Escuela Nueva (Spanish for "new school") is an education model that emphasizes understanding over memorization and development of interpersonal skills.
[3] For example, the learning guide might explain vaccines, then "instruct a child to go home and check that her baby sister has had all her shots, or go with her father to inspect the water cistern to see that it's covered to keep out insects.
David L. Kirp, the author of several books about education, reported that "the student council meticulously planned a day set aside to promote peace; operated a radio station; and turned an empty classroom into a quiet space for reading and recharging.
Escuela Nueva teachers typically must operate in a way quite different from what they experienced as children, providing support for self-learners rather than being the source of all information.
[3] As Kirp noted in his story, "Escuela Nueva is almost unknown in the United States," where the focus is more often on introducing technology into schools.