Many people assume teachers-student relationships are a one-way street: the teachers tell children what and how to learn. But neurological research suggests this may not be best practice.

Students need the freedom to express their beliefs about education, and tell their teachers and peers what they believe will work best for them. This is one focus of the Future of Learning at WAB, or FLoW21, initiative: optimizing learning for each individual student.

Brent Abrahams, WAB's High School Curriculum Coordinator, met with Beijing Middle School students Wednesday to discuss the ways they would like to learn at school.

Students bring a unique perspective to discussions about the future of learning, because they are thinking in first person about what they want to learn, accomplish and experience.

"What we are hearing from students is that they want choice in their day-to-day school life," WAB's Deputy Director John D'Arcy said. "They want options about the class that they attend next, or the areas of study they want to pursue. It's about the entire school experience."

One central theme in recent discussions with students, as well as parents and staff, is empowering learners to make decisions.

At the end of the activities on Wednesday, 38 WAB Middle School students volunteered to be active, engaged members of the FLoW21 process.

Find out more about innovative learning at WAB at www.wab.edu/learn.