7pi3 Educational Method

7pi3 Method is an innovative educational approach to teaching invented by Yiannis Laouris and his team at Future Worlds Center. It has been developed for introducing IT and technology in an inspiring, humanistic and educationally efficient manner in its core, but it can be applied to all educational settings. The basic concept is an expansion of the The KnowledgePacket™ invented and applied by CYBER KIDS in 1991. The need for the development of such new approach was first presented in a 2014 conference on learning innovations in Kenya, while the first presentation of the fully develped method was done in Moscow in 2016 .

The Method serves the following purposes:

1. As guideline how to shape a single Lesson Plan to render it multi-dimensional.
2. As a formula for developing Learning Objects.
3. As

A Multi-dimensional Approach

7pi3, reads “seven π cubic” revolutionizes the concept of education in many ways.The constant π, considered by many a letter of the creator’s (or God’s) alphabet is encountered everywhere in the universe. The creators of 7pi3 ground their invention in years of research that aimed to identify those minimum key elements that characterize a system of future education that is humane, evolutionary, and resilient. For practical reasons, these have been classified across three axes, but one can also work using less or more dimensions. The central system is defined across three:

1. Roles that a learner should engage in;

1. The basic Skills that should be acquired; and
2. The Values that should be embraced.

The 7pi3 Method can be used as a formula, template or standard to guide the drafting of a single lesson plan or of an entire curriculum.

Roles

#	Role(s)	Description
1	Learner Student	The standard, conventional role. Learner is a receiver. Learner is evaluated by teacher and peers.
2	Teacher Instructor Mentor Supporter Facilitator	Learner teaches a curriculum module to at least one more student. Verifies his/her own learning; process also serves to monitor oneŐs progress because ability to teach is evaluated by the (receiving) peer(s). Every learner is expected to mentor at least one other learner for a defined (preferably longer than shorter) period. The mentorship can take different formats
3	Visionary Designer Author Producer	Curriculum modules consist of sample projects, which leave ample space for creativity. Learners are encouraged to innovate, envision and define their own project(s) and go through the process of designing a prototype before they actually implement it. The code/design/product/project is always published (most probably in the web or cloud). Learners are also involved in the development of new lesson plans. Advanced examples: Build the robot; 3D print the design; construct the product; burn the code in chips or printed circuits.
4	Project Manager Leader	Every kid should be given opportunity to lead a team and manage at least a small task or project. Assigning roles and tasks to others. Establishing milestones. Monitoring progress.
5	Promoter Spokesman	In todayŐs world, citizens need to be vocal and engage in public speaking, develop their arguments and promote their ideas and projects. Kids use video to record their presentations, promotions, teachings, etc. They maintain their own channel(s).
6	Evaluator Critic	Both individually, as well as in groups, learners are expected to evaluate their own and each otherŐs works through a critical eye. In the ICT world, the relevant process is called Ňdebugging,Ó and learners are invited to debug real applications.
7	Meta-observer Meta-thinker	Reflect and talk about oneŐs learning. Studies have shown that learners who ŇreflectÓ on their own learning, achieve higher levels of retention and create more connections between knowledge bits.

Skills

#	Skill(s)	Description
1	Curiosity Creativity Imagination	Curiosity is a prerequisite for creativity, imagination and ultimately the acquisition of knowledge. Best way to stimulate these skills is by asking questions, offering feedback and encouraging googling (nobody knows everything).
2	Enthusiasm Initiative Entrepreneurialism	Learning should be as pleasant as play; learners should be enthusiastic and inspired.
3	Problem Solving	A cognitive but also practical process in the sense that the learner should attempt to recognize, identify and define the challenge, and then discover, or invent means and tools to solve it. 7pi3 adds one more step in the theory of problem solving, i.e., to actually deliver (publish) the result.
4	Coding Digital literacy Communication	These include information-, Ęmedia-, and ICT literacy. Past European Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, positioned coding as a top skill for future citizens.
5	Team work Collaboration	Must learn to collaborate toward the team goals in an informal, and tension-free environment. Effective collaboration and cooperation requires new methodologies and technologies designed specifically to harness the collective intelligence and collective wisdom of groups. Review and evaluate other team membersŐ achievements as well as accept feedback from others. Invite them to be open to trying new approaches by suggesting them.
6	Design Production Publication	In every single learning module, all steps should be included, i.e., always complement theoretical knowledge not just with a project but with a real world product, designed and published (or otherwise made available to others)
7	Real-world relevance Social Responsibility	Projects in class should never be out of the worldŐs context. Always relevant and useful. Ideally, requested by ŇclientsÓ from the outside world. In addition, every project/product proposed should have some social angle; at least the opportunity to discuss it.

Values

#	Values(s)	Description
1	Hard Work Honesty	Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. In todayŐs world, where, many students want to cheat in their studies, learners must be taught that dishonesty and cheating are wrong, and will get them nowhere in the future.
2	Team-work Collaboration Cooperation Harnessing Collective wisdom	United we stand; divided we fall!" To achieve a common goalit is necessary for many people to work together. Learn how to listen and be sensitive to the feelings of other group members and whenever necessary resolve conflicts. Make them proud of the teamŐs work by encouraging them to present collective projects in exhibitions
3	Empathy Respect for Others Compassion	Promoting empathy in early years has been recognized as root factor towards preparing responsible citizens, , . In our highly competitive societies, people tread on others to get ahead in life. Respect for others should include respecting different religions, races, sexes, ideas, and lifestyles. Cultivating compassion, i.e., being sensitive to the needs of others, makes kids aware of the root causes of global poverty, hunger, wars, and unhappiness and
3	Democratic values	Every project should offer opportunities to talk about freedom, responsibility, justice, respect, leadership, tolerance, inclusion and diversity. For example, explore the meanings, discuss and reflect on values dilemmas, apply these values to other situations and contexts and maybe even reflect on these values in relation to their own lives.
4	Respect for nature SDGs relevance Sustainable development	Responsible young citizens should know and live with the SDGs and their creative energy, values and projects directed towards contributing to solutions.
5	Respecting the anthropocene	Future citizens must think about the anthropocene in all their endeavours; projects must always be creative and practical responding to the pressures for making earth less polluted and live sustainable.
6	Unconditional Love and Kindness	Unconditional love is not the same as Ňif you love someone, he or she will love you back in return.Ó Children who experience the feeling of unconditional love, become stronger, more balanced, kind and loving towards their fellows and the world. This is not an easy goal for any curriculum, but the system of interactions between learners and their mentors focuses on cultivating such values.
7	Forgiveness	Learning moral values should be built into all curricula. There are provisions in evaluating learners achievements, which are based on how well they practice moral values while implementing their personal development goals and their projects.

The Need

The creators of the method have previously (1991) developed CYBER KIDS who have envisioned that introducing advanced computer technology in the lives of a critical number of young children using an educationally relevant and socially responsible, peace-enhancing curriculum would allow them to promote creativity, innovation, imagination, and problem solving abilities, would help them “transcend” the country’s educational and political life and move the new generation a decade ahead. In the 10 years of its operations, the CYBER KIDS reached more than 20,000 children in Cyprus and beyond. However, today, almost 30 years later, Cyprus ranks bottom 5 in the EU in every ICT-, digital literacy related score,. This new need encouraged the new initiative.

History

The 7pi3 Educational Method is an innovative educational approach developed by Yiannis Laouris as a follow-up of the CYBER KIDS Method. It was presented publicly for the first time in 2016 at the GEF Forum Moscow 2016 in Moskow, Russia (29 Feb - 1 Mar, 2016).

Citations

7pi3_Logo_Animated.gif