Bridging the gap between abstract theory and international competence through the Cognoscentia curriculum.

In a recent, compelling inaugural lecture reported by Punch Newspapers, Prof. Adebisi Awodun, a distinguished Physics Education don, issued a crucial wake-up call for Nigerian education: We must simplify the teaching of science and technology to unlock our nation's potential.

At Nazli Tech School, we couldn't agree more.

Professor Awodun highlighted a critical challenge confronting our educational system: the "conventional method" of teaching—often heavy on abstract theory and rote memorization, is failing to engage students. This approach makes vital subjects like Physics seem impossibly difficult, leading to fluctuating and unsatisfactory results in national exams like WAEC and NECO.

The Professor’s blueprint for success calls for a shift toward "Activity-Based Learning" and practical approaches that demystify complex concepts.

This is exactly where Nazli Tech School’s Cognoscentia curriculum steps in. We are not just teaching technology; we are revolutionizing how STEM is learned in Nigeria to support the national curriculum and build globally competitive students.

Here is how Nazli Tech is turning expert advice into classroom reality:

1. Demystifying the Abstract with "The Cognoscentia Way"

Prof. Awodun laments that the "abstract and mathematically demanding nature" of science deters students. The Cognoscentia curriculum solves this by adopting a "practical-first" philosophy.

We replace passive listening with active building. Instead of just reading about circuitry on a blackboard, our students use hardware modules to build functional devices. By grounding theoretical concepts in hands-on reality, we make the "difficult" subjects accessible, engaging, and fun.

2. Boosting WAEC & NECO Performance Through Visualization

The Professor noted the worrying "fluctuating trend" in Physics exam performance over the last six years. Why do students struggle? Because they cannot visualize the concepts they are asked to define.

Nazli Tech uses technology—from coding simulations to robotics—to help students visualize the very forces, moments, and energy concepts tested in national exams. When a student programs a robotic arm to move, they intuitively understand the physics behind it, leading to deeper retention and better exam outcomes.

3. Real-World Solutions for National Progress

Physics and tech are the backbone of modern society, driving sectors like health, agriculture, energy, and IT. Prof. Awodun urges that education must connect to these realities.

Our curriculum moves science out of the textbook and into the community. Our tech challenges encourage students to apply their knowledge to solve real Nigerian problems—whether it’s creating an IoT sensor for agricultural monitoring or designing an app for local health services. We are training the innovators who will drive Nigeria's socio-economic progress.

4. Readiness for the 2025 Reforms and the Global Stage

With the Nigerian government set to introduce subjects like Programming and AI into the national curriculum by 2025, schools need a reliable roadmap. Nazli Tech is that roadmap.

Our curriculum doesn't just meet national requirements; it exceeds them by aligning with international standards. By adopting global best practices in practical tech education, we ensure our students graduate not just with a certificate, but with a professional portfolio of projects that makes them stand out to international universities and global employers.

The Future is Practical

As Prof. Awodun stated, "No nation can afford to neglect" the effective teaching of science and technology. It is time to move beyond outdated methods and embrace an education model that works.

Join Nazli Tech School today. Let's turn abstract theories into tangible futures for the next generation of Nigerian innovators.

👉 www.nazlitechschool.org

References: Awodun, A. (2024). Cited in Punch Newspapers, "Don seeks simplified teaching of science, tech subjects." Available at: https://punchng.com/don-seeks-simplified-teaching-of-science-tech-subjects/

#NazliTechSchool #Cognoscentia #STEMNigeria #PracticalEducation #EdTechAfrica #FutureSkills #NigerianEducationReform

Morocco is a living tapestry woven with threads of mathematics, a truth that becomes beautifully apparent when exploring its traditional art, architecture, and daily life. The country is a geometer's paradise, where each intricate detail tells a story of mathematical principles applied with artistic mastery.

The captivating Zellige mosaics, a cornerstone of Moroccan design, are not merely decorative but are a complex interplay of geometric transformations. Here, artisans meticulously arrange hand-chiseled tiles into mesmerizing patterns of stars, rosettes, and polygons. These designs are a testament to Islamic tessellations, where complex shapes are repeated and rotated to create boundless, non-repeating patterns. This isn't just art; it's the practical application of symmetry, rotation, and translation, all leading to a visual symphony of mathematical harmony.

The architecture, from the grand mosques to the intimate riads, is a showcase of mathematical precision. Arches, from the pointed ogive to the multi-lobed horseshoe, are meticulously crafted based on principles of geometry. The proportions of courtyards, the alignment of minarets with the cardinal directions, and the use of the golden ratio in door and window dimensions all speak to a deep, intuitive understanding of mathematics. The very layout of the medinas, with their labyrinthine alleys, can be seen as a fractal-like structure, where similar patterns repeat at different scales, inviting a mathematical journey of discovery.

Even the textiles and carpets, with their intricate Berber motifs, are expressions of mathematical concepts. The symbols woven into the fabric represent patterns of life and nature, often arranged in symmetrical and repeating sequences that mirror a deep cultural understanding of order and repetition.

From the complex fractals in the medina's layout to the perfect symmetry of Zellige, and the geometric precision of its architecture, Morocco is not just a place to visit; it is an immersive, living museum of applied mathematics. The rich cultural heritage is inextricably linked with mathematical principles, proving that the abstract beauty of numbers and shapes is deeply embedded in the tangible world of Moroccan life.

Therefore, for the mathematically inclined, Morocco isn't just a destination; it's a profound pilgrimage where every sight and sound is a testament to the fact that "Morocco is Math." It is a place where you can touch, see, and experience mathematical concepts in their most beautiful and traditional forms. For those who seek this unique blend of travel and intellect, a new form of tourism awaits, which we can call "Morocco-matics."

In today's dynamic professional landscape, emotional intelligence and soft skills have emerged as critical determinants of success, distinguishing thriving professionals from those who merely survive. No longer are hard skills the sole measure of career achievement; instead, abilities like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration are paramount in consistently delivering solutions and establishing individuals as successful role models.

To foster these essential attributes, educational institutions must integrate artificial intelligence into academic curriculums to promote individual and group project work, public speaking, and interdisciplinary learning. This approach, exemplified by Nazli Tech School's Cognoscentia curriculum, helps students explore diverse fields and apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students can cultivate these skills through:

1. Communication and Collaboration: Engaging in group projects and taking on leadership roles to articulate ideas and work effectively with others.

2. Critical Thinking: Analyzing problems from various perspectives and practicing decision-making in uncertain situations.

3. Continuous Learning: Exploring interdisciplinary fields and embracing new challenges, which facilitates faster acquisition of technical abilities and their creative application.

Professionals must also commit to continuous learning to excel. They can acquire necessary soft skills by investing in "people's skills," integrating collaboration into daily work, and leveraging soft skills to expand their technical mastery. This ongoing development ensures they remain successful and influential in their workplaces.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the classroom must become more than a place of instruction—it must be a launchpad for life. The way students spend their days learning should directly shape how they navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives. This calls for a bold shift: moving beyond the confines of “documented education” and embracing a model rooted in practical intelligence.

📚 The Rise of Practical Education

Documented education—where success is measured by grades, certificates, and memorized facts—has long dominated the narrative. But true education is not about passive absorption; it’s about active application. Practical education empowers students to connect theory with reality, transforming abstract concepts into tools for problem-solving, innovation, and personal growth.

This approach nurtures cognitive intelligence, allowing students to think critically, adapt creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. When students learn by doing, they don’t just prepare for careers—they become architects of progress.

🤖 The Technocart Mindset

In an AI-driven era, students must evolve into Technocarts—individuals who know when to leverage smart tools and when to rely on their own cognitive power. AI should be a collaborator, not a crutch. By cultivating discernment and digital fluency, students can use technology to enhance their capabilities, not replace them.

This mindset fosters a generation that is not only tech-savvy but also deeply thoughtful—capable of innovation, resilience, and ethical decision-making.

🌍 Building a Society That Thinks Forward

Embedding practical education into global systems paints a horizon of endless possibility. It encourages healthy competitiveness, fuels creativity, and builds a society that doesn’t just respond to challenges—it anticipates and overcomes them.

To achieve this, educational institutions must implement meaningful measures that assess not just what students know, but how they apply it. When students feel involved in their learning journey—when they see its relevance and impact—they carry that value into every corner of their lives.

🌟 Learning by Living

Ultimately, nothing compares to natural education—learning by living, experimenting, and discovering. It’s time to move beyond rote memorization and toward a model that celebrates curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world relevance.

Education should be a mirror of life, not a rehearsal for it. And when it is, students don’t just succeed—they thrive.

Here are ways to know when intelligence oozes out of a person:

1. Active Listening: is a silent indicator of intelligence.

2. Observant Nature: Observing and understanding the patterns around you is a silent yet powerful way to showcase your intelligence.

3. Reading Habits: Reading not only enhances your knowledge, but it also improves your cognitive skills, such as comprehension and critical thinking.

4. Problem-solving abilities: Intelligence is often associated with the ability to solve problems effectively.

5. Empathy and understanding: Those who can understand and empathize with the feelings of others demonstrate a type of intelligence that’s often overlooked – emotional intelligence.

6. Adaptability: Adaptability does not mean you are not affected by changes. It simply means you have the intelligence to understand, accept, and make the most of these changes.

7. Attention to detail: Paying attention to the small details that others often overlook is a silent yet powerful demonstration of intelligence.

8. Continuous Learning: The hallmark of true intelligence is the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Ever heard the word "Executive Functions"? if your answer is no, then you will need to sit back and relax for this: A recent experimental study in Brazil showed that a game-based cognitive training program called "Cucca Curiosa" improved executive functioning and mathematics performance in children aged 7 to 10 years. 

What are executive functions, and why is it important to implement them in our educational systems nowadays, especially? For starters, executive functions are essentially the brain´s air traffic control; they help people manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. 

If this definition alone does not ring a bell in pointing out what students are lacking in the educational systems nowadays, then you will need to reflect more on the meaning of executive functions. Getting back to the experimental study conducted in Brazil on children aged from 7 to 10 years old: Cucca Curiosa is an electronic game developed in C# using Unity 2D. It consists of six different Portuguese-language activities designed to target executive functions. 

Each mini-game focuses on a specific skill and includes instructions on how the skill can be applied in "everyday" contexts. The strategies used in this game guide the players to ask questions, evaluate errors, and monitor their attention and performance. So in other words, students learn how to analyze the information they receive through problem solving, critical thinking, and they get to evaluate results to end up at a definitive conclusion. 

These are the very same skills required to thrive when working with Artificial Intelligence, leading students to become successful AI Trailblazers rather than Sloppers. Additionally, executive functions are important for organizing tasks, solving problems, making decisions, and adapting to changing circumstances. Strong executive skills help people resist distractions, regulate impulses, and follow through on plans.

In conclusion, getting students to do research via completing project work assigned as an individual or group task related to the material taught in the classroom replicates the Cucca Curiosa brain air traffic control training process, which acts as a foundation to develop vital soft skills in students. 

Let students be the vloggers/bloggers of their education, living what they are taught beyond an inclined classroom environment.

The answer is that modern-day K-12 education needs to be drafted to teleport students to a realm where they live and experience the reality of what they are learning in the classroom. Students need to be taught to connect the dots from their learning experiences with the realities of their environment, society, intertwined with cultures they are familiar with and unfamiliar with. 

Students need to be trained to be vloggers and bloggers of their own classroom experiences, documenting and implementing what they learn as solutions in various subject domains, embodied in the realities of life. Time and again, we hear about the need for students to know how to utilize their soft skills to be able to stand out in challenging job markets dominated by AI in the future. 

However, the lingering question is how a modern-day AI-fused K-12 education needs to be shaped, and the answer simply lies in the hands of educational institutions and their educators. Understanding how to integrate AI with interdisciplinary learning for any subject in the classroom is the key that unlocks the door to an education based on realism and not just imagination, bounded by the four walls of a classroom. 

Educators need to be trained on how to structure their curricula in ways that integrate their subject with other disciplines, and most importantly, including teaching/learning methodologies using AI tools to implement what students learn in their classrooms to various aspects of everyday life, which pan out as solutions to these same aspects of reality.

AI tools are available to take teaching and learning to a whole new level if we, as educators, understand how to use these tools ethically in the best possible manner to change the learning environment we set up for our students. 

As AI tools continue to evolve in the world we live in today, we must keep up to become active interpreters and decision makers, intelligently analyzing the output we get from these AI generative tools. We need to become AI Trailblazers, not Sloppers, as I have once mentioned in my article posts before. Recent articles and posts are coming out about studies conducted by the famous MIT Media Lab to determine how the use of AI tools weakens the cognitive skills of humans, and the results are not surprising either, because humans continue to rely completely on AI tools. As a result, people use less of their brain power to think and analyze, deteriorating their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, eventually becoming passive consumers of AI. In other words, as mentioned in an article I read about this, people go from "Pilot to passenger" when using AI tools in the workplace or at school. It is important to note that AI hallucinates, and as such, not verifying results generated by these AI tools can result in accepting incorrect information, which will only mislead, not guide.

In an article I was reading recently titled "AI is taking hold in K-12 Schools", I was surprised to see that students hardly used AI tools for creative thinking or innovation-related activities. Instead, from a study mentioned in the article, students preferred to use AI to perform regular school tasks for them, helping with homework(which amounted to 53% of students doing this, the highest in the ranking), writing a document or email for them(35%), etc. The last ranking in this chart, which was students using AI to write code or create apps, only amounted to 12% of students doing this overall(a shocker to me). I mean, one would think with the amount of emerging free educational AI tools at the disposal of students and educators at large, you would think that students should be using AI more for creative thinking, innovation, design, building, etc, but sadly, that is not the case.

So, what is the solution to avoid becoming a "Slopper", but instead become a Trailblazer, the one who is in control, and takes charge? The answer is simple: train your brain to think, and indulge and complete projects, practical work that involves some sort of problem solving, and critical thinking regularly. Trust me, there are plenty of tasks out there that help stimulate our thinking abilities. Nazli Tech School has newly launched an AI-powered educational app, considered to be a "Daily Crunch", that generates and presents problems from different domains, for users to provide the most intelligent/logical solutions to fix such problems. Stay tuned for this app launch in the app video trailer to be released soon on the Nazli Tech School LinkedIn page.

What does it mean to be a "Mathomanian? 

"A moment of thought for Math". I think that a Research Appreciation Day should be held for Mathematics. 

Mathematics is such an amazing subject that, in fact, many people, including educators and students, do not realize the extent and magnitude of its impact on everyday life. Math is seen and experienced in every subject domain, and not knowing how to apply Math in different domains is where the problem lies. Let´s take a moment to recall the amazing pioneers who had profound impacts on shaping various aspects of Mathematics, starting from ancient Sumeria to the Islamic Golden Age, all laying the foundation for important work and vital discoveries for Mathematics. 

Evidence shows that Mathematics continued to evolve, with discoveries made over time from one civilization to the next, and now in the current AI era, Mathematics can evolve in ways that blow one´s mind with the bright minds available, and the ever-evolving AI tools at hand, I mean, just imagine. However, one thing to keep in mind is to get students to truly understand the meaning and importance of Mathematics, knowing how and when to employ its use to apply it, the right learning environment needs to be set up for this, Math education needs to be taken a step further to become every student´s reality, applying what the learn in class to every aspect of life they encounter intertwined with the culture and society they live in. 

Live and breathe Math; be a Mathomanian to reach great heights. Do not get caught up in passive Math education.

"Microdramas", ever heard this word? What about this statement: "The power of storytelling in the modern AI era"? If you are unfamiliar with either word or statement, then let me explain to you about the emerging career skill that can take you from lackluster career hopes to actually landing the "dream job", or even excelling at your present one. 

You know how the "average attention span of a human is about 8 seconds to probably up to 5 minutes", apparently it seems to be dwindling based on findings from evidence research studies, all due to consistent use and reliance on technological tools, especially AI. 

This very low attention span poses serious challenges to educators in the classroom, as it becomes even more difficult to get the attention of students, keep them interested in the material taught. Instructors need to work harder and smarter in finding ways to keep students hooked on the subject they teach. 

Our brains now seek bursts of stimulation, as researcher Gloria Mark, a professor at the University of California, mentions, meaning creating educational content based on storytelling is the way forward for educators to keep students engaged, feeling like they are actively learning rather than passively learning. "Storytelling" is the key ingredient to help students build their analytical and critical thinking abilities. 

Do not reveal the message in the story; rather, let it build up to the main idea or topic to be covered in the lesson. Let students think, revive their brains, indulge in elicitation, and elucidate facts instead of revealing them outright. Interestingly enough, storytelling is not just relevant in the educational world but in every aspect of life; all it takes is to come up with the right realistic story that would make people feel close to home, portraying the idea of what you want to get out there. 

Here again, we can see why the intervention of AI weighs more than ever, because with the new emerging AI tools like Veo 2 or 3, you can now create "Microdramas", delivering the exact messages you want to convey to your audience from any cultural denomination. In short, learn to ride with AI to thrive in any domain, use AI tools available effectively and wisely to achieve your desired outcome that is relatable to any domain, and one of those effective tools is "storytelling". Tell your story in the best possible way, and that is what we do for our students at Nazli Tech School. 

I appreciate the instructor so and so because they made the effort to cultivate a sense of community in our classroom. At this point, you are probably wondering where this will lead, right? Well, I am here to say this leads to where it always leads, which is to the need to cultivate a learning environment for students so they are the main actors and are heavily involved in both the learning and teaching processes that occur in a classroom. One excellent way to foster collaboration among students is by assigning group projects that relate to what students learn in the classroom and their society/culture. When students are prompted to think, discuss, and establish connections with what they are learning in class to various aspects/areas of the society they live in, they begin to gain the confidence to speak with their peers, express their opinions, and become enthusiastic during the research process while also simultaneously gaining more confidence, all because of the familiarity they start to feel connecting their learning process to their reality.

We at Nazli Tech School listened to our students, and we lived the classroom as students not just educators and we came up with the idea of developing incredible AI-powered apps that make learning seamless, feel real, and just like the first statement I wrote; make students feel a sense of belonging in the classroom by creating an environment where they could connect what they are learning in the classroom with what they come across or experience in their everyday society.

One of our most prized software apps that we have developed and launched recently ticks all the boxes of what a proper learning environment looks and feels like, one that is powered by AI but run by Nazli Tech School, and that app is the Algorithmic Atlas Math app designed to re-invent Math classrooms from boring, and confusing to lively, and lucid for all age groups, and people around the world. You can try it out at: Algorithmic Atlas Math App , and let us know what you think.

Also, you can read the article below to learn more about how to up your teaching game if you are an instructor by reading extracts of what some students had to say about their instructor´s wonderful teaching approach: Want to up your teaching game, listen to these students 

Ever heard of "Entrepreneurial Intelligence"? Well, it is the combination of a proactive mindset, strategic thinking, and the ability to identify, evaluate, and act on opportunities to create value. In the current challenging AI era we are in today, it is not enough for students to specialize only in one subject field; rather, they need to pursue interdisciplinary studies to have expertise in two or more fields. How can educators and educational institutions support interdisciplinary learning among students? By engaging students in collaborative group project work, conducting research to gather, analyze, and present their findings in the form of presentations, talks, and other formats. Applying all or some of these learning techniques and others not mentioned, students will begin to develop entrepreneurial intelligence, which mushrooms in surroundings that encourage inquiry, experimentation, and synthesis of various ideas, as stated by Dr PR Sodani, documented in the article, Maths vs Physics: Can a subject make an entrepreneur?

Here are statements from Atul Kumar, the CEO of PW online, who believes that Mathematics is the subject where entrepreneurial education can be incorporated and practiced regularly. He believes maths gives students the habits of mind that entrepreneurs use daily. Atul Kumar further mentions that:

“Mathematics is one of the best subjects to build a foundation for entrepreneurial skills. I haven’t come across a successful entrepreneur who isn’t comfortable with numbers or creative problem-solving,” Kumar said.

Maths teaches clarity. It helps students overcome uncertainty, test ideas, and think through risks.

Mr.Atul Kumar is surely right, although there are many other subjects out there that are equally important, Mathematics does stand out as the one subject whereby students can connect what they learn with how it can be perceived and applied in reality.

Nazli Tech School has taken the effort to design and develop the Algorithmic Atlas Math app capable of connecting any Math topic for any grade and any age group to aspects of the real world, intertwined with culture. Try it out now at: Algorithmic Atlas Math App

You can also read more about the battle between "Math Vs Physics", and the quest to find out whether students should learn either one of these subjects more, or integrate both in interdisciplinary learning by clicking on:

Math Vs Physics: Can a subject make an entrepreneur?