Reflections on "The Best PD Ever!" Part 2- ISB's Futures Academy

This is the second part of my school visits blog post series. If you would like to read about the trip's purpose, objectives, and other background information, as well as about what I learned about Design at the International School of Beijing, please visit this blog post.

*** Disclaimer: These five days of school visits have been extremely busy, interesting and intense few days, and I have no doubt I did not get the full picture of the history, present, and plans for the future of each of the programs I observed and conversed about. If you notice and inaccuracy, I apologize and would appreciate if you could contact me so that I can represent these hard-working educators and their work more accurately.

  

The Futures Academy at the International School of Beijing

On both school visit days, we met with Kelsey Giroux (@Kels_Giroux), who graciously and skillfully took us through the past, present, and future of ISB’s Futures Academy. The Future’s Academy first started as a Middle School program for students in grades 7 and 8, and later on was expanded, yet in a somewhat different direction, to the High School (grades 9 and 10). One of the things I appreciated most about ISB educators has been their openness about the processes and the products of the innovative programs- their successes, but also their struggles. I am proud to be a part of a global community of innovative and forward-thinking educators!

Middle School Future’s Academy (“FA”)

Timeline:

• 2013-2014- Startup year. Documentation and preparation. No students were admitted to the program. 
 

• 2014-2015- Program begins with grade 7 students.
 

• 2015-2016- Program expands to grade 8, and includes about 70 students (40 in grade 7, and 30 in grade 8) 

• 2016-2017- 80 students in MS FA (A HS FA program is offered for grade 9 students) 
 

• 2017-2018- 85 students in MS FA (HS program rolls up to grade 10). 
 

• 2018-2019- Enrollment projected to be approximately 80 students (HS program will shift into three interdisciplinary courses) 

Program Overview:

• Purpose: the MS FA was designed to address the school’s strategic initiatives 

• Pedagogical Focus: Initially, Project Based Learning. It then morphed into broader approaches (inquiry, design-thinking, etc.) 

• Service: Offered to grades 7 and 8. Capacity is at 88 (44 students in each grade level). 

• Funding: Comes out of school or FA budget.

• Subject integration: Humanities (ELA & SS), science, math, and Mandarin. Later on, integration with Mandarin was dropped, and there was a more flexible integration that varied in each project. 

• Curriculum Writing: Projects were designed by the facilitators in the first year, and continued as the program evolved.

• Standards: Similar to the entire school, Common Core Math, Common Core ELA, NGSS for Science, C3 for Social Studies. The FA program addressed the same standards as non-FA students did. 

• 21st Century Skills: Each project includes at least two “L21” skills. These are included in assessment and reporting as well. 

• Design-Thinking: All projects are anchored around ISB’s design-thinking process 

• Project Based Learning: 

• Facilitators: Six full-time facilitators total (2 Humanities, 2 Math/Science, 1 Math Specialist, 1 Learning Support/ EAL) 

• Documentation: Students’ Process Journals: 
• Online 
• Sheets to work on specific skills/ areas 

Special Projects: “Ignite” Weeks

Throughout the year, MS FA students are working on special projects aimed to “ignite a spark in each student and inspire their passions within and beyond Futures Academy”. This is done outside of the FA curriculum in three different one-week projects (I call them "sessions" here). These projects are chunked as follows:

Session #1: MAKE IT 

• The focus is on building and creating). 
• Example student-initiated projects would be upcycling, designing fidgeters, fashion, and cooking.

Session #2: EXPRESS IT 

• The focus on communication/arts. 
• Example projects: Custome design, designing and sewing one's own flag

Session #3: PERSONALIZE IT 

• More free choice- students get to design their own projects.

The Ignite Project facilitators created a short but comprehensive project planner to ensure project facilitator think about all the necessary elements: 

• Guiding question 
• Focus area (L21) 
• Skill focus 
• Voice and choice 
• Planning- how to incorporate the ISB design process 
• Logistics- supplies or space 
• Max number of students 

FA's Sample Project Planner

Important Takeaways- MS Futures Academy:

• The Futures Academy is a parallel program to the “regular” MS path. It is important to plan and articulate well how the programs are similar and different, and to ensure communication is ongoing and open, and that there are proper understanding and support for the creation of the program from all stakeholders 

• Not all students are passionate in the same way. It is difficult for some students to come up with passions. Some kids benefit from more guided choices while others work very well with less guidance. 

• Student-driven learning is not something kids know innately. They need to be prepared from an early age.