Crisis
“Since the widespread adoption of smartphones, teen mental health has been pushed to the edge.”
A dramatic shift in 2012:
Beginning around 2012, loneliness, depression, and the feeling that “life is not useful” increased sharply among teenagers. Between 2011 and 2019, rates of clinical depression among teens doubled,
while self-harm and suicide rates also rose significantly.
Smartphones and social media:
2012 was the point when more than half of Americans owned a smartphone, and social media became an essential part of culture. As a result, face-to-face time with friends and family was cut nearly in half,
and sleep deprivation became more severe.
Decline in academic achievement:
The decline was not limited to mental health. Academic performance also began to fall around 2012. In particular, the more time students spent using devices for leisure during the school day, the lower their standardized test scores tended to be.
Professor on Regulating Tech for Kids →
Doctor on How Screen Time Hurts Kids' Cognitive Development
Professor on Regulating Tech for Kids
The AI Trap Warned About by the OECD
“Helpful for learning, but harmful to performance.”
AI may weaken students’ ability to regulate their own thinking processes and, in the long term,
interfere with the development of real skills.
In one case, students using ChatGPT for math learning showed a 48% improvement during practice,
but their test scores dropped by 17%.
→ OECD Article Warning About AI in Education
[AP Column] AI Knowledge Swallowed Without Chewing: A Sweet Poison That Causes “Literacy Malnutrition”
Just as the jaw muscles weaken when they are not used, the “muscles of literacy” - the ability to read,
think, and critique for oneself - are rapidly weakening.
In fact, research from Harvard and the Wharton School delivered a sobering result: students who used AI merely as an answer key scored 17% lower than those who did not use it.
The cost of stopping one’s own thinking was a decline in intelligence.
Handwriting, written carefully by pressing each letter with the fingertips, stimulates the brain’s neural networks. Through the process of erasing, revising, and rewriting, one’s “true thoughts” finally begin to take shape.
Humanities-based reading is not simply the act of acquiring information.
It is advanced mental training in which the author’s thoughts and one’s own thoughts collide,
and from those fragments, the spark of critical thinking is ignited.
We cannot entrust the future to a generation that accepts AI-generated hallucinations uncritically
while lacking basic thinking skills and discernment.
→ AI Post Korea Article
Cases of Failed Digital Education: AltSchool and Vittra Schools
“For each child, we will bring together all the technology in the world.”
- AltSchool
Education involves many areas that cannot easily be measured by algorithms or data - such as relationships between people, children’s experiences and intuition, cooperation, and social development.
However, AltSchool overlooked these unmeasurable elements. Its vision of designing personalized education for each child sounded promising, but it missed essential parts of growth: the process of overcoming difficulties, learning through cooperation with peers, and developing emotionally.
As a result, children lost opportunities to face challenges and experience failure. When AI predicted that a child might fail at solving a problem, it immediately adjusted the learning path and replaced it with an easier problem. In doing so, it removed the very opportunity to struggle, fail, and grow.
→ The Problems of Digital Education Revealed by the AltSchool Case
→ [Reporter’s Note] The Problems of Digital Education Revealed by the AltSchool Case
→ AltSchool Analysis Blog
→ Lessons from the Failure of a Futuristic Silicon Valley School That Replaced AI Teachers
Characteristics of Education for Children in Silicon Valley
Digital Minimalism: No-Tech Education
Waldorf schools and similar educational models, where children do not use smartphones, tablets, or computers before high school, are highly popular. In the midst of a technology-driven environment,
these schools place greater emphasis on activities in nature - such as wooden toys, playing in the dirt,
and being in the rain - in order to nurture children’s imagination and human relationships.
Self-Directed Learning and Independence
Parents patiently wait until children solve problems on their own. Children are encouraged to do their own homework, find their own mistakes, and take ownership of their learning.
Encouraging Questions and Creativity
Rather than focusing only on grades or results, this approach emphasizes improving the quality of children’s questions. To develop empathy and creative thinking - essential abilities for surviving in the age of AI - hands-on tasks are highly valued.
Nature-Friendly Environments and Experiential Learning
Through time spent playing in nature, as well as art and physical activities,
children gain emotional stability and develop the ability to solve problems creatively.
Practical Financial Education
From an early age, children learn to manage money and make choices for themselves, developing responsibility and self-control.
This educational approach focuses less on technical skills and more on the fundamental abilities future generations need: critical thinking, empathy, and initiative.
→ Book on Silicon Valley Education
실리콘밸리의 아이들은 어릴 때부터
이렇게 질문합니다!
[EBS News G]
A classroom that still uses chalkboards and chalk - a school life that feels as if it has gone back in time.
This school, which does not have even a single digital device, including computers,
is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in the United States.
More than 70% of the parents are Silicon Valley professionals working in advanced digital technology fields.
→ EBS News G Report
Silicon Valley Parents’ Approach to Education
→ What the Top 1% of Silicon Valley Parents Teach Their Children
Why Anthroposophy-Based Waldorf Education Is Future-Oriented Education in the Age of AI
It is said that even parents who work at Google, Apple, and Microsoft send their children to Waldorf schools. These schools are well known for their analog education, using books, pencils, and chalk instead of electronic devices. In one corner of the classroom, rows of Britannica encyclopedias are lined up,
and children spend time thinking, talking, and learning on their own.
Forward-thinking parents already know the harmful impact smartphones can have on children’s concentration
and frontal lobes.
The frontal lobe, which is responsible for higher-order thinking, is the core center for focus, judgment,
and planning. However, when children are exposed to smartphones for long periods,
the frontal lobe gradually begins to lose its function.
→ Waldorf Education
Many Silicon Valley parents strictly limit screen use during childhood.
For example, many choose Steiner/Waldorf education, where screen use before the age of 12 is almost completely avoided.
→ Screen Time vs. Play Time: What Tech Leaders Won’t Let Their Own Kids Do
→ What IT Leaders Do Not Allow Their Children to Do
→ [Jung Su-woo Column] A Dopamine-Addicted Society: How Can Human Dignity Be Restored?
→ New York Times: “A New Trend Among the Wealthy - Dopamine Fasting”
→ Have Shorts and Reels Damaged Our Children’s Reading Comprehension? 98% of Elementary Students Cannot Read Their Textbooks (MBC Newsdesk)
→ A Tech-Free School Where Tech Executives Send Their Kids
스마트폰으로부터 아이를 구하라!
| 권장희 놀이미디어교육센터 소장
Teaching Thinking, Not Just Knowledge: Why Private Schools Choose the Humanities and Copywork
Private School vs. Public School Education in the United States
Recognizing both the concerns and the perceived necessity of the Prussian model of education,
the United States developed a divided educational system: private school education for cultivating the ruling class,
and public school education for the general population, largely aimed at producing a large-scale productive workforce.
American private schools have historically provided leadership education for the white upper class,
preparing them to lead the nation. Students in these schools are trained through extensive reading of original works in philosophy, the humanities, history, and literature.
They read these classic texts repeatedly, think deeply, copy passages by hand, and engage in discussion. Through this process, they form their ideas, train their critical thinking,
and develop depth of thought and breadth of perspective.
→ The Division Between Private and Public Education in the United States
→ “The Literacy Crisis Is Like a Disease Similar to Obesity… Reading Has Now Become a Hobby for the Few”
→ The Ability to Think Has Become a Privilege for the Few
The Importance of Copywork: Neural Pruning in the Brain
Neural pruning is a natural part of brain development. In the early stages of development, the brain creates an excessive number of synapses. Over time, the synapses that are actively used remain,
while those that are not used are gradually removed.
In other words, the brain develops according to how much it is used and how often certain pathways are repeated.
However, digital devices can have a significant impact on this process. Short, highly stimulating content such as YouTube videos and Shorts can weaken the brain’s ability to think deeply and concentrate.
Neural networks that are not repeatedly used may eventually be pruned away, and as a result,
thinking skills, concentration, and patience may gradually decline.
For school-age children, whose brains are developing rapidly, excessive smartphone use can be especially harmful.
In contrast, copywork is an activity that actively engages the brain.
Through the process of reading with the eyes, writing with the hand, understanding the content,
and reorganizing it again, copywork helps improve concentration, reduce distracting thoughts,
and expand thinking skills.
It also stimulates language ability and memory.
Not only does it improve writing skills, but it can also help correct poor handwriting.
Above all, repeated copywork strengthens important neural pathways in the brain and
develops the ability to think deeply.
Ultimately, copywork is not simply handwriting practice. It is one of the most analog yet powerful forms of training for helping a child’s brain grow in a healthy way. Especially when children begin copying good writing line by line from the elementary years, they can naturally develop both expressive ability and vocabulary.
→ Instagram Post on Copywork
Handwritten Notes Help Learning by Strengthening Brain Connectivity
A research team from the Department of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology conducted high-density EEG tests on 36 university students and found that handwriting can support learning
by strengthening brain connectivity.
→ Handwritten Notes Help Learning by Strengthening Brain Connectivity — Norwegian Study
The Learning Effects of Copywork from a Neuroscience Perspective
Memory, Cognitive Ability, and Brain Activation
This article explains, with scientific evidence, how copywork stimulates the brain and how it affects children’s memory, cognitive ability, and self-regulation.
→ The Learning Effects of Copywork from a Neuroscience Perspective
The Effects of Bible Copywork
→ The Effects of Bible Copywork (1)
→ The Effects of Bible Copywork (2)
The Importance of Playing Musical Instruments
Through additional measurements, the research team found that children who learned to play musical instruments showed not only stronger reading comprehension skills, but also higher creativity, better attention control,
and stronger stress regulation abilities.
→ Research on Musical Instrument Training and Reading Ability
IT 임원 자녀들이 다니는 '테크프리' 학교 엿보기
"여기서 엄청난 격차가 벌어져요." | 미국, 한국 학부모들의 차이점 | 미국 상위권 부모들이 정서지능, 메타인지를 높여주는 방법 | 미디어 지능 높이는 방법 (김소연 선생님)
In the Age of AI, Why Literacy Matters Again
An Era Where Language, Not Coding, Has Become Power
In an age where artificial intelligence can write code and generate reports on its own, human literacy -
the ability to read and write - has paradoxically become one of the strongest competitive advantages.
The moment machines became able to understand human language, technical barriers began to fall.
Now, true ability is no longer determined simply by how well something can be implemented,
but by how precisely language can be used.
The human role has shifted from simple execution to instruction and design.
The key lies in two questions:
• What should we ask AI to do? — Insight
• How should we express it? — Literacy
The level of language determines the level of the result.
1. An Era Where Language, Not Coding, Has Become Power
In an age where artificial intelligence can write code and generate reports on its own, human literacy
- the ability to read and write - has paradoxically become one of the strongest competitive advantages.
The moment machines became able to understand human language, technical barriers began to fall.
Now, true ability is no longer determined simply by how well something can be implemented,
but by how precisely language can be used.
The human role has shifted from simple execution to instruction and design.
The key lies in two questions:
• What should we ask AI to do? — Insight
• How should we express it? — Literacy
The level of language determines the level of the result.
2. Changes in Education: Writing as a Process of Thinking, Not Just a Final Product
Major educational institutions, including Harvard University, are establishing new guidelines for the age of AI -guidelines that place greater emphasis on the process of thinking rather than simply on the final outcome.
AI can be used as a tool:
AI may be used during the preparation stage, such as for data analysis or summarizing materials.
However, the final work must be reorganized and expressed through one’s own thinking.
Transparency of thought:
The ability to demonstrate how ideas were developed and how AI-generated results were critically evaluated
and accepted is becoming a key standard of assessment.
The core issue is no longer just the result, but how one thought and how one expressed those thoughts.
Education is now shifting its focus from simply acquiring “knowledge” to developing the ability to think
critically and express ideas clearly.
3. New Literacy: The Ability to Think with AI
Literacy is no longer simply about reading and writing. It is the ability to think and
make judgments together with AI.
Structuring ideas:
The ability to turn fragmented ideas into a logical blueprint.
Strategic questioning (prompting):
The ability to give clear and precise instructions so that AI can produce the best possible results.
Critical thinking and reconstruction:
The editorial ability to identify errors in AI-generated content and reshape it with one’s own philosophy, perspective, and emotional depth.
Value-based judgment:
The ability to discern what is right through a worldview shaped by deep reading.
The integration of AI literacy and human literacy.
4. The Real Game Changer: The “AI Orchestrator”
Professor Ethan Mollick emphasizes the model of Co-Intelligence, a collaboration between humans and AI.
In this new era, universities and companies are no longer looking merely for people who possess a large amount of knowledge. They are looking for people with human judgment - the ability to coordinate AI-generated information and solve complex problems.
These individuals are not simply “users” of AI. They are AI Orchestrators - people who direct AI in a way that maximizes the productivity of an entire organization.
Those who master language will master AI.
In the age of AI, competitiveness does not come from technology itself.
It comes from how deeply one thinks and how clearly one expresses ideas. In other words, those who can structure their thoughts based on insight and communicate their intentions precisely will be the ones
who use AI most effectively.
AI may provide the technology, but it is still human literacy that gives that technology direction and life.
In the age of AI, the most powerful technology is writing.
Those who master language will master AI.
✔ Coding → Language
✔ Knowledge → Thinking
✔ Information → Meaning
✔ Use → Orchestration
References
→ The Importance of Literacy in the Age of AI
→ The Future of Education Transformed by AI
→ The Changing Profile of Talent in the Age of AI
→ Current Trends in AI Courses at U.S. Universities
Why Math Matters Even More in the Age of AI
However, the reason students at top universities invest time in mathematics is not simply because of their majors. Mathematics is not just a subject that develops calculation skills; it is a form of training that
teaches students how to structure their thinking.
Today, we will explain step by step why mathematics has become even more important in the age of AI,
and why students at leading universities continue to invest deeply in mathematics.
→ The Importance of Mathematics in the Age of AI
AI 시대, 다시 '교육의 본질'을 묻다
1. 디지털 기술: 격차를 해소하는 강력한 도구
오늘날 디지털 스크린을 통한 교육은 거스를 수 없는 시대적 흐름입니다.
특히 교육 자원과 전문 인력이 부족한 선교지에서는 디지털 커리큘럼이 양질의 교육을 가능하게 하는
가장 현실적이고 효과적인 대안이 됩니다. 기술은 교육의 사각지대를 허물고,
누구에게나 학습의 기회를 확장하는 강력한 도구입니다.
2. 아날로그의 가치: 기술이 대신할 수 없는 사람의 온기
그러나 기술의 편의성이 교육의 본질을 대체할 수는 없습니다.
진정한 교육은 스크린 너머, 사람과 사람 사이의 관계와 마음의 울림에서 시작됩니다.
인공지능은 지식을 전달할 수 있지만, 아이들의 삶을 변화시키는 '인격적 만남'과 '공동체의 온기'는
여전히 사람을 통해서만 전달됩니다.
3. 영어 성경 독서: 언어, 인격, 사고의 통합적 회복
디지털의 효율성 위에 아날로그의 깊이를 더하는 교육 모델로, '영어 성경 독서 교육'이 제시됩니다.
이 교육은 복잡한 장비나 화려한 교구에 의존하지 않습니다.
단 하나의 텍스트 성경이라는 본질적인 텍스트만으로도 깊이 있는 사유와 학습이 가능합니다.
누구나 가르칠 수 있는 교육 전문 교사가 아니더라도, 선교사와 현지 리더가 함께 읽고 나누며 교육을 이끌 수 있습니다.
Holistic Growth
Beyond simple language acquisition, this education builds language, character,
and thinking together on the foundation of biblical values.
Technology must be used in a balanced way as a tool,
while people must always remain at the center of education.
Digital tools expand opportunities, and the Word provides direction.
Where these two meet, education becomes truly complete.
Internet Access Anywhere on Earth
→ Internet connectivity will become available from virtually anywhere — through Starlink.
A High-Tech Smart Container School for Africa, Where Electricity and Water Are Scarce
The research team explained that Boxchool is equipped with solar panels, allowing smart classrooms to operate in almost any environment. It also includes a rainwater purification system, enabling the school to function independently.
In particular, the smart classroom is equipped with computers, electronic whiteboards, projectors, iPads, and other digital tools, allowing children in underserved regions to receive advanced education.
Starlink Tiny Home Unveiled
Elon Musk Unveils the 2026 Tesla Starlink Tiny Home - Priced at Just $6,789,
Shocking the World
Note: This last claim sounds promotional and may need fact-checking before
being used on a public website.
Starlink Tiny Home Unveiled
Elon Musk Unveils the 2026 Tesla Starlink Tiny Home - Priced at Just $6,789, Shocking the World
Note: This last claim sounds promotional and may need fact-checking before being used on a
public website.
Kitkit School
In the Mtwara region of southern Tanzania, Africa, children were given tablet PCs installed with Enuma’s Kitkit School, and their learning outcomes were measured based on how they used the program.
CEO Lee shared, “When I saw Tanzanian children who could not even write their own names
begin to write them after learning with Kitkit School, I almost cried.
It felt as though our goal - to create the best educational tool that allows children in difficult learning environments to learn on their own -had truly been realized.”
The television penetration rate in the region was only about 6%. Even when lions appeared in the game, the children did not understand them. In response, Kitkit School was redesigned to include animals, plants, people, and other elements that were familiar to Tanzanian children.
Kitkit School is an exceptional learning tool built to teach all children early reading, writing, and math.
→ DBR Article on Kitkit School
→ Korean Introduction to Kitkit School
→ Official Kitkit School Website
Onebillion
Onebillion children numerate and reading in their own language
We are a non-profit organization based in London. Our international team of experts have built comprehensive, scalable educational software for children in and out of school.
one tab — a solution to deliver reading, writing and numeracy to unlock every child's potential.
→ onebillion official site
Khan Academy — World-Class Education for Free
→ Khan Academy (English)
→ Khan Academy (Korean)
Khan Academy Kids:
A 100% free app created by Khan Academy. Its quality is comparable to paid services,
making it highly popular.
Starfall:
Although it is free, Starfall offers a very well-structured step-by-step phonics program.
It is widely used in both schools and homes as an essential starting point for early literacy.
CommonLit:
CommonLit provides free reading passages and assessment questions for middle and
high school students, making it highly recognized among teachers.
Daily Math — Arithmetic Worksheets for Grades 1–6
Free printable arithmetic worksheets are available for all elementary grade levels,
aligned with the school textbook curriculum.
IXL is personalized learning
https://ca.ixl.com
Reading education in North America, including the United States and Canada, has recently undergone major changes, with a growing focus on the Science of Reading (SoR) and Structured Literacy.
1. Websites Considering Canada’s Regional Context and Immigrant Education
ABC Life Literacy Canada:
Supports adult and family literacy and provides practical reading resources needed for everyday life.
Storybooks Canada:
Based on the African Storybook project, Storybooks Canada provides reading materials not only in English
and French but also in multiple immigrant languages.
Scholastic Education Canada:
Offers reading materials and digital libraries that are widely used in Canadian classrooms.
Essential Websites Included in Educational Curricula
Lexia Core5 Reading:
An AI-based personalized learning platform with a strong presence in North American schools. It is highly regarded for systematically implementing the Science of Reading (SoR).
Reading Rockets:
One of the most trusted information portals, supported by educational departments and public institutions.
Amplify CKLA:
One of the most well-known curricula leading the recent North American educational focus on
knowledge-based reading.
2. The Most Popular Apps and Websites Among Parents and Children
Epic!:
Often called the “Netflix for children’s books,” Epic! offers more than 40,000 digital books for children.
ABCmouse:
A comprehensive educational platform with strong brand recognition in foundational learning,
from preschool to the early elementary years.
Reading Eggs:
One of the most commonly recommended game-based learning websites for phonics instruction in Canada
and the United States.
Hooked on Phonics:
A long-established leader that has served as a “reading textbook” for North American families for decades.
Well-Known Online Education Platforms
Help Your Child Master Canadian
StudyPug →
Play more, learn more — Kahoot! One
Kahoot! →
List of 72 Fun and Free Educational Websites for Kids for 2026
Research.com →
Jewish Education: Havruta and the Talmud
IXL is personalized learning
https://ca.ixl.com
A merchant and a teacher were traveling together by boat toward a city. The merchant looked down on the teacher because he had no money.
However, during the journey, the boat was attacked by pirates, and the merchant lost all his possessions. They barely managed to arrive in the city, but the merchant had become completely penniless. There, he saw the teacher earning money by teaching children, and he looked at him with envy.
This story, found in the Talmud, teaches the lesson that while material wealth can be taken away, knowledge cannot be stolen.
For the Jewish people, who lived for hundreds of years without a homeland, this story shows how deeply they valued education as an inheritance to pass on to the next generation - something even more important than money.
Based on this educational philosophy, although Jews make up only about 0.3% of the world’s population, they are said to account for 30% of students at Ivy League universities, 30% of Nobel Prize winners, and 42% of executives at the world’s top 500 companies. Beyond this, they continue to exercise significant influence across global politics, society, and the economy.
Many well-known figures are Jewish, including Albert Einstein, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Their distinctive educational method, Havruta, is primarily practiced through the study of the Talmud.
The Talmud:
Traditional interpretations of the Torah—the biblical law—and teachings on how to apply it to everyday life.
Havruta
The purpose of Havruta is to nurture truly humane and thoughtful people.
Havruta is the educational method of the Jewish people, who have had a significant influence on the world. In this method, two people pair up and discuss a topic together, regardless of age, social status, or gender.
Because there is no fixed answer, learners search for answers through open dialogue in a free discussion environment. In this process, they must constantly think in order to express their own opinions clearly, and they must also continue thinking deeply about the topic in order to respond to the other person’s perspective.
Through this process, continuous questions are created, and these questions help develop creativity.
Just as many students attend academies to learn school subjects in advance, Jewish children learn in advance how to live wisely in the world through the Talmud from an early age.
Jewish children grow by freely discussing the Talmud with their parents and rabbis, who serve as mentors in life. Through these conversations, they learn how to interpret and solve the problems that arise in the world and in their own lives through the Word of God.
In the same way that Jewish education seeks to understand the world through God’s Word at the center of all learning, we too can come to know God more deeply by studying the Bible. As we seek to live according to His Word, we discover that this is the greatest way to develop creativity and character—greater than studying any philosophy or humanities discipline.
In particular, the Word of God, who created the world, is the greatest textbook for learning creativity and wisdom for life.
→ Reading Habits of the Wealthy
→ Studian
부자들의 독서법 3가지
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