Hunter Mabley says he struggled with high school courses at Widdifield Senior Secondary, but when he made the transition to Laurentian Learning Centre, things changed.
Mabley is one of more than 100 at-risk students who attend the learning centre. Right now, he’s part of project-based learning as he’s in the middle of a project where he and his classmates are working together to build a shed on school grounds.
Mabley loves the experience because when he is finished school he is hoping to become either a carpenter, plumber or an electrician.
“First things first it is a lot more fun, it is a lot more hands-on and I prefer to learn hands-on so it is easier for me to learn,” said Mabley.
“It just so happens to be what I want to do when I grow up so it is a great experience, great work experience plus you get all the schooling information you are going to get sitting in a classroom.
“To me, it feels like a better way to learn - of course not to everyone - but for those of us who like to learn hands-on I find it is a better way to learn.”
Ramona Lynn, who is the vice principal at Laurentian Learning Centre, is thrilled with the impact project-based learning is having on the students here.
“Research has shown that if students are committed to learning by doing project-based learning - hands-on learning basically - they are going to embed that learning in all kinds of curriculum,” she said.
“So some of the projects that we are doing at Laurentian Learning Centre right now are project-based - building a shed, building a greenhouse, doing activities like that where we are still maintaining and we are still able to get an academic credit but the kids are involved more with the hands-on learning so it is a great way of getting kids to feel confident of their learning and also engaged.”
Lynn believes this different perspective on learning helps teach the students about life skills as well.
“So the skills that they are learning here - hands-on stuff - they are going to be able to go out in the community and be good citizens of our community and so they are going to take those skills with them but the learning is embedded so it is not just getting a piece of paper.”
