It’s 7:00 AM, and a group of students from The YMCA Academy are already at school — two-and-a-half hours early. They won’t stay in the school for long, though; the group is about to embark on an all-day excursion to help at a build site for Habitat for Humanity.
During their time onsite, the students learn about collaboration, safety, social justice, and the value of hard work — in a format that’s impossible to replicate in a classroom. It is, in other words, a perfect example of why the Academy is committed to providing experiential learning opportunities for its students.
A burgeoning trend in the education world, experiential learning is commonly defined as “learning by doing.” This is an especially important strategy for the Academy, an alternative high school for students with learning disabilities and learning-style differences. Many of these young people need to go above and beyond the traditional, classroom-based educational model and see and feel the real-world impact of what they’re learning. At the Academy, experiential learning takes the form of hands-on projects, guest presentations, field trips, and assignments that ask them to study their neighbourhoods and think more deeply about their daily lived experiences.
For the school’s staff, it’s a winning approach that has many benefits. “I jumped on the opportunity to bring my Green Industries students to the Habitat for Humanity job site for many reasons,” says Rein Tammemagi, a teacher at the Academy.
Students at the Academy view experiential learning as far more than a “day off” from school. For many exceptional learners, education staples like lectures, PowerPoint presentations, textbooks, and worksheets are a recipe for disengagement, increased anxiety, and distraction. In these circumstances, breaking down a classroom’s walls can have a magical effect.
To learn more about how The YMCA Academy uses experiential learning, visit the school’s website.
During their time onsite, the students learn about collaboration, safety, social justice, and the value of hard work — in a format that’s impossible to replicate in a classroom. It is, in other words, a perfect example of why the Academy is committed to providing experiential learning opportunities for its students.
A burgeoning trend in the education world, experiential learning is commonly defined as “learning by doing.” This is an especially important strategy for the Academy, an alternative high school for students with learning disabilities and learning-style differences. Many of these young people need to go above and beyond the traditional, classroom-based educational model and see and feel the real-world impact of what they’re learning. At the Academy, experiential learning takes the form of hands-on projects, guest presentations, field trips, and assignments that ask them to study their neighbourhoods and think more deeply about their daily lived experiences.
For the school’s staff, it’s a winning approach that has many benefits. “I jumped on the opportunity to bring my Green Industries students to the Habitat for Humanity job site for many reasons,” says Rein Tammemagi, a teacher at the Academy.
“Some of the topics covered in Green Industries include design and problem solving processes, so it was awesome to look at all the stages of the build through the Habitat for Humanity program. Furthermore, it was great experience for the students to wake up early and participate in an all-day project.”
Students at the Academy view experiential learning as far more than a “day off” from school. For many exceptional learners, education staples like lectures, PowerPoint presentations, textbooks, and worksheets are a recipe for disengagement, increased anxiety, and distraction. In these circumstances, breaking down a classroom’s walls can have a magical effect.
“When you take us outside, I can focus better,” says one Academy student.
“I don’t know what it is, but it’s true.”
To learn more about how The YMCA Academy uses experiential learning, visit the school’s website.
