The Real World Classroom
[Sponsored Article]
What do you remember most about your time as a student? Apart from the friendships made, it is often one particular teacher or project that sparked a life-long interest. Creating these experiences and moments is the goal of the Cornerstones Program. Launched this year at Stamford American School Hong Kong, the project offers unique hands-on learning experiences under the guidance of faculty and industry mentors. Unlike an internship or an organizational affiliation, this project is fully integrated as part of course credit for Grade 9 and 10 students at Stamford. Each semester offers an opportunity to work with one of the school's partners on a hands-on project. The projects are as unique as the students as they expand beyond the curriculum and delve deeply into their chosen topic.
This year the Cornerstones Program allowed students to work with Oxfam, MIT Innovation Node, SCMP Young Post, and Hong Kong Art School. The partners offer students a diverse selection of venues to hone their skills and talents, or for some, the opportunity to be risk-takers and explore a new subject area.
Reflecting on her semester one experience, Grade 9 student Jayee found it very beneficial, "The Cornerstones project has allowed us, students, to recognize difficulties and challenges we would face in the real world. It helps students be more prepared and learn new things."
Some stand-out projects included an app to help better control littering in Hong Hong, strategies to make our cities greener, plans to eradicate discriminatory policies against minorities, and thoughtful articles on student-led topics. Even with the challenges of Covid-19, the project went ahead as planned and adjusted to fit the changing health and safety restrictions.
"With our semester one MIT Cornerstones project ending, I was overwhelmed by just how much the students had accomplished. Like them, I had dutifully gone to the MIT Node and watched as they learned. It wasn't until the final day when students had a chance to present their work to a panel of judges (the challenge was to make a product to promote 'Green Cities') where I truly saw what they had achieved. Every presentation was slick, clean, the students had prepared, and they handled the Q&A with the judges with grace. Truly a proud teacher moment!" commented Mr. Tristan Benson, MIT Project Teacher Coordinator.
With the second semester underway, students are now working on their second Cornerstones experience and taking some of the fundamental learning principles from their first projects and applying them to their work this term.
This semester, Kristy, who worked on a Green Cities project at MIT Innovation Node last semester, chose the Hong Kong Art School project to pursue her art passion further. She recently completed her Sophomore Project, where she designed a functional and decorative ceramic to help beautify small living spaces, an issue for many in Hong Kong. Further diving into the art world this semester, she is excited to explore her passion and develop her collaboration skills.
The program will build on the current focus on innovation, student leadership, visual art, and journalism. Adding exciting new options such as design thinking, entrepreneurship and e-commerce, architecture, and game design will be available next year in the Cornerstones Program. As Stamford prepares for its first graduating cohort, the unique learning opportunities offered by the Cornerstones Project, as well as three graduating pathways, will provide endless possibilities for students.