Tag Archives: linked learning

High school students research Houston environmental issues

City Hall Meeting

Furr HS environmental communications students present at a Houston City Council hearing with program business partners, Jackie Young of Texans Together and Juan Parras of T.E.J.A.S.

Furr High School students testified before Houston City Council on Dec. 16, asking authorities to reject a new trash proposal currently under consideration by the city. According to reports, the council members were impressed with the students’ speeches.

The students are enrolled in Furr’s Environmental Communications pathway, part of HISD’s Linked Learning program that combines rigorous academics with hands-on learning and real-world experiences, thanks in part to a $30 million federal Race to the Top grant.

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Students give up texting, social media for technology timeout

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Most students can’t put down their phone long enough to go days without texting or accessing their social media account. But several students at Eastwood Academy were up for the challenge.  Continue reading →

Middle school students tour TAMU-Galveston, learn about maritime studies

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It was the trip of the year for Woodson Leadership Academy sixth-graders. Nearly 100 youngsters traveled to Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) to explore the world of marine and maritime studies.

The students split into small groups, and Texas A&M students took them on walking tours of the campus located on Pelican Island, followed by a hands-on lesson about oysters from Wetlands Center and Field Trip Coordinator William Daily. Daily jumped into the water at the Dr. Sammy and Charlotte Ray Oyster Garden and started fishing around for oysters to show eager students, who passed around them around, marveling at tiny creatures attached to the rough shells. Continue reading →

HISD educators, administrators tour California schools integrating Linked Learning approach

A team of 40 school educators and  district support staff recently traveled to California for a site visit of five schools that have successfully combined core academics with career-based knowledge and skills in collaborative and research-intensive learning environments known as Linked Learning. Continue reading →

U.S. Dept. of Education checks out HISD’s Linked Learning

Visit by U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Nadya Chinoy Dabby, to Eastwood Academy. (Houston Independent School District)

Nadya Chinoy Dabby visited Eastwood Academy on Oct. 22, 2014.

U.S. Department of Education Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Nadya Chinoy Dabby, toured Eastwood Academy and visited several HISD Apollo 20 campuses Wednesday. She visited the campuses to see the progress that has been made through the federal Race to The Top grant that HISD was awarded 10 months ago.

The $30 million grant is helping to fund the district’s new Linked Learning approach that places real-life career experiences in the classroom. The initiative launched this school year beginning with 40 schools. Continue reading →

Linked Learning kicks off at Westside HS

Freshmen at Westside High School entered the auditorium to cheers of encouragement from their peers at the school’s recent kickoff for Linked Learning, a district initiative that places real-life career experience in the classroom. The event allows students who expressed an interest in digital media and design to learn more about Linked Learning and their ninth-grade project.

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“They’ll get the opportunity to learn about things they’re passionate about,” said Adam Stephens, assistant superintendent of Linked Learning. Continue reading →

Verdict is unanimous: Legal internships provide solid evidence of nurturing attorneys

Even HISD’s own Assistant General Counsel Izzy Anderson is a product of the CIS program

Until this summer, Davis High School student Shantelle Martinez had never set foot in a real courtroom. Now, the rising senior is planning for a career in criminal justice—and all because of her experience in an eight-week legal internship program this summer coordinated by Communities in Schools (CIS), in partnership with the Houston Bar Association. Continue reading →

Externships allow educators to ‘practice what they preach’

Linked Learning teachers gain first-hand knowledge to bring back to the classroom

Thirty HISD teachers shadowed healthcare professionals, construction crews and business professionals last week in order to better connect industry standards with classroom content and learning strategies.

“I think it’s an excellent opportunity to give teachers,” said Memorial Hermann Chief Nursing Officer Melody Dickerson. ”Most individuals only have that experience having been a patient or a customer of our services. They’re going to get a behind-the-scenes approach to what’s going on.” Continue reading →

Question: ‘What skills should all HISD graduates possess?’

HISD staff collaborated with leaders in business and post-secondary education last week to create a graduate profile that reflects expectations the district wants all high school graduates to meet in order to be successful in college, career, and life — and the public and board of trustees will soon have a chance to weigh-in on this important benchmark.

“We want to make sure that our graduates leave with skills that are required to be successful in colleges and careers of the 21st century,” said Assistant Superintendent for Linked Learning Adam Stephens.

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Linked Learning crafts new pathways for college and career

Educators from eight HISD high schools — Chavez, Eastwood Academy, Furr, Lee, Milby, Reagan, Sterling, and Westside — are spending their summer designing industry-themed programs of study intended to make learning exciting, challenging and relevant to real-world experiences. The program, known as Linked Learning, will help students build a strong foundation that leads to fulfilling and successful college and career experiences.

“It’s amazing. It’s awesome,” said Linked Learning superintendent Adam Stephens.

Linked Learning pathways differ from Texas House Bill 5’s mandated pathways. Continue reading →