It used to be that when students went to school their subjects were arrayed before them in “silos.” Now we know that while that is one way to teach, there are better ways – and at LEADPrep we are happy to delve into and use those better ways to help our students grow not just in knowledge, but in understanding.
At LEADPrep students do learn math and English; as well as science, technology, Spanish, history, etc. But these subjects are not learned in a vacuum. Students learn the information then USE the information to broaden their horizons, and equally importantly to make the world a better place.
Years ago, it would be pretty unlikely to say that the world was a better place simply because students went to school. Giving our students a “human-centered” education gives them the power to ask themselves “How did my work help someone else?”
How does student work help?
In Civics this past quarter, all LEADPrep students were asked to create a driving question about a need they felt connected to. They were asked to pose this question to themselves:
“What might I, as someone ________ do to __________?”
The goal was to create a positive impact in the community and develop project management skills.
Students had to dive deep to create these questions. Here are some examples of the powerful connections they were making:
- “How might I, being apart of the community of the Seattle Central District, help and spread awareness about homeless people so that homeless people around my neighborhood can find jobs and start a new life?”
- “What might I, as someone with significant access needs, do to educate and create a accessible space at school so that peers with access needs can be more self-aware and welcome in a learning environment?”
- “How might I, as a young woman, bring awareness to the unrealistic expectations of a woman’s body so that the next generation of young women grow with confidence?”
- “How might we stop online bullying via Fortnite, so that children ages 6 to 18 may experience fortnite as a respectful and safe community?”
The students then went on to craft social media campaigns, posters, and other products to address their driving question and commitment to making a positive impact.
Find out how being “human-centered” has changed learning for LEADPrep students – ask one to tell you how their work helped someone else.
