Here at The Anacapa School we, the faculty and staff, enjoy teaching in an experiential way whenever possible. We believe that through experiential learning our students grasp ideas and concepts and think critically much more than in a classroom that utilizes only traditional teaching methods. Experiential learning takes place in each subject and class at Anacapa. The following are just a few examples of what experiential learning looks like at our school.
Gordon’s Classes: Final exams have included oral presentations about a specific event or historical person in which each student presents a topic for the entire class. Gordon’s classes, especially the Lower School American Society class, also extend their “book learning” with numerous field trips and guest speakers,
Bryan’s Classes: In the month of December, each Algebra student will be designing and constructing scale drawings, elevations, and models of their custom dream home. Other math classes take field trips to Karl Storz and Raytheon, as well as to the Courthouse for a lesson on ratios.
Suzie’s Classes: Suzie’s Italian classes cook often and take in an opera from time to time. Her Art classes enjoy creating their own work, and Geometry has played pool and miniature golf to experience reflection.
Peggy’s Classes: Peggy’s Literature classes will be acting out plays, going to the library to select free-choice reading books, brainstorming in groups, and making up their own topics for stories and compositions. The AP Literature class will be working with translators of both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Canterbury Tales. For Peggy’s Health class and other Lower School students, there will be speakers, field trips, and gardening.
Beth’s Classes: Beth’s Geography class reads about current events online and analyzes how they apply to the physical geography. A field trip to Fairview Gardens to talk to farmers who grow sustainable crops enhances understanding as students experience, first-hand, some of the principles they study. In Literature, students engage in the whole writing process—from brainstorming to drafting, revising, proofing, and publishing—so that Beth can fully support them.
Hugo’s Classes: Spanish classes perform skits and make short films in class to understand the language and culture on a new level.
Jason’s Classes: Jason and his almost-daily science experiments give students something tangible to learn from. Looking at local water samples through microscopes and collecting bug specimens in the Lower School are just a little of what has taken place so far in science this fall.
Other Opportunities for Experiential Learning at Anacapa: Active participation through experiential learning is a hallmark of our afternoon elective program. Arts classes—such as Paula’s Ceramics, Brent’s Photography, Salli’s Performing Arts, Beth’s Creative Writing, Hugo’s Ensemble Music, and Peggy’s Weaving—are the ultimate expression of hands-on learning. In our Sports classes—such as Soccer, Surfing, Sailing, Pilates, Gym Fitness, Kickboxing, Squash, and Golf—the emphasis is also on learning by doing.
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The school senate, or student leadership, has countless experiential opportunities that promote understanding and growth. From facilitating Breakfast Club to deciding on Friday afternoon activities, planning dances and other events for the entire school, volunteering at local charities, and fundraising to pay for school activities or to give to charity, these specially elected students learn that service and time commitments are very powerful tools in helping others.
Of course, Anacapa’s school trips are, as Gordon Sichi stated in the Fall 2006 Newsletter, “well-known examples of our inclination for the experiential. We plan and organize our own multi-day trips with students and teachers working together from start to finish.”
As you can see, Anacapa participates in experiential learning whenever the opportunity arises, and the faculty capitalizes on these adventures. In closing, I’d like to mention that on November 2, the entire school will be heading to De La Guerra Plaza to visit the Super Colon Exhibit presented by the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara. It should be quite an EXPERIENCE!
~ Compiled and Written by Bryan Anderson