Why Is Our Methodology So Different? We Do Not Teach Through Lectures

Rogelio Valdés

Apr 21, 2023

One of the main reasons we wanted to start our own elementary and middle school was that we felt the traditional teaching model had become outdated.

There are many things we do differently compared with a conventional school, including small groups, the way we assess learning, the focus on extracurriculars, and social-emotional development. But today I want to focus on how students actually acquire knowledge, because that is usually the first question families ask when we explain that we do not rely on lectures.

In most schools, we are used to teachers giving lectures to explain a topic. That means the teacher stands at the front of the room and talks about the content students need to cover in a given subject. They may write examples on the board, explain the topic in their own style, read slides from a presentation, or go straight from a textbook. The delivery style may change from one teacher to another, but the format stays the same: a group of students sitting quietly while the teacher speaks.

The problem with this method is that it is not flexible to each student’s needs. Everyone has to be there at the same time and receive the content at the same pace. What happens if you miss one day and lose that lesson? A teacher can review it briefly, but they cannot repeat the whole class exactly for just one student. What happens if you already know the topic? I remember chatting with my friends when that happened to me, and that ended up distracting the class. That often leads to behavior issues. On the other side, a student may be paying attention and still not understand the topic. Maybe they need to hear it two or three times to master it, but the teacher only gives that class once for the entire group.

We all experienced this kind of education, and it can feel like it has always existed, but it actually has not been around that long. In the past, learning was far more personalized. A master craftsperson would take one or two apprentices and teach them directly over time. A blacksmith learned from another blacksmith who acted as a mentor.

Then the industrial revolution changed the equation. Suddenly, instead of needing one craftsperson per town, society needed hundreds of workers trained quickly and later tens of thousands of engineers across cities. Education had to scale, and lectures became the most efficient option available at the time. A single teacher could transmit knowledge to dozens of students. It came with all the disadvantages I just described, but in that historical moment it was the best solution.

Now we live in the 21st century. We have technology that allows us to educate not just dozens of students, but millions, and to do it in a much more personalized way.

At Robin, we built a digital curriculum that adapts to each student’s needs. Each lesson usually includes pre-recorded content that can be paused and replayed as many times as needed so the student can truly understand it. After that, there is a practice activity or exercise to apply the knowledge. And these are not one-hour lessons like a traditional lecture. We break content into small sections to make sure every concept is actually learned.

That means students no longer have to wait for classmates or struggle to catch up with them. They can move at their own pace, with a curriculum that becomes more personalized over time because not everyone learns the same way.

So where does the teacher fit now? The teacher becomes a mentor or guide. At Robin, students move at their own pace, but they are always connected live with their mentor Monday through Friday for five hours a day. If they have a question or need support, the mentor is there to explain the topic or work with them for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or however long it takes for that student to master the concept.

As you can see, the mentor’s role becomes much more personal. That is why we cannot have groups of 20 or 30 students like a traditional school. Our groups are made up of 5 to 10 students per mentor so they can receive truly personalized support. That also creates many benefits in the group dynamic, but I talk more about that in another video about how we made bullying disappear from our school.

That is how we help students achieve stronger academic outcomes. We changed the way knowledge is delivered, created a more intuitive digital curriculum, and built a technological platform that lets students move at their own pace while staying supported by a mentor who guides them the entire time.

If you want to learn more about how our methodology works, we can schedule a trial session so your child can experience a full day at Robin. Just register at robinacademy.com/escuela and we will get in touch to answer your questions and reserve a day for you.