Each school year at Olympia begins not only with new plans, but also with an overarching educational direction designed to create learning experiences that respond to the needs and development of each student. In the 2024–2025 school year, for example, the theme “Mission for a Green Planet” focused on raising students’ awareness of climate change through environmental protection projects. This was followed by the 2025–2026 theme, “STEM Explorers: Building a Green Future,” which encouraged students to become “explorers,” develop scientific thinking, and connect knowledge with real life through STEM projects rooted in everyday contexts. 

Building on these directions, in the 2026–2027 school year, Olympia is taking an approach that focuses more closely on the learners themselves: “Autonomous Knowledge - Personalized Journeys.” This is not simply a theme running throughout the school year, but an educational direction built around two important questions: How can students learn how to learn and become increasingly active in their own learning? How can each student understand themselves and develop along a path that is right for them? 

AUTONOMOUS KNOWLEDGE: WHEN STUDENTS GRADUALLY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING 

In a world where knowledge is constantly changing and technology can provide information within seconds, the most important thing a school can give students is no longer simply a body of existing knowledge, but the capacity for lifelong learning. How students learn, how they think, and how they actively explore knowledge have become some of the central questions in modern education. 

Therefore, “Autonomous Knowledge” at Olympia does not mean that students have to study alone or take full responsibility for every aspect of their learning. Rather, it is a gradual process in which students move from “receiving knowledge” to “knowing how to learn,” and from waiting to be guided to actively seeking out and constructing knowledge. As part of this process, Olympia places particular emphasis on developing students’ abilities to explore independently, ask questions, choose appropriate approaches, practice, and evaluate their own learning process. 

When students know what they need to learn, why they need to learn it, and how they should approach their learning, they are better equipped to continue learning even when faced with unfamiliar problems. To develop this capacity, students need opportunities to ask questions, experiment, make mistakes, adjust their approaches, and reflect on their own learning process. As a result, the role of teachers is also expanding: they do not simply deliver knowledge, but also guide learning methods, build effective habits, and foster the motivation students need to become increasingly active learners. 

PERSONALIZED JOURNEY: EACH STUDENT HAS THEIR OWN PATH TO GROWTH 

If “Autonomous Knowledge” is about how students take ownership of their learning, then “Personalized Journey” asks what path each student will take as they develop. 

Every student has their own strengths and passions. Some are strong in science, while others are passionate about the arts. Some enjoy being on stage, while others are happiest working quietly in a laboratory. Some quickly grasp new knowledge, while others need more time to observe, practice, and develop a deeper understanding. These differences are not something that needs to be eliminated in order to bring all students into the same mold. Instead, they are characteristics that need to be recognized so that each student has opportunities to build on their strengths and continue developing the abilities they need. 

At the same time, every student develops at their own pace. Some move quickly, while others take more time. What matters is not who reaches the finish line first, but whether each person is able to move along a path that is right for them. 

Personalization does not mean that every student follows a completely separate curriculum or makes every decision independently. It is a process in which the school and teachers observe and understand differences among learners, while creating appropriate choices, approaches, and levels of support. 

Within Olympia’s professional direction, Personalized Learning and Differentiated Instruction are identified as important approaches for responding to differences in students’ abilities, interests, pace, and ways of receiving knowledge. Throughout this journey, teachers remain important companions: inspiring students, coaching their thinking, and designing learning experiences that give each learner opportunities to develop in ways that are most appropriate for them. 

HOW DOES OLYMPIA IMPLEMENT THE “AUTONOMOUS KNOWLEDGE – PERSONALIZED JOURNEY” DIRECTION? 

To prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, Olympia dedicated time during the summer to developing teachers’ professional expertise in line with the spirit of the school-year theme. Through two summer training sessions, teachers were guided to shift their role from primarily delivering knowledge to guiding learning methods, coaching thinking, and designing learning journeys for students. 

The first training session took place in June 2026 under the theme “Guiding Students in Effective Learning Methods.” During this session, teachers explored effective learning methods that are widely applied around the world, including retrieval practice, spaced learning, interleaving, deep questioning, and the development of metacognitive skills. Through discussions, exchanges, and practical activities, teachers gained new perspectives on how to design learning experiences, thereby supporting students in learning more deeply, retaining knowledge more effectively, and developing their ability to learn independently in a sustainable way. 

In the following training session, held in July 2026, the teaching team explored Personalized Learning and Differentiated Instruction in greater depth. Teachers examined the differences between these approaches and explored the scientific foundations of how students learn and what motivates them to learn. They also discussed how to adjust content, processes, products, and learning environments to better meet the needs of different groups of students. 

Building on this professional preparation, Olympia teachers have brought the spirit of “Autonomous Knowledge – Personalized Journey” into the teaching and learning process. From August 2026, students have been introduced to independent learning methods, guided in establishing learning habits, and encouraged to develop greater initiative. This preparation has helped SOers enter the new school year with a stronger learning foundation and a growing ability to take ownership of their learning. At the same time, throughout the learning process, teachers will observe and analyze each student’s strengths and areas for development in order to provide appropriate support for each individual. 

This direction is not only reflected in classroom learning, but is also extended through academic challenges and experiential activities throughout the 2026–2027 school year. These activities are designed to give SOers more opportunities to explore independently, apply knowledge, make choices, solve problems, and reflect on their own learning process, gradually developing the skills needed to become active learners. 

EACH STUDENT IS A JOURNEY OF THEIR OWN 

Olympia does not aim to create students who are the same in their learning styles, interests, or paths to success. Instead, the school seeks to create an environment where every student can understand themselves, know how to learn, develop their strengths, and move forward along a path that is right for them. 

With the theme “Autonomous Knowledge – Personalized Journey,” the 2026–2027 school year does not only ask “What will students learn?”, but also raises broader questions: “How will they learn? How well do they understand themselves? And how actively can they take part in shaping their own journey?” Each Olympia student is encouraged to enter the new school year with the mindset of an active learner: ready to ask questions, willing to take on challenges, prepared to adjust, and continually curious about themselves. 

Because Olympia does not seek to create copies of success. Olympia seeks to help every student become the best version of themselves – in their own way, at their own pace, and on their own journey.