middle school: HUMAN-CENTERED CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
DESIGN THINKING PROGRAM
Launched in 2016, our middle school program is designed to increase interest in both subjects before the students enter high school and begin to be pushed out of the education system entirely. The unique program connects math and science to places in their community — such as a school, park or abandoned property — to make it highly relevant to the students in each school. This community-based approach helps make the learning relevant for the student and keeps them engaged in the process.
Commitment
Training: One 90-minute volunteer training session
Preparation: Before each classroom visit, meet with your co-volunteers and review In4All’s content materials, distill content to use only the most relevant slides, and customize your presentation if you wish.
Classroom Sessions:
Number of visits: 8-10 classroom visits.
Length of each visit: Each visit lasts the length of the class period, generally between 40-60 minutes
Frequency: Agreed upon in collaboration with the teacher. The most common frequency is weekly.
How it works
The program pairs a company with a local middle school with a high population of students who do not see a path to a career or success in life and are at risk of dropping out of school. In4All facilitates the entire process of training volunteers, picking the project, completing the activity, and giving students feedback on their project.
The whole process is not only rewarding for volunteers but this form of learning is proven to increase student interest in school -- an important step to completing high school and taking that next step toward college or a career.
Support
Presentations and materials provided. You are encouraged to add your experience.