Foster City Islander Article - 11-22-2006
|
Charter Public |
Phyllis Moore, President, Foster City High School Foundation |
|
Hands-on Learning in the Real World
The 21st century abounds with more chaos and complexity than any other time in human history. Today’s world presents challenges not imagined by our parents, and tomorrow’s world will challenge our children in ways that we cannot yet imagine. As globalization transforms our world, every one of us must change or be left behind.
Schools also must change so they can better prepare our children for college and careers in today’s increasingly competitive and uncertain world. For this reason, all students attending Foster City’s charter public high school will complete internships at local companies or organizations. Educators call this “real world learning.”
In today’s fast-paced “video game” culture, many students complain that school is “boring.” When these same students venture into the real world through an internship, they are inspired to learn. This is because the real world, with its natural complexity and drama, makes learning exciting, interesting and relevant. Internships connect students to their future by helping them discover links between the real world and their personal goals.
Two internships completed by students at High Tech High Bayshore (a charter public high school in Redwood City) illustrate the profound power of this approach. David is interested in medicine. He interned at the San Mateo County Forensics Lab, which then offered him a summer job. Forensic medicine now ranks high on David’s list of career options. Chantal is interested in law and interned at the office of US Representative Tom Lantos. In addition to shadowing the Congressman when he was in San Mateo, she researched an immigration issue for one of his constituents. Law and politics are now Chantal’s top career choices.
When students connect to the real world in this way, they find school more rewarding, perform better academically, focus on careers earlier, show greater responsibility, and display improved interpersonal and communication skills. Using real-world experience as a teacher, our high school will help our children to prosper in today’s chaotic and complex world.
