VERMONT JOURNAL: 'Expeditionary learning to drive curriculum at Black River Independent School'
Originally Published 10/16/19
From THE VERMONT JOURNAL
By Sharon Huntley
October 16, 2019; Ludlow, VT – Black River Independent School Committee hosted an informational event Friday, Oct. 11 at Du Jour VT Restaurant in Ludlow to celebrate their joining of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The small gathering marked another opportunity for several of the BRISC members to talk about their progress toward opening a local independent school for grades 7-12 when Black River High School and Middle School close in June of 2020.
Key to this meeting, Board member Summers Eatmon Williams gave a short presentation that shed more light on their emerging curriculum, which will be based on an Expeditionary Learning model.
According to the Expeditionary Learning, www.eleducation.org, this model, founded more than 20 years ago, is based on a collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Outward Bound USA. Since that time, they have developed a mission and curriculum that focuses on three key areas for students: mastery of knowledge and skills, quality of character, and producing high quality student work. This learning model is currently used in approximately 150 schools in 30 states and has garnered impressive results in test scores and other measures. There is no other Vermont school currently offering this curriculum.
According to Williams, this style of learning will include short concept classes where students will learn about a specific concept that will then trickle down to other coursework, providing a fully immersive framework for learning. “It is a way that students can engage in work that is meaningful,” she said.
