The country has 12 universities with the first being established as early as 1450 and that too for the faculty of medicine.
This edition The 10 Best Schools in Switzerland for 2020, exhibits the best of the aforementioned aspects of Swiss education. On the cover of this edition, we have, Obersee Bilingual School
4. Welcome
ood food, natural surroundings, being in tune with nature and
Gexercise are the keys to good health. A healthy body leads to
a healthy mind and vice versa. If a child is provided with all
these from a very early age, he/she not only grasps and absorbs
things quickly, but is also able to take rational decisions for the benefit
of self, countrymen and the human race overall.
Very few countries offer this kind of environment and grooming to
children from the day they start their schooling. Switzerland is one
such country that has recognised the need to mould students under
natural circumstances.
Education in Switzerland is very diverse as the government has
delegated the authority of school education to its 26 member states.
Education is compulsory and free for everyone in Switzerland till the
age of 12 years.
Imagine children walking to and from school daily from day one of
their student life! Imagine the lush greenery, the lakes, the ascents and
the descends through which children merrily walk to school every
single day and parents are not scared to send their little ones on their
own!
Children are trained by the police during the first year of school. The
roads are also user-friendly with pathways and steps.
At school, teachers interact with the students directly in a friendly
manner. With the need to interact with parents being eliminated,
students become responsible for their actions and incorporate the
Creating
Responsible
Future Citizens
with Quality
Education
5. necessary changes on their own. This unusual
amalgamation of a carefree childhood with sense of
responsibility is what makes education in this country
stand apart from others.
It is compulsory for students to bring healthy snacks in
tiffin boxes and schools ensure that kindergarten
children have lunch at home.
Ranked first in the world for its education system and
third in the entire human capital report after Norway
and Finland, Switzerland has reasons galore to look up
to for education.
With a long tradition of research in chemicals and
medicine, the country has more to offer than just
scenic beauty. The country has 12 universities with the
first being established as early as in 1450 and that too
for the faculty of medicine.
This edition, The 10 Best Schools in Switzerland for
2020, exhibits the best of the aforementioned aspects
of Swiss education.
On the cover of this edition we have, Obersee
Bilingual School, which endeavours for its students to
approach the world with joy and enthusiasm and to see
it as a place of endless opportunities. OBS believes
that its students will design their own future, as well as
that of the school’s, and therefore its mission is to
provide them with an outstanding, innovative
education and a global awareness that prepares them
to master the challenges of an exciting, yet rapidly
changing and unknown future.
Other prominent schools listed in this edition include,
College Champittet, one of the esteemed schools
of Nord Anglia Education (NAE) family of schools.
College Champittet, with its highly experienced and
dedicated staff offers students education based on
values and a tradition of academic excellence;
International School Zurich North (ISZN) which
provides exceptional education to children of the
international community by following the globally
renowned PYP, IGCSE, and IA-Level Programs of
study; Leysin American School (LAS), which
ensures a globally bright future for its students, by
moulding and instilling within them values that will
allow them to be independent, curious, and
innovative leaders; and The British School of Bern,
which is recognized for offering exemplary education
for Preschool through Year 6 to children of all
nationalities.
The edition also includes insightful articles penned by
expert educationists and our in-house editorial team.
We hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as
we did while curating it! T R
Sumita Sarkar
sumita@theknowledgereview.com
6. C O N T
OBERSEE BILINGUAL SCHOOL
Taking Your Child On A Remarkable Learning VoyageCOVER STORY
EDU TALK
Influence of Technology
on Education
ASTUTE THOUGHTS
Why and how women can be the
face of tomorrow’s business leaders
ASTUTE MIND
The Study of the Philosophy of
Religion in the Age of the Internet
484036
08
7. E N T S
COLLEGE CHAMPITTET
Guiding Students towards Zeniths of Excellence
18
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ZURICH NORTH (ISZN)
Nurturing Lifelong Learners
26
LEYSIN AMERICAN SCHOOL
Raising a New Generation of Global Citizens
THE BRITISH SCHOOL
Developing a Strong Foundation for Life
4232
SWITZERLAND
World Class Universities
In Scenic Surroundings
ARTICLE22
11. OBERSEE
BILINGUAL
SCHOOL
OBERSEE
BILINGUAL
SCHOOL
Taking Your Child On A Remarkable Learning VoyageTaking Your Child On A Remarkable Learning Voyage
Our ultimate
goal is to develop
our own unique agile
curriculum that caters
not only for tomorrow
but also prepares our
students for the
challenges they
will face
12.
13. s the world becomes more and more complex students need to be ready
Ato meet its challenges. Students need to be creative and be involved in
shaping their education and schools need to move away from compliance
and conformity. Information can be accessed in an instance. Making sense of that
information, sharing it and using it to make connections and create something
new is what schools must now prepare their students for.
Schools must provide an education that helps children understand the world
around them, foster curiosity and become resilient and independent learners.
Whilst every school has their own individual approach to this we at The
Knowledge Review, in our endeavour to find The 10 Best Schools in Switzerland
for 2020, have come across a few schools that have left no stones unturned when
it comes to preparing students for the challenges they will undoubtedly face.
Schools such as the Obersee Bilingual School (OBS), have always striven for their
students to be co-authors of their education and now, more than ever, believe
that they need to undergo transition from knowledge acquisition to information
acquisition and transforming that information into action.
OBS was founded 15 years ago when a mother realised that there wasn’t a school
that offered a truly bilingual education in the area. OBS in its current form, has
really taken off in the last five years through the creation and continuous
development of a community that puts the needs of its students at the forefront.
Not only their current needs, but also their future needs.
The school endeavours for its students to approach the world of tomorrow with
joy and enthusiasm and to see it as a place of endless opportunities. OBS believes
that its students will design their own future, as well as that of the school’s, and
therefore its mission is to provide them with an outstanding, innovative
education and a global awareness that prepares them to master the challenges of
an exciting, yet rapidly changing and unknown future.
OBS aims is to create an environment that offers personal learning, where
mistakes are seen as part of the learning process and where the focus is on
bringing out the best in students so that they are ready to contribute to the
society, now and in the future.
Within a nurturing and supportive environment OBS fosters a community built
on respect, kindness and mutual encouragement and places the utmost value on
the school to home partnership. Key to its offering is guiding their students as
they further develop their creative thinking, problem-solving, inquiry, persuasive
and design thinking skills whilst pursuing their passions. Fostering a growth
mindset, self-assessment and learning how to learn and taking responsibility for
one’s own learning are key to education at OBS.
OBS believes that it is also important to note the increase in low self-esteem,
anxiety and depression in the youth of today, creating an even greater need for
social responsibility and an education focused just as much on the social and
emotional needs of its students.
The Guiding Light
Obersee Bilingual School is owned by Bold Brains AG, a Swiss EdTech company
14. founded by Mr Uwe Feuersenger, a visionary with a
passion for education. He brings with him a wealth of
local and international knowledge, a network from
academia, research, film, media and industry and leads
a team of highly skilled teachers and engineers. His
vision is to always anticipate the future and be several
steps ahead.
Uwe is known for his critical views of the current
approach of governing bodies towards digitalization in
education. He believes that many current education
systems are still oriented towards the past,
characterised by passive information and knowledge
acquisition and reproduction.
“Digitalization, artificial intelligence, augmented and
virtual reality open up new opportunities for us to make
learning realistic, entertaining and interesting. For the
benefit of our children, we must be open to these new
learning aids and if a school plans to use them, ensure
that the teachers are trained and supported in their
implementation.”
Inspired by Prof. Dr. John Seely Brown, Uwe’s vision is
to combine the physical space (OBS’s new campus), the
social space (the school community) and technology to
enhance collaborative learning. While the construction
of the new state-of-the-art campus is well underway,
Uwe’s development team at Bold Brains is working on a
revolutionary learning platform.
Preparing Tomorrow’s Global Citizens
OBS believes that learning isn’t always easy but that it
should be fun and authentic. Its students follow a
personal path which remains flexible until they start the
pre-IB or Matura programme of study. Units of study,
be they cross-curricula or subject specific, centre
around a “Big Idea” and are very much based on
developing enquiring young minds and encouraging
innovation and entrepreneurship.
The bilingual curriculum starts in Early Years and goes
all the way through to the IB and Matura. The school’s
timetables are flexible, allowing children to get into a
flow, and teachers to really get to know each individual,
academically and emotionally.
Students at OBS experience a truly bilingual education
taught by mother tongue teachers. In the primary they
are taught in English one week and German the next
whilst in upper school the students experience all
subjects in both languages as they progress through
the school.
The student life programme is progressive throughout
the school and provides opportunities for both personal
and social development by enabling the students to
participate and grow their skills in areas such as e-
sports, karate, Chinese, OBS-TV and music and the arts.
Technology plays an important part in the life of an OBS
student, be it to encourage participation, to deliver
learning experiences in a fun way through gamification,
to provide virtual experiences, to support in the
acquisition of life skills, or to provide individual learning
opportunities with instant feedback.
Community service is a central part of school life,
enabling students to acquire life skills and become
caring citizens with a developing awareness of social
differences and environmental issues.
OBS students engage deeply, enjoy learning and
discover their passions. Some of the school’s students
compete in national sports teams or are gifted
musicians. Due to the flexibility of the OBS’s offering
and online access to lesson plans and resources,
students are able to pursue their talents without
missing out on valuable learning.
Benchmarking Modern Education
Obersee Bilingual School focuses on providing a
holistic, authentic and integrated educational
experience that truly engages its students. The school
offers a future orientated curriculum which is
constantly evolving due to the changing reality. The list
of OBS' offering includes:
Ÿ Languages, media and drama
Ÿ Mathematics
Ÿ The arts
Ÿ A blend of more traditional and of modern
approaches to design and technology
Ÿ The humanities
Ÿ The sciences, with an evolving focus on
Oceanography and Space
Ÿ A modern sports curriculum that raises interest for
traditional and new disciplines, promotes well-being
of mind and body and that fosters healthy
competition to build character and good
sportsmanship through experiencing victory and
defeat
15. Ÿ Coding and applied Physics and Robotics
Ÿ Mindfulness
Ÿ Traffic School
Ÿ An E-Sports Team that supports
concentration and observation skills
teamwork etc.
The school’s “Focus Year” in grade 10 provides
students with an opportunity to discover new passions,
explore an excisting passion, extend their learning in an
area of interest or join the workforce by undertaking an
internship. Partnerships with universities not only
broaden the school’s resources but also allow it to
adapt to the latest research and share best practice
beyond the confines of the school campus. The school’s
ultimate goal is to develop its own unique agile
curriculum that caters not only for tomorrow but also
prepares its students for the challenges they will face.
OBS was one of the first Schools in Switzerland to
introduce:
Ÿ Lego Education, which provides opportunities to
combine art and engineering.
Ÿ Aikido as a mandatory part of the curriculum
Ÿ OBSession the latest innovation at OBS, the first
School e-Sports Team in Switzerland
OBS also offers its students the opportunity to attend
Model United Nations, the World Robotics Olympiad,
the SGIS Student Leadership Conference and the Youth
Forum Switzerland to name a few.
A Feeling of Belonging
OBS welcomes all students it is in a position to support,
challenge and help realise their true potential. “We
embrace cultural diversity and see our differences as
learning opportunities,” says Uwe. School and social
events at OBS celebrate both local traditions as well as
traditions from the students' home countries.
“Our explorations look to our host country as well as
our home countries. We see ourselves as connected to
the global community and as a result we assume a sense
of responsibility to all we have a chance to impact
however small,” he adds.
At OBS, learning is shared with peers and across grades
and departments. We have set up buddy classes and
our Kindness Tree and Wall of Fame are two examples
of how we celebrate each other’s successes.
The 10 Best
Schools in
Switzerland
For 2020T R
16. The school has an active student council as well as
regular class council meetings. It believes that parents
play an important role in helping build the community,
whether they are supporting the learning or ensuring
there are plenty of social and community events
throughout the year.
Field trips and camps not only take learning outside the
classroom but also strengthen established friendships
and help develop new friendships. Through these
activities, OBS students have been known to overcome
their fears and discover hidden passions. Sports Day
and the Swiss Clean up Day are examples of whole
school events that encourage the feeling of belonging
to a community.
Obersee Bilingual School is passionate about offering
an authentic, relevant and world-focused curriculum
and supporting its students so that they feel confident
to express themselves in both German and English.
The school continuously challenges its methods and
strategies to ensure that its learning environment
cultivates imagination, critical thinking and a different
perspective, whilst allowing time for play/time to delve
into one’s own interests. Moreover, OBS believes that
taking time to discuss world news and the impact of
media support an engaging learning environment.
Finding learning activities that enable students to make
emotional connections and where mistakes are seen as
part of the learning process help ignite student minds.
Visitors (be it people from education, the business
world, the social sector or the entertainment sector)
help add to the authenticity of what OBS does.
Striving for Excellence and Preparing for Endless
Opportunities
OBS, a young, innovative school saw its first class
graduate last year. One of its students achieved the
best Matura result in the German speaking part of
Switzerland. Other Alumni have gone ahead to study at
the prestigious ETH in Zurich and UK and Canadian
Universities. Several of OBS' Alumni have received
scholarships and are pursuing their sporting talents
whilst continuing their studies, be it Latin dance (Swiss
champion), rowing, ice-hockey or golf.
Graduating from OBS gives one the opportunity to
study at Universities world-wide or to embark on an
apprenticeship which can lead to a job or further
studies. Students that attend OBS’s Primary and US will
be prepared for the careers of the future. T R
17.
18.
19. Check should be drawn in favor of
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20. COLLEGE
CHAMPITTETGuiding Students towards Zeniths of Excellence
We can all agree that education is vital for us
to prosper in this world. It is what molds us
in responsible individuals and forges a path
for us to our dream destinations. However, education
without proper guidance is detrimental. Without tutors
who are passionate about teaching, about the welfare of
their students. These people who desire to see their
pupils attain the zeniths of success, education that
society has wouldn’t have prevail.
Education without teachers is incomprehensible.
Without them, even the abundant resources and tools at
individual disposal are ineffective. The Chinese
proverb, ‘a load of books does not equal one good
teacher’ perfectly illustrates their existence and the
huge role they play in building our personal and
professional lives. Hence, we at the Knowledge Review
while seeking ‘Switzerland’s 10 Most Valuable Schools
for 2019’ have found institutions where teachers not
only teach their students to be prepared for their
professional journey but also nurture them with values
that developed them into responsible citizens of the
world.
One such institution that we are enthralled to unveil to
you is College Champittet, one of the esteemed
schools of Nord Anglia Education (NAE) family of
schools. College Champittet, with its highly
experienced and dedicated staff offers students
education based on values and a tradition of academic
excellence.
The school not only prepares the impactful leaders of
tomorrow, who are confident in their academic abilities
but also endows them with social skills such as a sense
of collaboration, empathy, constructive leadership, and
curiosity about the world.
How it all Began
College Champittet a private school in the vicinity of
Lausanne, was founded in 1903 by a group of
Dominican Fathers from France. Their stewardship of
the private school lasted nearly 50 years.
In 1960, College Champittet became a Swiss private
school welcoming over 600 students, including several
boarding students. Increased demand for places
encouraged the school to open another school building.
By the year 1984, the school opened its doors to girls
for the first time. A second school was then inaugurated
in Nyon in 2004, 20 km from Geneva. Now the school
has a capacity of enrolling 800 students.
Distinct Courses
At College Champittet Pully, the school offers its
secondary school students a choice of three diploma
programs for high school. These include: the Swiss
Maturite, the French Baccalaureate and the International
Baccalaureate (IB Diploma). Each of the diploma
programs is internationally renowned and recognized by
top universities around the world.
For the International students who are French
beginners, the school offers them an option to integrate
the FLE (French Foreign Language ) program into their
course of study. Also for IB students who may need
support in English can benefit from EAL support
(English as an Additional Language). Along with these,
College Champittet has embraced the learning of 21st-
century technology, providing primary and secondary
classes with iPads as part of a mobile classroom
initiative in partnership with the tech company Apple.
Being a part of a global network (NAE), the school’s
teachers benefit from the support of this network of
world-leading teaching professionals and education
experts. With them, its staff collaborate to ensure that
the highest levels of education are provided for the
children.
Extracurricular Activities
Above and beyond teaching, and in collaboration with
parents, College Champittet aims to contribute to the
18 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
22. holistic education of the young minds by
academic performance and physical and
artistic balance along with spiritual and
philosophical reflection. One such way
the school strives to achieve this desire is
by introducing extracurricular activities.
College Champittet offers an extensive
range of sports clubs mainly due to a
close connection with the Olympic
Games. It also shares many values with
the Olympic Movement and draws this
connection to raise awareness of
Olympism and its respective values
among its students.
Along with sports, the school conducts
cultural activities such as singing and
theatre, and language classes.
Furthermore, outings and trips provide an
excellent addition to the curriculum and
extra-curricular activities.
College Champittet also reaps the
benefits of being a part of the NAE
family. Its students have access to the
Global Campus, connecting them to
students around the world and giving
them the opportunity to take part in a
variety of exceptional experiences
whether in school, online or through
international expeditions and trips.
A Holistic Approach
The educational vision at College
Champittet is rooted in Christian values.
It aims to ensure that each student can
develop to the fullest in this spirit on a
human and a spiritual level.
The school has a Catholic Chaplain who
enables those students who wish to
deepen their faith and receive the
sacraments of Christian life in the context
of the college. The various activities
available related to this are the catechism,
mass preparation for the sacraments and
spiritual retreats. T R
College Champittet’s quality education is not only liked but also
embraced and admired by students and their parents. One such
testimony of Parents of Adriana and Marc is the perfect
exemplification.
“Now that our children are leaving the school, I would like to use this
opportunity to express our warmest appreciation to Champittet
andalltheteachers.
Adriana and Marc spent more than 7 years under the umbrella of
Champittet. I must say that these were years full of joy and
happiness for them. Champittet had offered them a lot: wonderful
facilities, dedicated staff, interesting extracurricular programs,
good course selection, and entertaining school tours. They met
wonderfulfriendsandwehopethatthesefriendshipswillcontinue.
We would like to thank the school and the teachers for all the
knowledge they passed to our children, for the attention and the
encouragement, and for the good care they gave them all these
years. Thanks to them our children became more confident, they
havegrownupemotionallyaswellasacademically.
Thanks again for your patience and understanding, and most of all,
yourabilitytolistentothemandvaluetheirthoughtsandfeelings.
We have always felt more than satisfied with the education our
children received at Champittet, but more than that we will remain
everthankfultotheteacherswhohelpedourchildrenbecomewell-
roundedyoungadults.”
Testimonials
20 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
The 10 Best
Schools in
Switzerland
For 2020T R
23. THE LEADING LIGHT
Since Spring 2015, the
school is being
successfully headed by
none other than College
Champittet alumnus,
Philip de Korodi, the
Managing Director.
He is conscious of both
academic exigences and
the market needs and is
giving a fresh start to the
school. Under his
leadership, the students
are able to reach the best
results at the exams, grow
up to be the best way as
individuals and obtain
confidence in their
capacity to improve the
world.
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 21
26. Many students choose to
study abroad but are unsure
which destinations are a
good choice for them. In this article,
we will look at how attractive it is to
international students. Quality of
education is the key factor for most
students. If you are planning to study
abroad, it is important to overview the
developments in education.
Breath-taking Alpine mountain ranges
surrounded by crystal-clear bodies of
water such as Lake Geneva. Switzer-
land Universities is home to the
world’s top 100 ranked universities.
Switzerland is home to one of Europe’s
most prestigious higher education
systems.
Swiss Universities are heavily
subsidized by the government, which
means tuition fees are lower when
compared to other nations. The
country’s world class universities
attract countless students looking for
quality higher education. The follow-
ing universities are all ranked in the
world’s top 100:
Situated in the heart of Europe, ETH
Zurich is the highest-ranked university
and is the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology. With some 25,000
students, it is the largest institution of
higher education in the country. It is
considered the best university in
Switzerland.
Incorporated in 1853 Ecole
Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
(EPFL) specializes in technology. It is
placed 17 in the world, with a
th
dynamic environment cantered on its
three missions of teaching, research,
and technology transfer. It works
together with an extensive network of
partners bringing real impact to
society.
With around 28,000 students, the
University of Zurich (UZH) is
Switzerland’s largest university. It has
seven faculties with 100 different
subject areas. It offers a wide variety of
Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.
programs. To date, 12 scholars of UZH
have been conferred with Nobel Prize.
To pursue the acquisition of fundamen-
tal knowledge through the research
University of Geneva supports the
related applied research. It is involved
in most cutting-edge sectors and been
active in multi-disciplinary and
interdisciplinary research for several
years.
With state-of-the-art technology,
laboratories the latest technologies, the
University of Lausanne brings together
a charter of values. Within the
institutes, it has more than 190
research units working every day on
research projects of national or
international scope. Founded in 1460,
the University of Basel has an
international reputation for outstanding
achievements in research and teaching.
It has seven faculties with a wide
spectrum of academic disciplines. The
University of Basel pays attention to
aspects of sustainability, equal
opportunity, and knowledge transfer.
The University of Bern creates the best
possible teaching, learning, and
research environment for students,
researchers, and teaching staff from
Switzerland and abroad. It attains
achievement in areas of research and
promotes knowledge and innovation
transfer.
There is no doubt that Switzerland
holds world-class universities attract-
ing students around the globe looking
for higher education. However, it is
also one of the most expensive
countries in Europe. With its strong
presence in the international ranking, it
offers a stronger and competitive
destination to pursue education.
- by Sourabh More
T R
24 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
29. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ZURICH NORTH (ISZN)
Nurturing Lifelong Learners
S
ituated in one of the world’s most livable cities, the
International School Zurich North (ISZN)
provides an exceptional education to children of the
international community by following the globally
renowned PYP, IGCSE and IA-Level Programs of study.
The school was founded two decades ago in 1999 and is
well established as a centre of international schooling in
Zurich. In summer 2019, ISZN joined the global school
network of Cognita and is now part of more than 70 schools
worldwide in the Cognita family.
Multiculturalism and Diversity at School
As an International School, ISZN fosters a global way of
thinking amongst students of all ages. It emphasizes values
such as open-mindedness, collaboration and reflectiveness.
The school roll consists of pupils from more than 20
different nations, with a similarly multinational staff body.
ISZN teaches in English and offers EAL lessons to those
that require further support, whilst all pupils also study
German from Grade 1 onwards and French from Grade 6.
ISZN embraces and celebrates diversity and aims to “equip
our students with a well-founded understanding of other
people, nations and cultures.”
A Highlight of Curriculum
It offers the IB PYP curriculum in Primary school for
students aged 3 to 11 years. The PYP is an international
program designed to foster the development of the whole
student encompassing social, physical emotional and
cultural needs as well as academic welfare. The school
offers its own tailored curriculum for grades 6-8 and the
Cambridge IGSCE and A-Levels from grade 9. Grades 11
and 12 follow the prestigious International Advanced Level
program of study which is internationally recognized as an
outstanding foundation for tertiary studies.
Highly Effective Leaders with Extensive
Experience
Jonathan Taylor is the Principal of the
International School Zurich North. He arrived in
Switzerland after five years as Head of Cognita’s
North Bridge House School in Canonbury,
London. Prior to taking up his post at North
Bridge House in 2014, Jonathan was the
inaugural Head of one of Dulwich College’s five
schools in China, and also has extensive
experience in the UK state sector. Jonathan is a
regular speaker at educational conferences and
media contributor on issues relating to
schooling and teenage behavior. He holds a BA
degree in Politics and History as well as a
Masters qualification in Educational Leadership.
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 27
30. Sandra Price is the Head of Secondary School at the
International School Zurich North. With nearly twenty
years’ experience as a high school teacher, she brings a
wealth of experience as both an educator and a leader. She
taught English Literature and History in both South Africa
and Hong Kong before moving to Switzerland. She believes
that learning should be celebrated and enjoyed, expectations
should be set high, and that students should be supported as
they strive to attain excellence in all aspects of their lives.
Rebecca Nolan is the Head of Primary School at the
International School Zurich North. She completed post-
graduate studies in Early Childhood Education and
Advanced Educational Practice. Before joining ISZN,
Rebecca worked at the prestigious Kings’ School in Dubai.
She has extensive knowledge in the field of child
development and curriculum adaptation.
Extracurricular Activities
ISZN believes in the holistic development of students and
creates future global citizens who are not only well
educated but also well-rounded.
Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs)
The CCAs consist of various after school clubs, sports and
other activities that are organised by staff members
throughout the year. They are planned to complement and
extend the students’ learning by giving them opportunities
to work with a variety of teachers, different social and age
groups and to do so in diverse settings. Some examples of
recently offered CCAs are Upcycling, Ballet, Calligraphy,
Choir, Braintastics, Musical or Drama.
School Trips
A field trip is one of the best tools that can be used to
provide hands-on learning to every student. The school
regularly go on field trips that promote student
independence and collaboration. It arranges various trips to
museums, zoos, exhibitions, cultural events, businesses,
parks, ski resorts, ice skating rinks, farms, medieval castles
or partner schools. International residential camps are
organised annually for secondary students. Recent
residential destinations include Malta, Barcelona, Berlin,
Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam and Verbier.
Morning Move
The school aims to educate children in interculturality,
using dance as a resource inside the classroom at all stages
of primary education. It has designed an intervention called
the Morning Move Programme. The Morning Move
Programme is a teaching proposition which encompasses
dance, customs, geography and languages, in which
children learn to live together and to get to know each other
through their bodies, generating personal well-being and
promoting their intercultural education. T R
28 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
The 10 Best
Schools in
Switzerland
For 2020T R
31. Words of Trust
“ISZN is a small school and that’s
what makes it so special. As I
switched school systems and
adjusted to the A level system, the
small class sizes helped me to
integrate more easily whilst also
maintaining strong relationships
with my teachers. Since it’s a
smaller school compared to other
international ones, teachers here
are much more flexible in terms of
helping each student out
individually and giving us the extra
support needed to pass the exams.
I really enjoyed my two years at
ISZN (it wasn’t all work, we still had
a lot of fun with Halloween dance,
Prom, etc) and I am thankful for the
opportunity to have attended
there!”
- Sarah Baader, Graduated in 2017.
“AS and A levels were very helpful
because I was able to skip an entire
year of Engineering school
because I had already studied the
material at ISZN. It was also
excellent preparation for
university.”
- Ishika Paul, Graduated in 2016.
Book your private tour now.
We are looking forward to
meeting you.
(0) 44 830 70 00
www.iszn.ch
info@iszn.ch
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 29
35. LEYSIN AMERICAN
SCHOOLRaising a New Generation of Global Citizens
In this ever-changing world, responsible
citizenship is more important than ever. This
world needs people who have an awareness that
expands beyond their own microsystem and can make
a difference not only in their community, but on a
global scale. We need individuals who raise their
voice when it comes to important social, economic,
and environmental issues.
To ensure a globally bright future, we need to mould
our next generation and instill within them values that
will allow them to be independent, curious, and
innovative leaders. Schools that consider it an honour
to play a role in developing such individuals are
crucial to this goal. Leysin American School (LAS)
is one such institution that embodies the above
attributes and has been helping to raise the next
generation of world leaders.
History Worth Remembering
LAS is a renowned school with an interesting story.
Seventy years ago, in 1949, Sigrid and Fred Ott
pursued their dream of starting a summer camp in
Switzerland, resulting in the creation of the
International Ranger Camps. The success of their
summer camps began to feed a desire to take on a new
challenge: opening an international boarding school.
Nearly a decade later, the Otts’ vision became reality.
LAS was founded in 1961, serving as a school where
kids from around the world could come together, gain
a global perspective, and receive a world-class
education.
Since its founding, LAS has grown to host 300
students in its state-of-the-art facilities, including its
Magic Mountain Athletic Centre, 2 libraries, 2
campuses, 5 dormitories, and more.
A New Generation of Leaders
LAS’s approach to education has always been guided
by its mission statement of “developing innovative,
compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world.”
These values were established back in 1949 upon the
founding of the International Ranger Camps, with the
intention of making the world a more open, friendly,
and tolerant place in the wake of the Second World
War.
LAS instills in its students a global perspective and
international understanding. One of their alumni said
it best: “Being part of a student body as diverse as
LAS’s definitely makes learning about the things you
don’t know a priority, rather than arguing with others
about why your worldview, inherently based on
incomplete information, is the correct one.” Living,
learning, and playing alongside peers from every
corner of the globe helps LAS students expand their
horizons, explore new cultures, and gain a more
complete view of global, social, and political
dynamics.
LAS believes in helping students follow the paths
curiosity leads them down. From projects to field trips
to cultural travel, their students understand that there
is always more to learn. Furthermore, the school
provides their students with the tools and resources
they need to investigate topics that pique their interest.
LAS’s location in the Alps has been advantageous. It
helps them communicate the value of
environmentalism to their students. Their young
scholars are always in touch with the mountains,
whether that is through skiing, hiking, gardening, or
recording environmental data. Many of the school’s
staff are long-time inhabitants of Leysin who have
been able to witness first-hand the effects of climate
change in the Alps. They stress the consequences of
these changes to their students, and in doing so they
raise a new generation of environmental caretakers.
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 33
36. The Driving Force
To fulfil the needs of these progressive
times, leaders who can think outside
the box are vital. These individuals are
driven to make a difference not for
recognition but for the advancement of
the educational sphere.
Sabina Schwedtmann-Lynch, Dean
of LAS, is one such inventive leader
who has brought a number of valuable
changes that played a key role in
LAS’s success. Most recently, Dean
Schwedtmann-Lynch has implemented
the LAS Continuum of Education. The
Continuum treats every aspect of
education, from grade 7 to 12, as part
of a continuous pathway contributing
to the development of students.
Additionally, she helped to introduce a
number of new programs including
®
LAS edge and ALPS (Accelerated
Learning Program in Switzerland).
Notable Programs
Much of LAS’s success is due to the
extensive array of programs they offer
that allow students to enhance and
personalize the education they receive.
The school offers the IB Programme,
®
ALPS, and LAS edge —a program
where students can pursue one of four
concentrations: innovation,
entrepreneurship, alpinism, or the arts.
®
The LAS edge curriculum has been
designed like a university degree,
allowing students to select and pursue
subjects that keenly interest them,
while still meeting all the standard
academic requirements for their grade
level.
ALPS, another innovative program by
LAS, offers students a blended
discipline that plays to their strengths
and needs. In the words of Dean
Schwedtmann-Lynch, ALPS is a
program that would let, “a student who
excels in mathematics or the sciences
[for example] . . . be placed in a class
well above their traditional grade
level, meaning that they can access
classes with more challenging content
to help drive forward their learning,
abilities, and natural talents.”
Alongside these, LAS immerses its
students in extracurricular activities.
They provide their young scholars with
over 40 different activities and teams to
choose from, with options to appeal to
every interest including student
council, theatre, climbing, dance,
horseback riding, soccer, choir, Model
United Nations, coding, environmental
club, and more.
Top Facilities for Top Students
LAS ceaselessly strives to improve,
expand, and develop their facilities,
and to equip their students with access
to the latest technology and resources.
Some of their latest projects have
included the opening of a new teaching
kitchen and the renovation of their gym
(the Magic Mountain Athletic Centre),
which is now complete with a climbing
wall, running track, fully-equipped
gym, dance room, classrooms, and
much more. Looking to the future,
LAS is planning to develop its
dormitories and Middle School
facilities.
Pushing the Boundaries of
Education
Switzerland is one of the world’s most
renowned locations for prestigious
boarding schools. By acting as a
leading force in the Swiss educational
landscape, LAS continually challenges
and learns from other boarding
schools. Ultimately this dialogue
allows LAS to push the boundaries of
education, discover strategies to
enhance their students’ learning, and
develop new means for their graduates
to reach further and climb higher. T R
34 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
The 10 Best
Schools in
Switzerland
For 2020T R
37. TESTIMONIALS
Here is what a few of LAS alumni
had to say about the value of the
education they received:
“Only looking back now do I truly
comprehend the significance of
what I witnessed and was a part
of at LAS. I never would have
been able to experience many of
these things at a school in the
United States.”
“LAS prepared me for a life of
working with diverse and
international people. The
acceptance I learned while in
Leysin is invaluable. It is also why
I’ve been back to work at LAS as
a summer teacher for the past 3
years. Leysin will always be home
to me.”
“The friendships I made at LAS
are now almost half a century old.
Many of us are still in touch, and
in some cases are in business
together. At a recent reunion, I
think we all realized once again
that we weren’t just friends, we
were family.”
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 35
38. INFLUENCE OF
TECHNOLOGY
ON EDUCATION
In this era of time and space compressions, social
connections are empowered by an explosion of
technological advancements that mandate reframing
our views of technology in the classroom. Technological
advancements enlightened and conquered. It broadened
possibilities and accelerated achievements. Major
technological innovations are evident in various aspects
of our lives. Today, voice-controlled assistants help in
setting clocks and adjusting home thermostats,
smartphone applications allow sharing images across the
globe in an instant, and artificial Intelligence guide
driving, predict purchasing habits, and provide real-time
traffic updates. Big data analytics is fundamentally
shaping our lives. Smart cities use information and
communication technologies to improve efficiency of
operations and services.
This same technology is altering teaching as we know it,
marking a paradigm shift and ushering a new era in
education. Educators are already implementing
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
(TPACK) in classrooms to achieve learning outcomes.
Integrating technology in teaching enrich learning
experience by supporting teachers and providing
st
students with 21 century skills.
While traditional teaching methods necessitate the
instructor to occupy center stage with little or no student
interaction, modern teaching methodologies call for
greater student engagement. Integrating technology into
our classrooms promote active learning, collaboration,
autonomy and life-long skills.
Active learning, a technique that engages students in the
learning process, promotes student classroom
participation and involvement. Technology made this
involvement conceivable. Simulation software such as
virtual reality and 3D models allow students to visually
observe the object of study, interact with processes,
components, and analyze the fundamentals of the
investigated object.
st
Developing intercultural competence is crucial in the 21
century. It is described as the active pursuit to understand
and accept others through interaction and
communication especially outside one’s own
environment. Through virtual communities, students
create products, communicate, and teach each other
anywhere around the world. This provides heightened
awareness, understanding and tolerance of diverse views.
Technology enables increased collaboration in the
classroom. Collaboration constitutes effective
communication among students resulting in problem
solving skills crucial in the professional world. Flipped
classrooms requires interactive learning and collective
36 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
39. Edu Talk
Nadia Awaida
Associate Professor
work. In flipped classrooms, the content is learned
outside the class, while classroom time is allocated for
students working together on assignments.
Technological pedagogy in the classroom aids in student
autonomy. Students independently progress in mastering
concepts. Customized curriculum accommodates
students’ learning styles and needs. Interactive books
and testing platforms adapt to students’ level and offer
personalized activities and assessments.
While education should continue to prepare students for
future careers, this generation grew up using tablets and
smart phones. Employing technology in the classroom
fosters digital literacy and digital citizenship skills such
as responsibility, time management, confidence and
kindness.
Academic institutions should facilitate the integration of
technology in the classroom to empower faculty and
teaching staff. It is important to offer pedagogical
workshops and training in technological pedagogical
knowledge. This knowledge focuses on ways to enhance
teaching and learning through technology. It includes
pedagogical feasibility of technological tools related to
specific discipline. Another approach is to introduce
learning management systems that allow faculty to
integrate e-learning into the curriculum.
Traditional teaching and learning methodology are
inevitably evolving with the influx of technology in our
classroom nowadays. Educators continue to develop
products that enhance students learning. Data generated
from apps and programs provide insight into student
progress and offer specific personalized
recommendations to enhance student performance. The
teacher becomes a guide and coach steering students
through the learning process while providing support at
the appropriate time.
Education today extends beyond bricks and mortar.
Technology offers exciting opportunity for life-long
learning, a keystone of a progressive society. It
empowers individuals to acquire new skills thus building
capacity and transforming knowledge into outcomes.
Educational institutions are regarding technology an
integral component of teaching and learning. Faculty are
encouraged to view this as a tool to customize
knowledge transfer and address various student needs.
This empowers students and facilitates their success.
Nadia Awaida is the Associate
Professor of education and
coordinator of the teaching diploma
programme. She earned her PhD in
Curriculum and Instruction from the
University of South Florida. Her
research focuses on intercultural
competence, diversity, and
classroom implications. She is
st
passionate about promoting 21
century skills in education and
considers intercultural awareness to
be a governing force in our global
time. She has over 12 years of
teaching experience in the United
States and tshe MENA region.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 37
40.
41.
42. Dr. Terri Howe is the Director
of Career Services and
Adjunct Professor at Texas
A&M University-Corpus Christi
and has been a practicing
Career Counselor for nearly
two decades. She has a
passion and interest in
researching career options
for marginalized or otherwise
career challenged populations
such as women, military
veterans and people
with disabilities.
About the Author
Why and how women can be the
face of tomorrow’s business leaders
ASTUTE THOUGHTS
40 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
43. he future face of business is a female one.
TAccording to United Nations Women, when more
women work, economies grow and an increase in a
country’s female labor force will equal faster economic
growth. Women have demonstrated the qualities of good
leadership in whatever work setting or industry in which
they found themselves long before acceptance as business
leaders. While the glass ceiling is still firmly in place in
many ways, there are gleaming examples of women who
possess these qualities and shine as models of how female
leaders will help shape the face of tomorrow’s business
world.
Business analysts have made many lists of qualities and
characteristics over the years, attempting to understand
what the profile of the future successful leader will look
like. Qualities such as having a vision, integrity, and being
collaborative have made these lists countless times and are
considered critical to the future success of business leaders.
In addition to these qualities, choice of leadership style,
transformational or transactional, is known to impact a
company’s performance and consequently should be
considered when trying to determine how the future of
business will appear.
It is a commonly held belief that vision is shaped from the
top of an organization and permeates the entire company,
depending on the strength of the leader’s belief in the
vision. Tomorrow’s leaders will need to drive the company
towards this vision and at the same time, be prepared to
alter the vision to keep pace with consumer demands.
Because women are historically good readers and quick
learners, they possess the ability to stay abreast of changes
that can alter a company’s trajectory and consequently the
vision. A great example of this is Chairman and CEO of
General Motors (GM) Mary Barra’s vision to transform
GM’s traditional offerings to keep pace with the future. In
2016, Barra took on electric car company, Tesla, by
launching the Chevrolet Bolt EV, with a battery that outlasts
Tesla cars. This was a risky, but calculated move that has
reshaped the vision of GM and set the tone for future
production.
In order to steer a company towards a vision, a tomorrow’s
great business leader must lead with integrity. This involves
being an ideal role model when others are watching and
doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Leading
with integrity will allow tomorrow’s leaders to avoid
pitfalls, such as the lack of transparency that have brought
large corporations down. Women leaders such as Stephanie
Buscemi, COO for the cloud tech company Salesforce, have
been “walking the walk” and leading by example in a male-
dominated industry. Knowing that her every move is being
watched, Buscemi intentionally seeks out challenging
opportunities in cloud computing to resolve so she can
exemplify integrity in action.
Along with vision and integrity, future leaders will drive
business successfully forward by incorporating
collaboration into the process. Working together to achieve
a common goal is a time-honored practice that women in
many industries have mastered to achieve exponentially
better results versus the attempt to “go it alone.” Women
like to share ideas and come up with solutions that are
effective and benefit everyone involved. Collective
organizations, such as SheWorx, encourage female
entrepreneurs to work together on the same goals and
propel their businesses forward, making much greater gains
than those who attempt sole enterprises and have no outside
support. Participants in these collective endeavors have
found success across the globe with co-founders Yin Li and
Lisa Wang setting up programs in New York, Los Angeles,
London, Singapore and Tel Aviv.
Besides these qualities, another factor that will continue to
shape the face of business is a leader’s style – whether it is
transactional or transformational. Transactional style of
leadership employs some sort of system of reward and
punishment or discipline. In this type of work environment,
employees are motivated to perform in order to attain a
reward (e.g. bonus pay or additional time off) or avoid
negative consequences (e.g. denying a time off request)
associated with not meeting one’s work goals. A leader
utilizing a transformational style motivates workers by
encouraging and inspiring employees. Transformational
leaders tend to model exceptional behavior and work to
help the employees understand and embrace the company’s
vision. Women leaders gravitate to the transformational
style because they tend to be relationship-oriented. Unlike
men, women are more likely to form strong interpersonal
connections with subordinates that encourage higher levels
of job performance.
While there are many factors that will come into play to
shape the face of tomorrow’s business leader, considering
these qualities and styles can provide perspective on how
future business leaders could look. And, adding the
additional layer of how women embody these qualities and
styles aids in bringing the picture into focus. There is no
doubt that women who tend to possess high integrity, create
and share vision in a collaborative, transformational way
will contribute to the furtherance of good business practice. T R
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 41
45. THE BRITISH SCHOOL
Developing a Strong Foundation for Life
S
witzerland, one of the pristine countries in the world
has always been adored for its beauty. It’s
breathtaking alpine mountain ranges and serene lakes
have mesmerized tourists from all over the globe. The
nation’s surreal landscape also provides an environment
that plays a vital role in comprehensive nourishment of
young learners.
The country’s quality of education has been renowned for
years. It attracts expats who seek a world-class education
for their children. Schools across Switzerland have been
known for the development of holistic education. However,
we are of the opinion that very few can match the
distinctive hallmark set by The British School of Bern.
The British School is known for its conducive ambiance
where each of its pupils feels at home.
Built with Trust
A stone’s throw away from Bern, the capital of Switzerland,
The British School is nestled in the small picturesque
village of Rüfenacht. It is located in a community-owned
building, and as a result, has a strong link with the local
community.
The community building is quaint and charming, with large
bright classrooms best suited for the teaching environment.
Students have consistent access to laptops/iPads within the
classrooms and these are used as a tool for learning through
integration across the curriculum. It also has separate
playgrounds for its lower school and upper school as part of
the students’ physical development.
Guiding the Young Ones
The British School Bern is recognized as a Primary school,
offering exemplary education for Preschool (age 3) through
Year 6 (age 11) to children of all nationalities. It follows the
British curriculum with an acute awareness of the
international culture of its school.
Alongside the British curriculum, the school maintains a
teacher-student ratio that ensures a high degree of
personalized attention. Its teachers are qualified and hold
university degrees and certificates from prestigious
institutions. The School’s teachers use continuous
assessment which is imperative in monitoring each child’s
progress. These faculties encourage pupils to be friendly,
honest, responsible and caring. They also foster them to take
pride in themselves, their classmates, their parents, and their
teachers.
The British School also puts a great emphasis on its
teachers’ learning. It believes its staff should be aware of the
scenarios happening in the educational sphere. Hence, the
school encourages them to attend ECIS conferences, SGIS
meetings, workshops, in-service training courses, videos,
and educational publications. With these, the Head Teacher
and staff keep themselves updated with educational methods
and materials.
Instilling Virtues
Across age groups, cultures and languages, The British
School dedicates itself to educate the mind, body and well-
being of each child. The school also emphasizes self-worth
and respect and encourages each of its pupils to appreciate
themselves and others.
The school stresses the acceptance of differences and insists
on cooperation and compassion for others. Its core-values:
Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, Empathy, and Listening
and Communicating guide its students through daily school
life.
Striving to Remain the ‘Same’
The school aims to optimizes its wealth of resources to
provide the highest quality of education while maintaining
small classes and provide students with the individual
attention. In this way, it can continue to nurture and support
its students in all their endeavors.
The school will continue to offer a high-quality program to
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 43
46. The Accomplished Trinity
The British School was founded in 1988 in
a small apartment. At that time, it was
established to educate expats living in
the Bern area. The school grew
progressively and eventually moved to
Gümligen to a small villa.
In 2017, the school relocated to
Rüfenacht and was handed to three
experienced teachers who admire and
support the philosophy of a multicultural
school. These individuals are, Mrs. Aisha
Osman, Mrs. Michelle Flieler and Mrs.
Sybil Erdmann who serve the British
School with their utmost passion and
sincerity. Since gaining ownership, the
school has continued to flourish and also
nurtures the minds of students coming
from over 25 nationalities.
students of all nationalities. It strives to develop a strong
foundation for all of its pupils which will guide them not
just through school but throughout their life journey.
How Parents Love the School
“The British School, Bern is very unique in that it values
social skills, respect for others and empathy alongside
academic achievement. Our children have benefited from
what we feel is a ‘real’education; that is they have become
rounded children which is rare in this age of testing and
league tables. Thank you so much for all your hard work.”
“My daughter has made an amazing amount of progress
while at The British School and I attribute much of her
success to you and the wonderful teachers at your school.
Thank you for the extra time and energy you have given to
her, for your kindness and patience, for seeing and guiding
her in her entirety and not defining her based on academic
success. She couldn’t be better prepared to make her way in
the Swiss school system and I will always be grateful to you
for that.”
44 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
The 10 Best
Schools in
Switzerland
For 2020T R
47. “Words cannot express how grateful we are to The British
School. We have had a wonderful experience here. We have
no regrets in choosing The British School. This has been the
perfect place for our daughter to grow and to learn. You have
a unique place that is truly special. Thank you for taking my
daughter in and giving her a place where she felt loved.”
“We would like to say thank you to you and your staff for the
wonderful education you have given our children. The British
School of Bern is very unique in that it values social skills,
respect for others and empathy alongside academic
achievement. We feel our children have benefited from what
we feel is a ‘real’ education; that is they have become
rounded children which is rare in this age of testing and
league tables. Thank you so much for all your hard work.”
To learn more about the school, visit: http://britishschool.ch/ T R
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 45
48.
49.
50. ASTUTE MIND
Dr. Brian Hufing
Assistant Professor of
Philosophy & Theology
Southern Evangelical
Seminary
48 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
51. tudying reality is important. Studying ultimate reality
Sis ultimately important. Many philosophers and
theologians argue that God exists as the cause for
everything else that exists. The issue of God’s existence and
nature falls under the philosophy of religion, as do the
issues of evil, miracles, and religious experience. These
areas require years of study in metaphysics (what is real),
epistemology (what is knowledge), and the history of
philosophy. To be qualified to hold the title ‘Philosopher of
Religion’, or any such title, one must pay his/her academic
dues, such as getting a masters and doctoral degree. This
certainly does not mean that one cannot study the field of
philosophy of religion unless he/she is in a formal academic
program. What it does mean, is that to be considered an
authority, one must possess a certain level of peer-reviewed
training.
Once upon a time, the research required to attain such
credentials had to be done through laborious hours in a
library utilizing databases, looking through books on
shelves, and acquiring sources through the mail. While
much of this is still is required, the Internet has drastically
changed the way research is performed. It has allowed
philosophers of religion around the world to collaborate
faster and with greater ease, use centralized databases, and
experience lightning fast communication. It has also
THE
StudyOF THE
PHILOSOPHYOF
ReligionIN THE
AgeOF THE
INTERNET
OCTOBER 2020 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | 49
52. provided the ability to acquire sources from anywhere in the world at the touch of a button. In addition,
philosophers of religion have been able to post papers (Academia.edu) and articles online, subscribe to
journals online, and keep abreast of the latest scholarship via search engines or databases. Such databases are
invaluable for dissertation research, such as ProQuest. Other sites allow for general research for students and
teachers. One such site is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP, plato.stanford.edu). There are well
over 1000 articles written by accomplished and well-known philosophers, which are peer reviewed for the
site. The SEP boasts of many ways that it is distinct from traditional journals. For example, unlike traditional
journals, the SEP can continually update articles as the authors see fit. Also, they can write on a more
comprehensive list of topics that are not covered in traditional journals. The SEP allows for digital cross-
referencing between articles. Further, the SEP can have a broader audience than academic journals, as the
latter tend to focus on specialists in the field of study. Many of the articles in the SEP are in the area of
philosophy of religion, or relate to it. Such a digital database of topics is a great resource for students and
teachers.
Many philosophers of religion have their own websites, blogs, etc., such as Richard Howe
(richardghowe.com), William Lane Craig (reasonablefaith.com) and Edward Feser (edwardfeser.com). This
is a great way to allow students and the public to access their papers, thoughts, and to some extent the ability
to converse. Such sites, as well as sites like YouTube, allow for these philosophers to host debates, lectures,
and interviews so that students and interested persons can avail themselves of such a treasury of information
and knowledge.
With the advent and popularity of the Internet, however, there have been some negative consequences as
well. As most people know, anyone can create a website, blog, or whatever online. Professors and students
alike know of the convenience and potential dangerous effects of sites like Wikipedia.com. Because of such
sites, schools in general have imposed a rule that no more than about 10% of students’ resources can come
from the Internet. (Oftentimes this does not limit the use of sites such as the SEP, online access to academic
journals, or eBooks.) The reason for such limits is because educators do not want students pulling from just
any website. Many online have no formal training in the area in which they write or discuss. This is the case
with printed and published books as well; however, the ability to be able to write online is much easier than
having to go through a publisher. Just buy a domain name, and one can be in business. While sites can be
good for specialists to help promote and study research, as well as teach the general public or students, the
uninitiated can also make sites with no peer evaluation or formal training—much to the detriment of the
field, and to the chagrin of legitimate philosophers of religion.
Possibly the Internet’s most profound effect for philosophers of religion is online education. No longer does
one have to move to get certain degrees (especially BA and MA degrees). Now, one can study the philosophy
of religion from home. The merits (convenience) and demerits (alleged lowering of educational quality) of
such education are debated almost endlessly. What is not debated is that the Internet has changed and is
changing education in drastic ways.
For those interested in studying the most profound questions and issues of ultimate reality, the philosophy of
religion is an intriguing and fascinating area to devote one’s time and efforts. The Internet has made it much
easier to explore the issues. It has also tended to blur the lines between scholarship and ignorance. If you are
reading this and are interested in the philosophy of religion, be thankful for the advent of the Internet. But
also beware. Choose sites and schools wisely, and enjoy one of the most important and rewarding fields of
study. T R
50 | THE KNOWLEDGE REVIEW | OCTOBER 2020
