S1. C08. The Classroom Reimagined – The "What, Why, How" of Learning
Series 1: Mindset First - Redefining Education to Empower the Next Generation
Introduction: Rethinking the Classroom
Education has always grouped students by age, assuming they learn and develop at the same pace. But what if this long-standing model is holding back their full potential? What if, instead of focusing on age, we structured classrooms based on how students naturally approach learning—whether they are driven by “What,” “Why,” or “How”?
This chapter challenges the status quo, inviting schools and educators to envision a new paradigm: a classroom that aligns with the natural tendencies of each learner. This isn’t just theoretical—it’s actionable, measurable, and transformative. By understanding and nurturing these tendencies, we can create personalized learning paths that engage students deeply and prepare them for the complexities of the modern world.
The Golden Circle of Learning
Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle—“Why, How, What”—is a powerful framework often used in business. But its application in education reveals profound insights into how students learn:
What learners focus on facts and knowledge. They thrive in structured environments and enjoy acquiring concrete information.
Why learners are motivated by purpose and seek to understand the bigger picture. They ask, “Why does this matter?” and excel in exploratory discussions.
How learners are hands-on problem solvers who prefer applying knowledge through methods and real-world scenarios.
Traditional classrooms cater predominantly to “What” learners, leaving “Why” and “How” learners disengaged or underchallenged. By recognizing these tendencies, we can reimagine the classroom as a space that equally supports all types of learners.
What If Classrooms Were Based on “What, Why, How” Instead of Age?
Imagine a school where students are grouped not by age but by how they learn best.
What Classrooms: Focus on building foundational knowledge through lectures, structured activities, and experiments.
Why Classrooms: Encourage debates, open-ended projects, and explorations of purpose, connecting ideas to real-world impact.
How Classrooms: Provide hands-on activities, problem-solving challenges, and collaborative tasks to apply knowledge.
For example, instead of a math class where all students follow the same curriculum, students could approach math in ways that match their tendencies:
A What learner focuses on formulas and calculation methods.
A Why learner explores the history of mathematical concepts and their relevance in society.
A How learner works on real-world problems like budgeting or designing a blueprint.
By personalizing classrooms in this way, we foster engagement, curiosity, and creativity in students, helping them learn not just better, but in ways that resonate deeply with them.
Differentiating Questions and Non-Questions
Questions are the foundation of personalized learning. Recognizing how students frame their questions—or fail to frame them—offers invaluable insights into their learning tendencies:
What Learners ask: “What are the steps?” or “What does this mean?”
Why Learners ask: “Why do we study this?” or “Why does this work like that?”
How Learners ask: “How can I use this to the fullest?” or “How does this apply to my project?”
However, educators must also identify non-questions, which may indicate a lack of clarity or confidence:
“I don’t understand” or “This doesn’t make sense” are non-questions.
Reframing them into actionable questions helps students engage better: “What steps should I take to understand this?”
“Why me?!!
”- is a non question, it's searching for validation
“"Can you help me with this?””- this is a request rather than a question
By guiding students to ask the right questions, we nurture their learning styles and help them unlock their full potential.
HOW MANY QUESTIONS DO YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS ASK EVERY SCHOOL DAY?
Personalized Learning Paths Through Mindset-Driven Reports
The key to implementing this model lies in tracking and understanding students’ natural tendencies. With mindset-driven reports, schools can:
Identify whether a student is a “What,” “Why,” or “How” learner.
Document patterns in questions, problem-solving approaches, and engagement levels across subjects.
Provide actionable insights to tailor teaching methods for each learner.
For example, consider two students struggling with a group project:
Student A (a “Why” learner) resists participation because they don’t see (yet) the purpose of the project.
Student B (a “How” learner) struggles with collaboration because they are focused on completing tasks their way.
A mindset-driven report would highlight these tendencies, allowing the teacher to address them specifically—by explaining the project’s significance to Student A and encouraging structured collaboration for Student B.
This approach doesn’t just track progress; it creates opportunities for adaptive teaching and deeper student engagement.
Calling Schools to Experiment
It’s time for schools to experiment with this transformative approach. Start small:
Group students by learning tendencies for specific subjects or projects.
Track their engagement and outcomes using mindset-driven reports.
Use data to refine classroom strategies and scale the model.
And remember, this innovation doesn’t require heavy resources or complex technology. It starts with common sense, guided by subtle yet impactful tools that align teaching with how students naturally learn.
Conclusion: A Classroom for Every Learner
The world is moving toward personalization in every domain—education should be no different. By embracing the “What, Why, How” framework and integrating mindset-driven reports, we can transform classrooms into spaces that honor individuality, foster creativity, and nurture the full potential of every learner.
Call to Action:
Ready to revolutionize your classrooms? Book a call with us to explore how mindset-driven reports can help you identify and track your students’ natural learning tendencies, and take the first step toward creating personalized, student-centered classrooms.
Power Cards: by Completing This Chapter, you have gained:
Personalization: You begin to see the power of tailoring education to each student’s natural learning style—whether they are more “What,” “Why,” or “How” learners.
Leadership: Your role as a leader becomes clearer as you empower teachers and students to take ownership of their unique learning paths.
Creativity: You start rethinking traditional classroom structures, embracing creativity in how education is delivered.
Why learners are purpose-driven, always seeking to understand the bigger picture and the relevance of what they are learning. How learners, in contrast, are action-oriented problem solvers who prefer hands-on methods and applying knowledge to real-world contexts. Together, these categories highlight the diverse ways people engage with and process information, emphasizing the importance of tailoring learning experiences to individual preferences