Today’s episode is all about contribution, featuring Getting Smart’s very own Tom Vander Ark and Dr. Emily Liebtag.

 

High school has always been thought of as preparation for college and careers. But what if it were a time when teenagers actually started making a difference in their community? What if young people had the chance to figure out what they’re interested in, what they’re good at, and how they could start making a contribution? Tom and Emily argue that students contributing to their community might be the best form of preparation there could be!

 

In this episode, Tom and Emily give their five reasons high schools should focus on contribution. They also provide several examples of schools doing just that; engaging young people in making the world better starting right where they are!

 

Key Takeaways:

[:14] About today’s episode.

[1:05] Emily and Tom chat about today’s discussion.

[2:58] What the Getting Smart team sees as the most valuable skills in the future and the types of experiences youth need in order to develop these skills.

[5:33] The importance of contribution for young people leaving high school.

[8:05] Examples from Tom Vander Ark of contribution.

[10:11] Emily shares a great quote on the importance of contribution.

[12:05] Why schools (especially high schools) should focus on contribution.

[13:13] Schools that are great examples of agency and collaboration by dealing with real community problems.

[14:16] The second reason why schools should focus on contribution: students become more motivated and engaged through making a contribution.

[15:31] Emily and Tom’s third reason in favor of contribution: their impact on pressing issues such as climate change and AI.

[20:42] Some more examples of schools where these contribution experiences are happening.

[24:00] A new project that provides a terrific entry point for contribution: The Purpose Project.

[25:45] About Getting Smart’s guidebook in collaboration with Teton Science Schools.

[26:30] Emily poses this question to listeners: Think about a memorable learning experience you’ve had (99% of the time people will share an example of a time they made a contribution!)

[27:52] The best example of contribution Tom and Emily have seen.

[28:30] How we can help aid students in contributing.

[29:31] What to follow-up on after listening to this week’s episode!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

“Ask About AI,” by Getting Smart

HQPBL.org

SXSW

The Kern Family Foundation

KEEN Conference

Seth Godin

Health Leadership High School

ACE Leadership High School

Circulos High School (in Santa Ana)

Gloo (Analytics for Personal Growth)

AI4ALL

Tess Posner of AI4ALL

Iowa BIG

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Latitude High School

Crosstown High School

Purdue Polytechnic High School

Design Tech High School

Olin College

One Stone High School

One Stone’s One Event

The Purpose Project

Getting Smart’s Guidebook in collaboration with Teton Science Schools to be released in 2020

Teton Science Schools

PlaceSchools.org

Larry Rosenstock (CEO of High Tech High)

Cajon Valley Union School District

 

To Learn About Colleges Engaging Learners in Applied Learning, Check Out:

Episode 191 where leaders from Northeastern University talk about a new Ph.D. program where candidates immediately begin action research, and episode 190 where Amon Millner from Olin college talks about extending access to coding and computational thinking from kindergarten to college.

 

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

 

Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered?

To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line.

The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!