Oct 27, 2016 01:17 PM EDT By Chris Brandt, UniversityHerald Reporter

The idea of innovation is defying what's common and normal in order to find a better way. The same goes when it comes to education where innovation can mean going on field trips, integrating a new teaching method to traditional ones, or simply partnering with the local community. Here are five schools which embody innovation because they defy what is normal and common.

Summit Sierra (Seattle , Washington)

Self-guided learning: That's what Summit Sierra innovative. Here, children guide their own learning and teachers become mentors guiding the student assigned to him or her for all four years. A typical school day in this school includes 30 minutes each for reading and math problem solving. In addition to that, kids takes online courses, talk to their teacher/mentor about their goals, and engage in Community Time where they can talk and share their feelings with other students. Teachers monitor their students' progress by using an in-house software.

Ørestad Gymnasium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Ørestad is a giant classroom where 358 secondary school students collaborate in a wide-open setting. The gymnasium (what some European countries call secondary schools) hopes that through this kind of setting, students will be able to think more flexibly as they take a more active role in how they learn. Students can assemble in small groups and form a makeshift classroom by themselves or with a teacher in any of the spacious 'drums' or learning spaces inside the gymnasium.

Big Picture Learning (Providence, Rhode Island)

Big Picture Learning allow students to have an early taste of the working world by allowing them to pursue what they want in the future whether it be fixing cars or desiring to be a lawyer. They are then paired with a mentor which will help develop their skills in their area of interest. Rodney Davis, the communication director of the institution said that the most important element at a Big Picture Learning school is that students learn the reality.

Egalia Preschool (Stockholm, Sweden)

What makes Egalia innovative is its rejection of gender discrimination. The school promotes gender equality by refraining from using pronouns that are gender-based  when addressing their students. Thus, instead of 'he' or 'she,' they call students by their first names or use the collective 'they.' This fight against discrimination is not limited to gender alone but also includes sexual orientation, disability, race, religion, age, class, and gender expression.

Sra Pou Vocational School (Sra Pou Village, Cambodia)

The all-ages vocational school in Cambodia was designed by the Finnish architecture group Rudanko + Kankkunen. Its goal is to teach villagers how to make turn their passion into a profitable enterprise. Teachers are provided by the local NGO and guide the villagers in the step-by-step process of entrepreneurship. The learning includes practical steps on how to price and market their goods. The Finnish architecture firm said that the school provides a way out for people who wants to get out of their low-paying jobs.

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