Tag Archives: High School

Bosque School Medical Reserve Corps

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Ever felt sick or were injured at school? Ever have to face the grumpy school nurse? Well, not at Bosque School in Albuquerque New Mexico! This is an amazing student led program, where all of the first responders for illness or injury are the students themselves. As members of the school’s Medical Reserve Corps, the students learn how to respond to medical incidents and emergencies and take the lead when something happens.

In this episode, we talk with Dan Shaw, teacher, first responder and faculty head of the MRC at Bosque School, as well as Maddison, Taylor & Abigail, three of the students who are part of the MRC program and first responders.

What better way to learn a unique and practical medical skill set than through real-world experiences.We take a look at how this unique program came about and how it’s been developed over the years to provide students with some amazing and challenging opportunities and experiences to develop an excellent skill-set and ability to respond and deal with a range of medical issues and emergencies.

This is true leadership in Experiential Education and one of the most impressive programs I’ve come across in a school. Whilst many schools profess they provide opportunities for leadership, this school actually does it in such a fantastic and meaningful way.

For more information on Bosque School’s program:

Bosque School MRC

https://www.bosqueschool.org/list-detail?pk=149439&fromId=245550

USA National MRC

https://www.phe.gov/about/oem/prep/Pages/mrc.aspx

Standard Diner ABQ

https://www.standarddiner.com/

This was the first diner I’ve been to in the US and it was nice. The frozen margarita with mint mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!

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Aspen High ExEd Program

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Have you ever wanted to start the school year by getting away somewhere, fun, challenging remote or culturally unique? No this is no holiday, this is the Aspen High School ExEd program, which provides students the opportunity to learn through experience right across the country.

In mixed year level groups, students get to choose from a huge range of options, from Hiking in the Tetons, to Biking in New Mexico, or perhaps a dive into the Cajun culture of Louisiana or some glitz and glamour of Fashion Design in LA!

There’s something for everyone in this fantastic practical and experiential education program, which has been running for over 50 years!

In this episode we talk with Brent Maiolo who is Chair of the ExEd program at Aspen High.

For more information on Aspen’s program:

Aspen High School ExEd

https://www.aspenk12.net/domain/131

Episode Corrections

Mt Kosciuszko is 2228 metres high, not 2227! Also, you multiply metres to get feet, not divide. Both entirely my mistakes as I can’t do good math! Or English it would seem.

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National Gallery London – Arts Education

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Want to lose yourself in centuries of political and religious conflict and dark mysteries locked in snapshots from the past? Then the National Gallery in London is just the place for you. With an enormous collection of stunning artworks spanning over half a millennia, this is an amazing experience. No matter how many times I’ve been there, I haven’t even scratched the surface of the passion, the love, the hatred, the rebellion, the political intrigue and the social and emotional commentary that’s behind the huge collection of art in the National Gallery.

In this episode, we talk with Caroline Smith, head of educational programs at the National Gallery and explore how they engage students in one of the most amazing galleries in the world.

From the early Renaissance to legendary artists such as Monet and Van Gough and stunning works which take up entire walls, this is something which will awe and inspire students in ways that the classroom can never replicate.

For more information on the educational programs at the National Gallery checkout:

National Gallery London

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/teachers-and-schools

Best Coffee in London

Monmouth Coffee is well worth seeking out as you will struggle to get a decent coffee anywhere in the UK. However, the coffee here is amazing and some of the best coffee I’ve had in the world! Just go there and try it. You’ll know what I mean!

Our shops

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The Downtown School Seattle

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Want to have 3 classes a day and learn in the heart of a city and use everything around you as a lab?

The Downtown School in Seattle is a leading-edge school which uses Downtown Seattle as part of their integrated educational program. This is a grade 9 through 12 school. It’s a great example of a school that’s future focussed and enabling students to pursue their own interests and identity as part of their education.

More time in the classroom doesn’t equate to better learning outcomes and the Downtown school has built this into their overall program.

For more information on the Downtown School checkout:

Downtown School

https://www.downtownschoolseattle.org/

Lakeside School

https://www.lakesideschool.org/

The KEXP Gathering Space

https://www.kexp.org/visit/gathering-space/

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Christchurch City Council Learning Through Action Program

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How do you get students to buy into their role and responsibility in caring for the environment?

How do you use this to build a sense of community at the same time?

In this episode, we talk with Pete Johnson, from the Christchurch City Council in NZ who leads the environmental experiential education programs for schools.

We take a look at how these programs are aimed at all ages and build and grow on prior experience year after year to help students, not only understand the local environment and the challenges we face to care for that, but also taking real action to do something within the community.

For more information on Pete’s work and the great Learning Through Action programs on offer at the Christchurch City Council checkout:

Christchurch City Council

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/learning-through-action/

Programs on Offer

https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/learning-resources/learning-through-action/list-of-programmes/

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Australian Science & Mathematics School

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No uniforms, open plan learning and a wonderful happy school environment! I only wish I could have gone to the Australian Science & Mathematics School. Specifically designed to cater for students with an interest in Maths and Science, the non-selective government school based at Flinders University in Adelaide is a remarkable example of the future facing experiential education at its best.

This impressive campus and program is for years 10-12 and all education starts with a major social, health, technical, or world-wide problem. The challenge is to find solutions to these problems through the effective practical application of Science and Maths.

With self-directed learning a key component of the school, this was a highlight of my year being able to visit and see such an effective teaching and learning environment in action.

For more information about the Australian Science & Mathematics School:

https://www.asms.sa.edu.au

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/future-proof-promo/7562184

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V&A Museum London

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What happens when you collect a lot of random stuff? Well, if you only have a small house, you get called a hoarder. However, if you have massive amounts of money and can build an enormous building to put all your stuff in, then you’re called a philanthropist. Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, happened to be the latter. The V&A has an astounding collection of rare and unique artefacts from around the world.

In this episode, we talk with Adrian Deakes, Program Manager For Theatre & Performance for schools at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. We explore how the V&A leverages its collection and industry partnerships to bring some unique and valuable experiential learning to life for theatre students, including Shakespeare In A Suitcase, which is a super cool and challenging experience!

For more information about the V&A:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/s/video-shakespeare-in-a-suitcase/

https://www.vam.ac.uk

https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/learn

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Tihoi Venture School

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What’s a great way to get boys to mature and take responsibility for themselves and the direction of their lives? Send them away to live in remote rustic timber mill cottages with seven other boys, where they have to cook for themselves, keep their cottages in good order, study and take on all manner of outdoor challenges, including skinning and cooking their own rabbits!

In this episode, we talk with Cyn Smith, Director of Tihoi Venture School in NZ. Situated near Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand, Tihoi Venture School was started in 1979, using buildings which were previously the workers’ cottages for the timber mill.

This is very much a ‘back to basics’ program which provides amazing opportunities for the students to grow within themselves, gain independence and build a set of skills to prepare them for the uncertainties of life.

 

For more information on Tihoi and their wonderful program:

https://www.stpauls.school.nz/section/tihoi-venture-school

http://www.knowtihoi.school.nz

 

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