Connecting School with Life - Getting students involved in curriculum & learning design

This week is a really special episode where we get to hear from
some incredible students and teachers from around the world with
one thing in common! They are all doing amazing work to explore
the possibilities that come when we invite learners to be much
more involved in who directs the learning process, what gets
learned and what the role of the educators is in our
schools. 


We will hear from Amalia, Mehrbanoo, Bruno and Ollie at
International School of the Hague, Natalia, Bryant, and Mark at
Avenues School, New York, Michaela, Lauren, and James at Northern
Bay College in Geelong, and lastly Charlie, Josie, Dylan and
Nathan at Prahran High School in Melbourne.


Despite working in very different contexts and being at different
stages of the process, what you'll hear is that many of the
challenges and successes are the same! How much structure is the
right amount to give learners freedom but also support at the
right time? What skills and approaches to learning do students
need and quickly develop as part of this work? How do we reduce
the 'fear-factor' of these changes among parents, teachers,
school leaders and sometimes amongst students themselves? How do
assessments and curriculum structures also need to develop to
make sure that these shifts are well-supported rather than
working against the system? Because when you hear these students
tell their stories, there is NO QUESTION about how significant
and real the benefits are of giving them more ownership and
control over their learning.


For more background on the theory and practices around supporting
student agency, you can check out episode 86 with Larissa Raymond
and Jayne-Louise Collins.


The schools featured in this episode are:


International School of the Hague:
https://www.ishthehague.nl/academic/myp/pathfinder-curriculum


Contact - Pathfinder Programme Lead: Anne Tabak


Avenues, New York:
https://www.avenues.org/open-ed/what-do-students-really-learn-in-mastery 


Contact - Global Academic Dean: Mark Gutkowski


Northern Bay College, Geelong:
https://www.nbc.vic.edu.au/ 


Contact - Year 9 Learning Community Leader: James Bayard


Prahran High School, Melbourne:
https://prahranhighschool.vic.edu.au/  


Contact - Executive Principal: Nathan Chisholm