Harnessing Harkness: the Art of Cultivating Communication

"I discovered I'm not the only one who's right. By really listening to the others in the discussion, I learned to be open to different ideas—and to build on them. The goal isn't to win, like in a debate. It's to come up with better, stronger ideas by listening and responding to each other." Grade 11 student Kylie Lee is speaking about participating in Harkness discussions in her English classes at Lakefield College School. More and more Lakefield is incorporating the Harkness Method into its English courses with an eye to enhancing communication skills. And it's working. "It makes you pay more attention than you do when the teacher leads discussions. You have to respond to what others say, so you can't hide—you don't have the option of not not putting up your hand," says another Gr. 11 student, Keely Matsusaki. Developed by the Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) in New…

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You Don’t Find the Sugar Shack, The Sugar Shack Finds you

Smell is one of our most powerful senses. It evokes memories long forgotten. A particular aroma can take you straight back to childhood, vividly recalling your mother’s favourite spaghetti sauce. Or perhaps the first time you visited the local fair. For Lakefield College School’s Head of Cooper House and Outdoor Education Assistant, Garret Hart, his memory comes alive with the smell of maple syrup. When he describes the first time he came across the Sugar Shack at LCS, he doesn’t just tell a story—he paints a poignant, elaborate, detailed picture. “I was walking through the ropes course behind Colebrook House, and there was this amazing smell wafting through the air. I’ll never forget it. I followed it to see a motorcycle parked by a little tin shack. There sat Ken Sunderland in a puffy yellow down vest, casually reading an article from the American Association of Physicists. I remember it…

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Exploring the Ever-Shifting Landscape of Education

Collaboration Leads to Connection Since November, 61 LCS staff members across all school departments have participated in 15 professional development trips. We’ve visited leading-edge organizations and businesses like MaRS Discovery District, Shopify, Evergreen Brickworks, the Centre for Social Innovation, and the Peterborough and Kawarthas Innovation Cluster; and educational institutions such as the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI), The Global Online Academy (GOA), the Rotman School of Management, the Universities of Ottawa and Toronto, and a number of public and independent schools. We’ve explored topics related to strategic property and infrastructure development, grade-less assessment, teaching, and entrepreneurship, while focusing on the ever-shifting landscape of education and jobs. Below are a few of the high-level observations made by our faculty and staff capturing what they believe to be key skill sets, characteristics and environments essential for LCS to consider while exploring how best to prepare students for success. Skills Students Will Need in The Future…

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