Insight: The Independent Study Journey

By Dr. Anne Duffy, Wen Yu Ho, and Eric Sieg – Independent Study Curriculum Co-Facilitators

This school year, a new, must-see event has emerged near the end of each trimester—the Independent Curriculum symposium. On that day, students eagerly pack into the theater and surrounding hallways to learn about all the exciting research and projects that their peers have completed over the course of the trimester in their various Independent Studies (IS) and Independent Projects (IP). Looking over the array of tables, as one observes the students who all speak passionately and eloquently about their learning, one cannot help but feel a sense of awe at these students’ accomplishments.

The endpoint is undeniably a big highlight, but how do we get there? The process begins the trimester prior, where students are enrolled into a prep course where they begin working with the Independent Curriculum facilitators to build a complete course proposal. During the actual IS/IP itself, students are assigned a cohort for the trimester that meets during an assigned class period. Each class contains a mixture of independent work time, check-ins with facilitators, and presentations where students share their learning with others in their cohort, providing support and feedback for one another. Additionally, students are encouraged to seek out individual “Content Experts” who have more specialized knowledge to serve as consultants for their learning.

As the Independent Curriculum Co-Facilitators, our goal is to help students navigate a pathway towards their unique desired learning outcome. We do that by building individual relationships with each student, emphasizing empathetic dialogue in our weekly check-ins. Ultimately, every single one of these projects upholds key tenets in our EPS mission. Through designing their IS/IP, students had to think critically about their goal and the resources that they needed to reach that goal. They had to act responsibly to complete the independent work to reach their own learning outcomes. They had to innovate wisely whenever they encountered situations where what they planned does not match exactly what they expected. Lastly, the presentation of their work first to their cohorts, and then to the entire school community with the poster sessions, shows their ability to lead compassionately.

This opportunity to design, build, and pursue a unique course of study is a special part of the EPS experience, and we invite you to join us in celebrating the journey with our current group of IS/IP students in the next symposium on Friday, May 30 during Middle Band!