“These days, employers are looking for people who can solve problems, who can work in teams, who can be critical thinkers, designers, creators. That’s what we teach here through Renewal.”
In Ben Butchart’s ninth grade Design Thinking course, one student team recently took a comedic bow in front of their classmates. They were celebrating making a mistake. Owning the mistake is part of a philosophy in this Renewal class: fail early, fail often and learn from it.
When you walk into the classroom, the first thing you notice is that students are excited to start class. On this particular day, they get to design their own scale models of a recording booth. They started their project by going to a real recording studio at Livingstone College and talking to professionals who work in the industry. They now understand the unique array of careers in the recording industry, from working for a radio show to becoming a recording engineer.
Better yet, Ben has been collaborating with their other teachers, tying each lesson together.
The students’ math teacher has focused on geometry and how to scale room measurements during a project like this one. Their science teacher has taught lessons on how sound absorption
works. They are learning the related vocabulary as well. The lessons are all connected, and, as Butchart explains it, the “students get what it’s all about.” Now, they get to put all their learning to the test by building their own models.
Thanks to this new style of teaching and learning, students WANT to be in class, and we’re seeing the results already.
Through Ben’s challenge-based lessons, students have created startup business plans, published iBooks and learned to code.
One student overcame their fear of public speaking and has now won awards during their presentations. Another is considering starting a toy-making business after being inspired by a project. Students are offered a safe classroom space where math, science and interpersonal skills are incorporated into fun projects. Ben shares that his students become stronger, smarter individuals as their confidence grows, both from the victories and the mistakes they experience in the class. He talks about the social emotional learning the students are exposed to, saying:
“Through Renewal, we get to explore individual and group responsibility, the sense of culture and community, competition and more. As we do so, our students are building both teamwork and empathy along with the academic skills that will translate into successful careers. This matters as much, if not more, than the academics behind the project.”
Ben’s final thought about Renewal is a simple one: the possibilities are limitless. When teachers and students get to “fail” together, everyone wins.
