What is the Jasper Learning Initiative?
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The Jasper Learning Initiative offers a learning experience that values collaboration, curiosity, and authenticity. Our students will be empowered to work in community inspired, project based and inquiry driven opportunities. As we build this experience, strong relationships between students, teachers and the community will fuel our growth. |
The Jasper Difference: Project-Based Learning
In Jasper, projects are valued more than tests. Students learn through and while doing projects and get to show their understanding through projects.
When students are learning how to drive a car, they will need to know various street signs and they might even get a quiz about those street signs. It's important to know. However, it's more important that they know how to drive safely and no paper test is going to tell us that. The behind-the-wheel driving test is comparable to our projects and we value these opportunities to show evidence of understanding in an authentic, meaningful way.
When students are learning how to drive a car, they will need to know various street signs and they might even get a quiz about those street signs. It's important to know. However, it's more important that they know how to drive safely and no paper test is going to tell us that. The behind-the-wheel driving test is comparable to our projects and we value these opportunities to show evidence of understanding in an authentic, meaningful way.
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Another Jasper Difference: Community Involvement
If you look at the projects above, you'll notice that they go beyond the classroom and involve others. Jasper places value on community involvement. This includes partnering with FD Market and Switchback Pizza for projects or donating our projects to other schools. We have students working on passion projects that both involve and benefit the community. When students are in 11th and 12th grade, the community involvement becomes internships that help them and various businesses.
While this is not always something we can do with every project of any size and scale, we try and do more and more of this each year. We think community collaboration builds better humans and prepares them for life after high school. There are great teachers in our community with lots to share to our students. We also think projects that involve the community have a greater sense of authenticity - these aren't projects just for a grade that will not go beyond the classroom. We want it to be real.
While this is not always something we can do with every project of any size and scale, we try and do more and more of this each year. We think community collaboration builds better humans and prepares them for life after high school. There are great teachers in our community with lots to share to our students. We also think projects that involve the community have a greater sense of authenticity - these aren't projects just for a grade that will not go beyond the classroom. We want it to be real.
Benefits and Impacts of Jasper Learning Initiative
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Learn more about the benefits and impacts of the Jasper Learning Initiative by watching this video.
This video also features the EHS teachers who teach our Jasper courses. |
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