Missouri School Board Association

Agenda  Dr. Jon Clark  Welcome  WGHS Background  The Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center Background  Dr. Sarah Riss  Comments  Julie Burchett  Experiential Learning Overview  Experiential Learning Opportunities  Website and Social Media  Teacher Academy  WGSD Board Members  David Addison – Internships  David Addison – Travel  Steve Loher – Service Learning

Webster Groves High School Background

Chelsea Detrick Experiential Learning Center Background  Dreaming ten years ago about how to improve high schools  Glenn and Chelsea Detrick  Chelsea Center  Pilot – Summer 2010  Focus on student engagement/how they learn

Four Pillars Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, University of Maryland High expectations – curiosity fostered Create a strong sense of community among the students It takes researchers to produce researchers – kids work with experts on important work Faculty are involved with the students WGHS Way = Empower students!

Overview of Experiential Learning Julie Burchett

Philosophy  Learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection, critical analysis, and synthesis  Comes from the work of John Dewey and David Kolb

What is Experiential Learning?  Learning by doing  Observing and interacting with the real world  Reflecting deeply on what has been done  Developing 21 st century skills  Seen as a process and not an outcome

21 st Century Skills  We want to teach these skills and give students a chance to use them  Easily done in experiential learning  Dr. Tony Wagner – Harvard Graduate School of Education  Critical Thinking and Problem Solving  Collaboration and Leadership  Agility and Adaptability  Initiative and Entrepreneurialism  Effective Oral and Written Communication  Accessing and Analyzing Information  Curiosity and Imagination

A Process, Not an Outcome

Three Major Areas of Experiential Learning  Internships  Also includes employment, shadowing, and mentoring  Service Learning  Also includes community outreach  Travel  School or personal

Website and Social Media  Chelsea Center Website Chelsea Center Website  Like us on  Tweet

Experiential Learning WGHS Teacher Academy  Three-year academy – based on NSEE Experiential Education Academy  Goals:  Teachers will be trained and will implement experiential learning into their classroom curriculum  These classes will be designated in the course book and on student transcripts as “Experiential Learning”  Academy Year One  Academy Year Two  Academy Year Three

Samples of Experiential Learning Classes  Revolutionary Journeys – U.S. History travel  Civil Rights Journeys – U.S. History travel  Unknown St. Louis - Celebrate 250 Years! – local travel  Medical Sampler  Teaching Tech– community classes at local libraries  Construction in the Community  Ceramics  Music Masters  Geocaching  Service Learning Sampler  Mini –Camp Leaders – students pick their passion and teach elementary school students

Samples of Internships Mr. David Addison/Dr. Sarah Riss  Washington University Microbiology and Physics Lab  The Green Center  Education/Interpretive Class Leadership  (RE)Fresh – fashion marketing for Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition resale store for teens  The Sierra Club—Grass Roots Organizing  South Broadway Art Project  Walter Ambrose Family Center – pre- school assistant  Teaching internships – math and English for middle school  Llywelyn’s - Restaurant Entrepreneurship  Pro-Rehab Physical Therapy  Pepsi – Sales and Marketing  WGHS Office Administration and WGSD Accounting  Web Design  Graphic Design  Creative Writing for Veterans Workshop  Shaw Nature Reserve – Environmental Ecology  Broadcasting  Historical Society –Archivist; Webster Groves History through Architecture  Bring your own idea for an internship!

Travel Mr. David Addison  School trips

Travel  Personal trips

Service Learning Mr. Steve Loher

Sophomore Service Day -Beginnings

Sophomore Service Day in Action

Role of the Board Mr. David Addison Provide necessary resources Publically support and acknowledge major donors Publically support innovative practices Publically support experiential learning! – Attend events – Students and staff report at BOE meeting – Honor the work of the students and staff – Consider acting as a mentor/advisor

QUESTIONS?