Redefining Learning: A Guide to Functional Education & Exercise
- Jun 14, 2024
- 28 min read
Updated: Aug 15
Introduction
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, traditional methods often fall short in preparing students for real-world challenges. Enter functional education—a dynamic approach that emphasizes practical skills, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world applications. This guide explores how SeTs ry is redefining learning through functional education, providing a comprehensive overview of their innovative programs and services.
What is Functional Education & Exercise? What do you know already? Take this short quiz before you read the article. Then check the answers at the end of this article and also compare to post-reading knowledge.
Short-Answer Quiz
According to the text, what is the primary focus of functional education, and how does it differ from traditional education?
What does SeTs Ryu aim to achieve through its cross-functional courses and training programmes?
How does online learning, as offered by SETS, enhance flexibility and convenience for students?
Explain how Parkour can be effectively taught online and how it promotes environmental awareness.
How does self-defence training contribute to an individual's overall well-being, according to the sources?
What is the significance of 'closed-chain' movements in functional training?
What are the key components of functional education, as outlined in the text?
How does SeTs Ryu integrate sports, street arts, and education into their hybrid programmes?
According to Chris Spencer, what is a common misconception about martial arts perpetuated by media depictions?
What is the main emphasis of SeTs' approach to well-being, and how do they achieve it through their programs?
Article Summary
Here's a detailed briefing document synthesizing the provided sources, focusing on key themes, ideas, and facts:
Briefing Document: Analysis of SETS Education and Training Services
Introduction
This briefing document analyzes several sources to provide a comprehensive overview of SETS (Specialist Education and Training Services), an organisation focused on functional education and exercise. The sources highlight SETS’ approach, which aims to bridge gaps between knowledge systems, people, and cultures using a hybrid, experiential, and borderless approach to learning, encompassing physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Key Themes and Concepts
1. Functional Education & Exercise:
Definition: SETS emphasizes functional education as learning focused on practical skills applicable to real-life situations, contrasting with traditional methods that prioritise rote memorization. This includes functional physical education, which involves integrated movements used in activities or skills, rather than isolating specific muscles in exercise.
“Functional education is an educational approach focused on equipping students with the practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in real-life situations."
“Functional Physical Education involves much more than simply lifting a weight in a certain way. It must be a useful movement that is at least a part of an activity or skill to be performed.”
Integration: SETS argues that fitness and academic learning should be integrated into daily life. The more separated from real-world applications it is, the less functional it becomes. They aim to integrate the fitness exercise and skill as much as possible.
"The more the academic study or fitness and strength exercise is separated and abstracted from the activities and our daily lives, the less functional it becomes..."
Holistic Wellbeing: Functional education and exercise contribute to both mental and physical health by encouraging mobility, strength, creativity, problem-solving, agility, memory and more. SETS aims for "sound in body, sound in mind," focusing on the holistic wellbeing of students.
“Functional Education & Exercise is for people who want to improve those things they do AND thereby their mental focus, mobility, strength, creativity, problem solving, agility, explosiveness, memory, and more.”
"at sets our motto sound in body sound in mind guides everything we do we focus on functional exercise and education enriched by a wealth of fun and games for all ages to provide holistic well-being for both mind and body"
Borderless and Experiential Learning:
Borderless: SETS operates on the principle that learning should not be confined to a specific discipline, course, timeframe or social group.
"Students' learning is not limited to a specific discipline, course, Time-frame or social group."
Experiential: Learning is facilitated through hands-on experiences and real-world applications, leading to a blended learning approach.
“Students learn through both theory and hands-on experiences and real-world applications, to create a programme of Context-based Learning.”
"our programs are designed to be experiential and borderless by combining education Sports skills and fitness exercises in a way that makes learning borderless whether online on-site or hybrid in nature"
Collaborative Learning: SETS promotes collaborative learning and collaborative competition as key elements of the training process, especially for potentially dangerous techniques.
"Teaching and training methodology is based on Collaborative Learning and Collaborative Competition, without which practice of many of the more dangerous techniques and skills would not be possible, especially under realistic conditions."
Hybrid and Dynamic Education:
Integrated Approach: SETS combines education, sports skills, and fitness exercises in hybrid programs to enhance engagement and develop a broad range of skills.
“By combining sports, arts, and education, SeTs ry creates hybrid programs that offer numerous benefits: Enhanced engagement, improved physical health, and development of a wide range of skills.”
Bridge Gaps: SETS aims to bridge the gaps between knowledge systems, industries, and cultures through their cross-functional approach to education, combining academic learning with practical skill development.
"The ability to utilise and apply our skills to support and enhance our performance in other disciplines within a cross-functional environment is at the heart of SeTs approach to Functional Exercise and Education."
"we are functionality Specialists with a passion for redefining learning to break down the silos and Bridge the gaps between knowledge systems arts and cultures"
Modes of Delivery: SETS delivers its programs through online, on-site and hybrid models for maximum accessibility.
"our programs are designed to be experiential and borderless by combining education Sports skills and fitness exercises in a way that makes learning borderless whether online on-site or hybrid in nature"
Areas of Expertise:
Sports: Racquet and ball sports (squash, football).
“SETS programs cover a range of areas including: • Racquet & ball sports like squash and football.”
Street Arts: Parkour and Breakdancing, incorporating self-defense elements.
"• Street arts like parkour."
“SeTs Budolop (Parkour + self-defence) programme was developed by combining self-defense, Parkour and elements of Break.-dancing”
Self-Defence: Focused on practical techniques, risk awareness, and conflict management. It is presented as not just about competition, but community and personal growth.
"• Self-defence."
“Self-defence is a valuable skill that enhances personal safety and boosts confidence. Online courses offer a safe and accessible way to learn techniques that can empower individuals to navigate challenging situations."
Security: Security supervision and management.
"• Security supervision and management."
Fitness: Functional fitness and strength training.
"• Functional fitness and strength training."
Online Learning:
Accessibility & Flexibility: Online courses provide convenience and flexibility, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace, regardless of location or time constraints.
“Online education services, such as those offered by SETS, are convenient and flexible, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace and schedule, regardless of their location or time constraints.”
Interactive and Engaging: The use of LMS (Learning Management Systems) and other platforms aim to offer a dynamic experience, breaking traditional educational barriers.
"These platforms often provide interactive interfaces and engaging content, creating a dynamic learning experience that transcends traditional educational barriers."
Emphasis on Personal Development:
Confidence & Empowerment: Training programs, particularly in self-defense and parkour, are designed to boost confidence and empower individuals.
“Self-defence is a valuable skill that enhances personal safety and boosts confidence.”
“Online education is positioned as a journey of self-discovery and skill enhancement. It offers individuals the chance to explore new interests and develop new abilities, contributing to personal development, building confidence and a sense of empowerment."
Continuous Learning: SETS aims to encourage a journey of continuous learning and personal growth.
"The key message is to encourage individuals to embrace the opportunities offered by online education services and embark on a journey of continuous learning and personal growth."
Specific Examples and Insights
Parkour-Jitsu Program: This program combines parkour, self-defense, and elements of breakdancing, inspired by action movies, to develop body control and mobility.
"Parkour-Jitsu' , in which spectacular martial arts kicks and stunts are combined with Parkour in a manner inspired by the legendary 'Jacky Chan' and his movies."
Self-Defense Principles: In a presentation by a SETS instructor (Chris Spencer), the focus isn’t on fighting techniques but rather principles applicable to life in general. He aims to show how basic self-defense techniques can be used to de-escalate conflict and promote clear thinking.
“the principles and security that we learn at base level they can teach you about life in general at every level in every area if you understand them you can apply them”
Real-World Application: The instructor explains how skills such as CPR training translate directly into the priority setting in self-defence, highlighting how these skills can be used to help others.
"some of the first things I teach kids first name CPR Emergency Services how do they operate if you're a first responder to an accident scene what's your first house what are your priorities if you understand what those are about you will also start to find that there is a direct corollary with true self-defense martial arts"
Football Example: SETS has used self-defence techniques with young football players to improve their ability to cope with physical aggression from opponents, illustrating the cross-functional application of the skills they teach.
"these training programmes included suitable skills elements from self-defence training to improve their confidence and ability to cope with bigger and/or physically aggressive opponents, and the usual cheating techniques."
Emphasis on Thinking: The instructor emphasises the need to "think about" the techniques being shown rather than just absorbing the mechanics. Questions are posed to the students, asking them to consider the principals behind the movements and the intention behind the action.
"I am going to pose you a few questions I'm not expecting artists what I'm asking you to do is just to think about it whilst we do the demos"
Challenges and Future Directions
Resistance to Change: SETS acknowledges the resistance to adopting new, functional methods of education, versus traditional rote-learning.
"Addressing issues like resource constraints and resistance to change are a major problem in such a fast changing modern world."
Technological Integration: SETS leverages technology, including online platforms, mobile apps and AI tools, to expand the reach of its educational services.
"Apart from our website. we currently have two learning and coaching systems in use, one for sports and fitness coaching, and another for more academic learning and study purposes."
Collaboration: SETS actively collaborates with other organisations to enhance its offerings and foster a wider community.
"Working with Other Associations : Partnerships that bring diverse expertise and resources include SDI ry and FUSE ry, both Street Dance schools and associations with whom SeTs collaborates."
Continuous Innovation: SETS is committed to developing new programmes and exploring new connections between disciplines.
"We are constantly developing new programmes as we realise new connections between disciplines and industries."
Conclusion
SETS is presented as a forward-thinking organisation that challenges traditional education methods with its innovative approach to functional education and exercise. By integrating physical activity, practical skills, and mental well-being, SETS aims to empower individuals and contribute to a healthier, more informed society. The emphasis on borderless and experiential learning, combined with hybrid delivery methods, positions SETS as a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their life skills and overall well-being.
Podcast: Overview Discussion Chat
Understanding Functional Education & Exercise
Functional education is an educational approach focused on equipping students with the practical skills and knowledge needed to thrive in real-life situations. Unlike traditional education, which often prioritizes rote memorization and standardized testing, functional education emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Likewise, Functional Physical Education involves much more than simply lifting a weight in a certain way. It must be a useful movement that is at least a part of an activity or skill to be performed. Isolating the muscle or movement in a limited exercise can be good for efficiently targeting a specific muscle, but does little to support the objectives of functional training, let alone the excessive extra time required to train all the necessary muscles before the combined operation is even attempted. Hypertrophy (gained through load & volume, muscle damage & metabolic stress) and Strength gained through the load and development of the neural network system are not the same thing, even though many exercises will develop both to some degree or other and they are often indistinguishable at the Basic Strength level.
The fitness exercise and the skill need to be integrated as much as possible. The more the academic study or fitness and strength exercise is separated and abstracted from the activities and our daily lives, the less functional it becomes, and the more it becomes a sport or eclectic/isolated activity in its own right. The skills and movements involved in our daily life activities and sports can and should form the basis of most of our fitness and strength exercises. This also allows us to link them to prior knowledge, skills and fitness achievements, which makes for more effective learning and directly facilitates 'Accelerated Learning' in its true sense.
Functional Education & Exercise is for people who want to improve those things they do AND thereby their mental focus, mobility, strength, creativity, problem solving, agility, explosiveness, memory, and more. Some form of exercise or training needs to be a part of our daily lives. To be truly functional, it must both support and integrate with our daily lives and activities. Functional Activity must be integrated into the activity, movement or skill exercise of your sport or other activity to save time in order to meet time constraints & kinetic chain conditioning requirements. Hundreds of muscles need once-twice per week to avoid losing strength. To use an anecdote from the medical profession, the Base pulse is exercises for activities in everyday life, whilst the Upper pulse is activity integrated exercises that lift our fitness and training effort to a higher level. This means activities such as sports or other demanding activities and arts. For this reason, some authors refer to this as 'Super-Functional' training.
English language and dictionary definitions of the word 'functional' notwithstanding, Functional Strength and Fitness is defined here as that which supports general work effort, to which we can add skill, speed, mobility and agility. This is why closed chain exercises that move load through space using a kinetic chain from feet to hands or vice-versa are generally preferred. These 'Closed-Chain' movements promote joint stabilization and have the potential to recruit more muscles and their associated joints. Further, closed-chain movements are transferable to many daily movements that involve more than one joint, which may lead to better neuromuscular coordination and overall joint health. Functional fitness means that the force that can be applied is limited by the weakest link in the chain. If that link breaks, the whole chain breaks and the work cannot be done.
Functional Training should be planned and performed around functional kinetic chains of which there are 5 primary kinetic chains, all of which are closed chains. The strength and fitness of both our mind and body needs to be cross-functional, which means focusing on compound and combination exercises along with dynamic power, balance and stability based exercises that develop the mechanoreceptor sensory system and correct powerlines (force vectors) that are essential foundations for robust and athletic physical development rather than just raw strength and body- building or, sculpting. The mind and body are just two aspects of the same whole, so 'as it is below, so it is above'.
Components of Functional Education
At the heart of functional education are several key components:
Experiential Learning: Students learn through both theory and hands-on experiences and real-world applications, to create a programme of Context-based Learning.
Borderless Learning: Students' learning is not limited to a specific discipline, course, Time-frame or social group. Learning is facilitated in variety ways and levels/layers to create 'Blended Learning' & training programmes without frontiers and promote cooperation, coordination and collaboration between current students, former students, organizations and social groups.
Interdisciplinary Approach: Courses integrate multiple disciplines, encouraging a holistic understanding of subjects. Within any particular discipline this approach is replicated at the Cross-Functional and Cross-Modular levels.
Real-world Applications: Learning is directly connected to real-life contexts, making education more relevant and engaging. This should and does include previous life and work experiences.
Personalized Learning Paths: Education can be tailored to individual students' needs, interests, and goals. There is always a recommended default learning path, but whilst it is logical when starting from scratch, most students bring a variety of prior-knowledge and skills with them that can affect which path works best for them and allow them to contribute best to the social learning community in different ways.
SeTs ry: Pioneering Functional Education
SeTs ry is at the forefront of functional education, driven by a mission to 'create, connect and cultivate' with hybrid and dynamic education programs. Their core values include innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to experiential and borderless learning. To this end, we have been developing our own Guide to Functional Education and Exercise based on pedagogical concepts and models that are constantly evolving with our own learning.
Development Services for Education and Business
SeTs ry offers a range of education development services designed to enhance learning experiences:
Workshop Facilitation: Engaging workshops that foster interactive learning and, for education and business development purposes by facilitating more effective and efficient processes for development project and management meetings. The latter workshop facilitation role is really just a substrate of teaching combined with project management and business knowledge.
Vocational Teaching and Courses: Practical courses aimed at developing active knowledge and task/job-specific skills as part of the learning process.
Course and Curriculum Planning: Customized content, course and curriculum planning to meet diverse educational needs.
Quality Assurance and Proofreading: Ensuring high standards in educational materials and courses.
Fitness & Strength Programmes
Understanding the connection between physical and mental skills and well-being, SeTs ry provides various fitness and strength programs:
Personal Trainer Services: Tailored fitness programs to meet individual goals.
Online Training Programs: Flexible online fitness courses accessible anytime, anywhere.
Street Arts and Sports Coaching
SeTs ry's innovative approach includes integrating fitness, street arts and sports into education.
Custom Coaching Services: Specialized coaching, onsite and online, for classes, sports clubs and associations:
Parkour Training: Courses and training that promote mobility, agility, and creative movement. We even occasionally engage in some basic Tricking (Urban/Free -Running) for a little extra SAFE fun.
Self-defense Classes: Teaching practical self-defense techniques for safety and confidence. We have been practising and teaching martial arts since before 1987.
Street Dance Classes: Break dance and Hip Hop in general provided in collaboration with SDI ry & F.U.S.E. ry associations.
Sports Coaching: We also have considerable competition level experience in Football and racketball (Squash, Tennis & Badminton), along with substantial coaching experience to develop those skills, teamwork and functional fitness as part of a hybrid training programme.
Hybrid and Dynamic Education Programs
By combining sports, arts, and education, SeTs ry creates hybrid programs that offer numerous benefits:
Benefits of Hybrid Programs: Enhanced engagement, improved physical health, and development of a wide range of skills. For example, the Assault Awareness & Risk Management (AARM) course involves academic learning and practical skills. The more academic study is conducted on our chosen LMS and the practical training and workouts using our PT coaching system. The course can also be taught in more short form onsite in a classroom and/or gym. This allows us to bridge the gaps not only between knowledge silos and industries, but also the fractures within them at different levels of operation. The ability to utilise and apply our skills to support and enhance our performance in other disciplines within a cross-functional environment is at the heart of SeTs approach to Functional Exercise and Education.
Case Studies and Success Stories: Real-life examples of students thriving in hybrid education programs.
SeTs Parkour students (including school afternoon groups for the local city council) have benefited greatly from the contributions of our self-defense expertise to enhance their ability to fall safely, develop a better understanding of balance, postural structure and Bio-Energy Training (Chi Kung) such as breathing techniques. Risk and fear management are also common themes between the two disciplines and skills development games combining the two make workouts much more fun, especially for younger kids. The addition of some basic Break-dancing moves has further enhanced their mobility and opened the doors to greater creativity in their movement. Many top Parkour athletes these days do also practise at least elements of break-dancing.
SeTs Budolop (Parkour + self-defence) programme was developed by combining self-defense, Parkour and elements of Break.-dancing for younger kids to develop body control and mobility in a programme focused Release, Escape & Evasion. The primary focus of this programme is on Parkour and mobility and has been taught for several years as a class for another local sports association. For older kids/youth the programme is scaled up to 'Parkour-Jitsu', in which spectacular martial arts kicks and stunts are combined with Parkour in a manner inspired by the legendary 'Jacky Chan' and his movies.
Lii-Kan Jitsu Club self-defence classes have for many years benefited from the integration of both Parkour and Break-dancing mobility skills. They were indeed the incubator for much of the expertise and programmes SeTs teaches today. Teaching and training methodology is based on Collaborative Learning and Collaborative Competition, without which practice of many of the more dangerous techniques and skills would not be possible, especially under realistic conditions. Another design principle is that of Shaping the techniques to make them safer to practice when under pressure. Pressure Training is special characteristic of Jiu Jitsu systems for developing a much higher level of skill. Parkour was introduced to develop better flow and mobility, and help develop the students risk and fear management capabilities, from which the confidence needed to apply their skills in real life is enhanced. All of the top students are also highly accomplished Parkour and Break-dancers.
SeTs has been coaching 4 (under 14 and under 13) teams at a local football club, where hybrid fitness workouts were created and practised during the winter training season to improve the players mobility and agility, whist making the exercises less of a chore, and more fun and challenging. Along with Parkour and elements of break-dancing, these training programmes included suitable skills elements from self-defence training to improve their confidence and ability to cope with bigger and/or physically aggressive opponents, and the usual cheating techniques. Football after all is, to greater or lesser extent, a physical contact game that involves tackling and barging each other off the ball, even when done fairly.
A few world cups ago, there was a pivotal moment when watching Japan play. The Japanese right weinger running for the ball was being obstructed. He cooly looked around for the referee and linesman, then did a little jink, and the defender crashed to the ground allowing the Japanese winger to run off with the ball. To my recollection there was no foul given. Commentators drew attention to the incident, but no one had a clue what had actually happened. Having trained Japanese Jiu Jitsu for very many years already, I did understand what had happened. Clearly the player also had some martial knowledge and had used it to disrupt the defenders balance so that he fell over by himself. This realization made me laugh out loud and started me thinking more seriously about the sports and martial application overlaps. As a result, today, we are able to teach a comprehensive programme on both ball control and man management skills for footballers.
Dynamic Physical Education Lessons for schools using elements of all of these arts also proved highly popular at local schools. Having first performed a demo at the Suomi 100 celebrations, we were invited back to teach the entire lower school during the autumn term. Following the success of the series of classes, we were then invited back again in the spring term to teach the entire upper school.
Racket Ball Sports have provided many hand-eye coordination, racquet wielding and touch sensitivity skills that are highly useful in the martial arts for weapons training and general purposes. It is very hard to develop this level of skill in a purely martial arts context, which is why so many arts over the eons have adopted other skills development games such as gymnastics and a kind of 'Shaolin Soccer'. In our case, the practise of Tennis, Table Tennis, Squash and Badminton are all highly encouraged, especially in the students younger years. These foundation skills have had a significant impact on the development of Lii-Kan Jitsu as a martial art and personal protection system.
Collaborations and Partnerships
SeTs ry collaborates with various associations to enhance their offerings:
Working with Other Associations: Partnerships that bring diverse expertise and resources include SDI ry and FUSE ry, both Street Dance schools and associations with whom SeTs collaborates.
Hosting and Event Planning: Organizing and managing educational events and festivals. SDI ry, FUSE ry and KEG Oy all organise various film and dance events, which we expect to diversify into our other activities in the future. SeTs staff have expertise in a number of academic and profession fields from Vocational/Adult & Higher-Education to Security & Risk Management, Project Management and beyond. As Subject Matter Experts (SME's), we often play a leading role in hosting several of the film festivals, and have even on occasion been called on to do special presentations, such as at the Norway Action Film Festival - NAFF video >>
Project Management for Festivals and Events: Overseeing the planning and execution of large-scale events. The SeTs team also have substantial experience in project management, which has been utilised in our collaborative projects. For example, we are actively involved in the NAFF, HEFFI and EDDI Festivals.
Technological Integration in Learning
SeTs ry leverages technology to make learning more accessible and engaging:
Online Learning Platforms: Providing flexible and interactive online education. Apart from our website. we currently have two learning and coaching systems in use, one for sports and fitness coaching, and another for more academic learning and study purposes. Many courses of study use both of these to support both academic learning and practical skills development.
Mobile and Web App Development: Creating an APP that supports education and the Independent Film Industry is one of our collaborative projects with KEG Oy, in which our project management experience and education expertise are put to good use. The FilmVIA APP is primarily aimed at the Independent Film Industry, Film Makers and education institutions but, has a much broader potential application. The project is currently at the MVP stage and gaining traction whilst we search for investors. If you are a potential investor and would like to know more about this project, Get in Touch! ;-)
Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement: Using technology to reach a broader audience and keep learners engaged. Teaching onsite only to local residents is clearly rather limiting. International seminars and workshops are the next step in expanding the students and learning potential beyond the national and cultural borders. However, online learning, or, Web-based Training (WbT) trumps this by a million miles. The most powerful drivers of modern learning seem to be distance, convenience and visual learning. Learning online at your own convenience supported by online materials and study tools, workout applications, videos, podcasts, live video tutorials and webinars is certainly a practical alternative for most people that would otherwise not be able to access the training and education programmes.
Content Creation Tools: Rapid Authoring and other content creation tools are essential for enabling both SeTs and the students to have fun and be creative in the learning process and programmes. Many tools became available for free or cheaply with the advent of WEB 2.0 and 3.0 developments. The latest mind bending developments as most people already know, are the AI tools that are now spawning like frogs eggs everywhere. It is almost impossible to keep up with it all and it is causing headaches on how to manage it for many people, especially educators and security professionals. The Eu has just enacted new rules for its creation and usage. We can only hope they are more effective than the GDPR and other such digital services regulations. The best most of us can do is keep track of general developments and create a selective stack of useful tools. One such tool is the generative creation of videos and talking avatars from text scripts and still pictures. They are not yet all the that the hype cracks them up to be, with huge problems with anything but the face and talking head videos, but it is still pretty mind blowing. Here is one such experiment with AI videos generated from this blog article and still images, without any extra script editing work, i.e. a first draft. The narration script seems passable, but the Parkour activity scene is somewhat amusing - see if you can spot it. The irony is, in the real world, it is the glitches that make up real-life, and often the best, most memorable and educational parts.
Words to the wise:
'Aim for perfection, but never expect it!'
We hope you enjoy it, warts and all.
The Role of Trainers and Educators
Effective functional education requires skilled educators:
Training and Development of Educators: Programs to train and upskill educators are extremely important in what should be a 'Learning Organization'. Education Businesses and Institutes should by definition be experts in learning and operating as a Learning Organization. Sadly, this is simply not the case in a great many traditional education institutions. Educators, like the students are usually just left to their own devices in order to learn and prosper, and by the same token goes the organization as a whole.
Importance of Continuous Professional Development: Encouraging lifelong learning for educators as well as customers and the general public. We cannot all just dump all our previous learning and skills and suddenly become an AI expert or rocket scientist, but more subtle and gradual shifts of focus area are certainly possible without any major upheavals. As Jeff Besson once said, 'the best way to develop innovation and create a company and then get rich, is to first be unemployed.' This is the only realistic way to have time for a complete change of scenery, unless you can get a lot of collaborative support.
Building a Supportive Learning Environment: Creating environments where students feel supported and motivated. Distance learning can certainly be a bit of a lonely task if not properly supported by an online community. Chat lines, discussion forums, webinars and study groups all have a role to play in this. However, they do need to be moderated and wherever possible supported by live onsite workshops, seminars or other organic meet-ups.
Experiential & Borderless Learning by Design
SeTs ry's approach to learning transcends traditional boundaries:
Concept and Implementation: Designing learning experiences that are immersive, active and interactive.
Experiential Learning Activities: Activities that engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning that is Active, Augmented and Accelerated. The brain is one part of our whole, not a separate entity, so as it is below, so it is above. What works for practical skills and fitness training, should also be true for academic study and learning. The principles are the same, and so by and large is the process. As the old Chinese proverb says ""I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." (Confucius, As cited by Chat GPT). A probably more accurate version adopted by SeTs is, 'I see and I recognise, I hear and I remember, I do and I understand.' This is based on both Education theory and the study of Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP).
Impact on Student Engagement and Retention: Increased engagement and better retention of knowledge through experiential learning. Doing practical things where you can see and touch the fruits of your labour will always be one of the most effective and satisfying ways of learning, or even working for a living. Recent studies on children working on the land to grow plants have even shown a significant increase in the strength of their immune systems (Tv Euronews report, June 2024). Some Polytechnics have adopted this approach in the form of 'Learning by Doing' (LbD), though the results can be quite inconsistent depending on the subject and the quality of its implementation.
Sound in Body, Sound in Mind
SeTs ry emphasizes the connection between physical and mental skills and health:
The Connection Between Physical and Mental Health: Understanding how physical fitness contributes to mental well-being, and vice-versa. As the saying goes, 'Sound in Body, Sound in Mind.'
Integrating Fitness into Educational Curricula: Incorporating physical activity into daily learning can greatly help the learning process. It involves blended whole mind (and body) learning that is stimulating, promoting the connections, attentiveness and motivation so critical to effective learning. It also greatly reduces the need for chemical stimulates and other substance abuse in order to stay awake and concentrate. Having said that, we still recommend a cup of Green Tea (not coffee!!!) occasionally, but not too near bed time.
Challenges and Solutions in Functional Education
Implementing functional education comes with challenges:
Common Challenges Faced: Addressing issues like resource constraints and resistance to change are a major problem in such a fast changing modern world. Whilst our civilizations have grown and survived based on their ability to change and adapt, individual human nature is a bit resistant and slow to change. The ability to improvise and make do with what we have got here and now is an equally important requirement. All this requires creativity and innovativeness.
Strategies to Overcome Challenges: Innovative solutions and best practices for overcoming obstacles no longer come from isolating ourselves in a Silo of specialization. Those days are gone! In the 21st century we need to move beyond the borders through effective communication, collaboration, CAD thinking, project and process management skills. This is why it is the SeTs mission to break down the silo's of knowledge, industry and culture and build bridges between them.
Future Directions and Innovations: Exploring the future of functional education and potential innovations. We are constantly developing new programmes as we realise new connections between disciplines and industries. The labelling and depth of focus might change, but the principles and processes are almost always the same between disciplines. Why reinvent the wheel!? We create a much more stable and comprehensive foundation for learning and growth by working in more cross-functional and inter-disciplinary Mind SeTs.
Conclusion
Functional education is reshaping the way we think about learning, making it more practical, engaging, and relevant. SeTs ry is at the forefront of this transformation, offering innovative programs that combine sports, arts, and education. As we move forward, embracing functional education can equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
FAQs
What is functional education? Functional education focuses on practical skills and real-world applications, emphasizing experiential learning over traditional rote memorization.
How does SeTs ry incorporate fitness into education? SeTs ry integrates fitness through personal training services, online programs, and custom coaching, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
What are the benefits of hybrid education programs? Hybrid programs enhance engagement, improve physical health, and develop a broad range of skills by combining sports, arts, and education.
How does SeTs ry support educators? SeTs ry offers training and development programs for educators, emphasizing continuous professional growth and a supportive learning environment.
What challenges does functional education face? Common challenges include resource constraints and resistance to change, but innovative solutions and best practices can help overcome these obstacles.
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Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Key Terms
Functional Education: An educational approach that focuses on equipping students with practical skills and knowledge needed for real-life situations, emphasizing experiential learning.
SETS (Specialist Education and Training Services): An education business focused on delivering cross-functional courses and training programs to bridge gaps between knowledge systems and cultures.
Sets Ryu: The name used to distinguish the SETS education business from other organizations with similar names; 'Ryu' is a Japanese term meaning 'school'.
Hybrid Education: An educational approach that combines traditional on-site teaching methods with online, flexible methods.
Experiential Learning: Learning through hands-on experiences and real-world applications, as opposed to rote memorization or theory alone.
Borderless Learning: Learning that is not confined to a specific discipline, location, or time frame, promoting cooperation and collaboration.
Closed-Chain Movements: Exercises in which the hand or foot is fixed and the body moves, promoting joint stabilization and muscle recruitment.
Collaborative Learning: An educational approach where students work together to solve problems or learn concepts.
Collaborative Competition: A form of learning that combines working together in groups with the idea of healthy competition.
Parkour: A discipline involving movement through and over obstacles, promoting mobility, agility, and environmental awareness.
LMS (Learning Management System): A software platform that supports the delivery and management of online courses and learning content.
Functional Fitness: Exercises and movements designed to support and integrate with daily life activities, involving multiple muscle groups and joints.
Kinetic Chain: A concept relating to the coordinated movements of muscles and joints in the human body.
Pressure Training: A method of practice where skills are honed under stressful conditions to build resilience.
Super-Functional Training: Another term for functional training used by some authors to distinguish advanced preparedness for any conceivable need rather than just every-day life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is functional education and how does it differ from traditional education?
Functional education focuses on equipping individuals with practical skills and knowledge applicable to real-life situations, emphasising experiential learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Unlike traditional education, which often prioritises rote memorisation and standardised testing, functional education aims to make learning relevant and engaging by directly connecting it to real-world contexts. It also promotes interdisciplinary approaches, cross functional and cross modular understanding and application and personalized learning paths, and embraces blended and borderless learning, incorporating prior life experiences. In short, it integrates fitness and practical application into academic study.
What is 'SeTs Ryu' and what does the term 'Ryu' mean in this context?
The term "SeTs Ryu" is used to distinguish the education business, SETS (Specialist Education and Training Services), from other organisations with similar names. The word 'Ryu' is used here to convey the sense of 'school' as it is a Japanese word that means 'school'. SETS focuses on providing functional education and exercise through hybrid programs, incorporating elements of sports, street arts, and fitness into the learning experience to bridge gaps between different areas of knowledge, skills, people and cultures.
How does SETS approach self-defence training, and is it just about physical fighting?
SETS' self-defence training goes beyond physical techniques, focusing on a comprehensive approach that includes risk awareness, conflict management, and situation coping skills. It’s not about competition but about empowering individuals with mental resilience and collaborative learning for personal growth and community building. Online courses offer a safe and accessible way to learn these skills, enhancing personal safety and confidence. The goal is to promote personal development, build confidence, and enable people to safely navigate challenging situations.
What is Parkour, and how can it be taught effectively online?
Parkour is a street art discipline that promotes mobility, agility, and creative movement through overcoming obstacles. Online platforms can break down complex Parkour movements into manageable steps, offering demonstrations and guidance. This allows learners to progress at their own pace, focusing on technique and safety, whilst gaining the necessary theoretical knowledge to effectively pursue Parkour in a real-world setting and understanding risk and fear management, which are integral parts of this learning process.
What is the concept of "sound in body, sound in mind" and how does it apply to SETS' programs?
SETS operates under the motto "sound in body, sound in mind," guiding their focus on functional exercise and education, which is enriched by fun and games for all ages to provide holistic well-being for both mind and body. They believe that physical fitness contributes significantly to mental well-being and vice-versa, with mental focus, mobility, strength, creativity, problem-solving, agility, explosiveness, and memory being improved through functional exercise and education. SETS aims to integrate fitness into daily life and learning, creating stimulating environments that promote engagement and motivation.
What are some of the key components of SETS' hybrid and dynamic education programs?
SETS' hybrid education programs combine sports, arts, and education, creating a dynamic learning environment. They emphasize experiential learning through hands-on experiences, borderless learning that is not limited to a specific discipline or time-frame, and an interdisciplinary approach, which integrates multiple subjects. Their approach is also inclusive of previous life experience with personalised learning paths based on individual student needs, and it is always connected to real-life contexts. The integration of academic study with practical skills and fitness workouts enables students to apply what they have learned more effectively, bridging the gaps between knowledge silos and different levels of operation.
How does SETS incorporate different sports and arts into their education programs and what specific benefits are gained?
SETS integrates various sports such as racket ball sports, football, and street arts like Parkour, self-defence, and street dance into their educational programs, recognising their value in developing both physical and mental skills. These sports improve coordination, agility, and physical fitness, while also enhancing creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. These also provide a basis for creating cross functional fitness and strength workouts based around what is required to execute sports and everyday activities. Such skills, along with risk and fear management developed through Parkour, enhances their self-defence skills. Similarly, these movement skills help to enhance their abilities in the more physically confrontational sports. For example, this combination results in a more comprehensive approach to personal development.
What are some of the challenges of implementing functional education and how does SETS aim to address these?
One of the key challenges in implementing functional education is overcoming resistance to change and traditional education models, along with the resource constraints of implementing such innovative programs. SETS addresses these issues by championing innovative solutions, embracing collaboration, and using technology to reach a broader audience. They continuously develop new programs and actively promote discussion through forums to bridge gaps in knowledge between industry and cultural silos. Their approach encourages critical thinking, collaboration and adaptability, essential for tackling challenges in a fast-paced world. They are constantly evolving based on their own learning, and building upon collaborative and inter-disciplinary approaches.
Quiz Answers
Answer Key
Functional education prioritizes practical skills, real-world applications, and experiential learning, whereas traditional education often focuses on rote memorization and standardized testing.
SeTs Ryu aims to break down the silos and bridge the gaps between knowledge systems, people, and cultures through cross-functional courses and training programmes that focus on functional education and exercise.
Online learning provides flexibility by allowing individuals to learn at their own pace and schedule, regardless of their location or time constraints.
Parkour can be taught online through tutorials and virtual classes that break down complex movements, providing demonstrations and guidance; it also promotes environmental awareness through risk and fear management.
Self-defence training enhances personal safety, boosts confidence, and provides practical skills and mental resilience, including risk awareness and conflict management.
'Closed-chain' movements promote joint stabilization, recruit more muscles, and are more transferable to daily movements, leading to better neuromuscular coordination and overall joint health.
The key components of functional education are experiential learning, borderless learning, an interdisciplinary approach, real-world applications, and personalised learning paths.
SeTs Ryu combines sports, street arts, and education in hybrid programmes to enhance engagement, improve physical health, and develop a broad range of skills that bridge the gaps between knowledge silos.
According to Chris Spencer, media depictions often portray martial arts as combat sports or cultural antiques, whereas, true martial arts are multifaceted and cover many areas of life.
SeTs emphasises "sound in body, sound in mind," achieved by focusing on functional exercise and education enriched with fun and games, which provide holistic well-being for both the mind and body.
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Essay Questions
Discuss the advantages and challenges of integrating online learning with practical, hands-on training in disciplines such as Parkour and self-defence. Use examples from the provided texts.
Analyse the concept of "functional education" as presented in the texts. What are its core principles, and how can these principles be applied to transform traditional learning environments?
Explore the role of collaborative learning and collaborative competition in developing practical skills and promoting personal growth, as mentioned in the context of self-defence training.
Assess the effectiveness of the "sound in body, sound in mind" motto as a guide for SeTs's holistic approach to education and training. Use evidence from the texts to support your claims.
Examine how SeTs Ryu uses innovative approaches, such as integrating street arts and sports, to redefine learning. How do these approaches connect with the idea of a borderless, experiential education?
SeTs Ryu: The Functional Education & Exercise specialists
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