Co-operative Education
The Value of Social Learning
2010 has started on an extremely positive note here at Greenwood. Students and teachers returned from their various winter trips with many good things to share. One of the recurring themes from these reports was that the excursions enabled many or our students – in the words of Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound – to discover there is “more in you than you think.” Hahn believed that experiential education provided unparalleled opportunities for self-discovery as each of us possesses more courage, compassion and strength than we recognize. This is precisely why over the duration of Greenwood’s four- or six-year-program, students encounter a progressive series of character-building experiences.
One other benefit of these outings occurs in the realm of social learning. So often, we presume that learning flows from teacher to student. However, the very design of our experiential program enables students to learn from one another in a variety of settings and situations. Working with your group to build a quinzee, or manage the team of dogs that pulls your sled for the week, affords our students great opportunities to share and learn from each other. Many thanks to our teachers for planning the experiences and accompanying our students on the trips!
Co-operative Education Program
One aspect of our school that really differentiates us from other independent schools in Toronto is our co-operative education program. I reflected on this observation as a guest at our recent co-op luncheon and fair. This event serves as a culminating event for students and placement supervisors. It is a great way for both parties to celebrate a job well done, and for our Grade 11 students to share what they have learned from the year-long, two credit course with a variety of staff members and guests.
I really appreciate the placement supervisors taking time out from their busy schedules to participate in the luncheon. Their recognition means so much to our students. I took great pride in hearing from placement supervisors that they enjoyed having a Greenwood student play an active role in the operation of their workplace. I was also struck by the breadth of the authentic learning experiences available to our students. The range of career interests represented at the fair really speaks to the school’s mission of individualized education and learning beyond the classroom. Hopefully, a number of students will pursue co-operative education ventures at the postsecondary level.