Edu1st VESS Curriculum – Overview Document
Introduction to VESS
At Edu1st, we believe that one of our greatest responsibilities is that of equipping students with a
balanced approach to their academic, social, and emotional lives; an approach in which each
individual learns to use his or her own wisdom and intelligence in order to give greater meaning to
learning and what they do. We believe that, in the 21st century, educators need to be learners who are
part of the learning process and are open and receptive to learning with and from their students.
Educators need to be facilitators of contexts in which students construct their own learning along with
critical and autonomous thinking. Ultimately, the Edu1st. VESS curriculum goes beyond traditional
education approaches to foster in each student the dispositions to find meaning, balance and wisdom in
every situation in order for them to live happier and more positive lives.
To achieve the most essential objectives of the Edu1st. VESS curriculum: providing the learners with
the dispositions for a Meaningful life with balance and wisdom, educators must promote a series of
basic conditions within each student’s environment to not only promote learning but also stimulate and
provoke thinking and critical reasoning. These basic conditions are Well-being, Belonging, Meaning,
Communication, Contribution, Exploration and Flexpertise (The ability to adapt your expertise to new
situations and to adjust your thinking according to the times and needs; a new word coined by Dr.
David Perkins, Harvard University). When these series of basic conditions are met, individuals are
primed to learn, grow and co-exist with their peers.
Without a doubt, education has always had the intention of creating a better citizen, but there has been
a lack of decisive action to integrate this intention to current educational practices and therefore
achieve a truly relevant impact. As experienced educators, at Edu1st we understand the difficulty that
educators experience when faced with new insights and the reality of their classrooms. In order to
breach the divide between theory and practice, and give educators the appropriate tools to allow them
to achieve the full potential of their educational endeavors and incorporate change by breaking down