Project-Based Learning
HIS believes in organizing learning around real-world, collaborative projects. We love this approach because it makes academic experiences more engaging and more effective.
Our university preparatory curriculum is taught through a combination of these hands-on projects, Socratic seminars, and other methods for higher engagement. At heart, we know that when learning experiences engage students emotionally and socially, they will respond with more creative solutions, will better remember what they learned, and will gain leadership skills alongside academic content.
What is Project-Based Learning?
Imagine you’re studying physics purely in a textbook, while seated in a classroom. Perhaps you can force yourself to focus and memorize the key concepts, at least until the test. But what if instead you were given a challenge: say, to build a rocket that would launch a raw egg and return it to the ground unharmed? Now, you’ll need those same physics equations, but you’re going to immediately apply them, witness results, work in a team, and continue improving your design with practice.
This is project-based learning, and it leads to a few results. First, you’ll remember the physics better. Research shows that when academics are paired with emotional and social engagement (cheering with your teammates when your rocket finally launches!), new knowledge is more likely to be retained in long-term memory. Second, you’ll be more motivated. You’ll be working with friends, and will have the freedom to test and improve your ideas. Most adolescents learn best when projects involve peers and offer choices about how they find solutions.