Studio 1, 2, 3, 4
Studio I, II, III, IV Grades 9-12 1 Credit
This course is required annually for all students at each grade level.
Students will learn the power of documenting their “learning story” over the course of their academic career at ECHS. Students will investigate how humans over time have documented learning, and how it has created a wealth of information for both the individual as well as the world. Students will begin to look at formats and systems that are adaptable and manageable for documenting their own story. Students will delve into the skills, equipment, routines, and expectations for consistently creating, updating, and maintaining progress. Throughout these courses, students review work/artifacts of other courses, add and edit, and build skills around digital portfolio platforms.
While students develop foundational skills for communicating, reflecting, and managing their learning, they will also learn techniques and processes for creative problem-solving, through human-centered design thinking skills. Students will learn to develop the mindset to identify situations where they can better the world, and design thinking strategies will give them the tools to take action. Teachers will guide students through processes for critical and creative questioning, research and investigation, project organization and management, incorporating feedback, and communicating and presenting to various audiences.
Using the Pathways as overarching concepts, teachers will guide students through a scaffolded project framework that engages in topics of sustainability and connects with community partners. During Studio III, students will apply the skills and learning from Studio I and II to develop, research, complete, and present a final project which is a key requirement for graduation. During Studio IV, students who were unsuccessful at completing their graduation project in Studio III will have the opportunity to complete it with additional support. Students will also have the opportunity to extend and further explore their graduation project in order to to catalyze their research into activism and effect change in the community. It will also allow students to participate in other coursework, internships, and other innovative experiences.