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Home > Resources > School Design
Individualizing My Own Learning
What first attracted me to the Met was the chance to individualize my own learning. I felt like I always learned much more when I chose something to research on my own than when I was subjected to a pre-set curriculum in school. The ability to choose what I want to do each year has been extremely important. This year, I am starting a school humor magazine that I will edit and publish myself. I am also writing an autobiography, which is a school-wide senior year requirement. Last year I designed and painted a six-by-eight foot mural in the twelfth grade classroom. The year before, I studied Japanese at an accelerated level and then took a trip to Japan.
At the Met, you're encouraged to take on more than you think you can (but if it gets too overwhelming, you can talk to your advisor and shift your learning plan). You quickly realize the need to budget your time, follow through on your commitments, and be organized. The consequences are not a slap on the wrist- they can be real, and result in the loss of an opportunity for an internship or a college class. I think that's very important.
Because the curriculum is so specific to the individual student's personality and goals, it's important for teachers to know students pretty well to help develop learning plans that are acceptable to the
students and the school's requirements. Also, the better the teachers
know what their students are capable of, the better they can push the
students to work as hard as possible. At some point or another, most Met kids instinctively try to take advantage of the school's flexibility to do as little work as possible. But once teachers get a good idea of what's easy and what's difficult for each student, they can better help design the learning plans to challenge without overwhelming.
In normal school, I was always intimidated by teachers. But I like feeling like I can talk to my advisor. If you know your teacher well, you're more likely to ask questions and to communicate frankly about your education.
by Laura Hughes
Laura Hughes writes and illustrates the comedy web site www.lanceandeskimo.com and is a senior at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Page last updated: December 13, 2002
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