Knowledge
A school where the world is the classroom and seeing & experiencing is learning
Experiential learning is learning through one’s experiences. A school in the US takes it quite literally.The Think Global School is an independent high- school affiliated to the International Baccalaureate Programme.
Experiential learningis learning through one’s experiences. A school in the US takes it quite literally.
The Think Global Schoolis an independent high- school affiliated to the International BaccalaureateProgramme. The school literally has no walls, though it’s headquarters are in New York, it has no physical campus. TheTHINK Global School aims to challenge students through first-hand experiences and to turn them into compassionate individuals, who are curious and motivated to affect meaningful change.The school, received its founding donation from travel photographer Joanne McPike.
THINK students at the Equator
THINK is a school which gives the students the opportunity to live and explore three countries over the course of a year, all while learning about their local culture and values. In the past, their students have heard the oral history of The Great Wall of China recited while hiking it, recreated the journey from Homer’s epic poem ’The Odyssey’ by island-hopping around Greece, and ascended to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Next year they plan to travel to Canada, Morocco and Peru.
THINK students on the Great Wall of China
THINK bases its doctrine on research that suggests people build the greatest empathy for others when they can experience a taste of their world.
THINK was started in 2010 with a bundle of 15 children, as the first international travelling boarding school. Now it has over 45 students, but not much has changed it remains to be the only travelling boarding school of its kind in the world.
A THINK student at the tiger’s nest in Bhutan
But molding future model citizens of the world isn't cheap. THINK charges $79,000 for a year of education —including tuition, room and board, planned activities, and smaller fees like insurance and support costs. Students also receive their own Mac Book, iPhone, and iPad upon enrollment. Although cost is an offset for a number of families, THINK offers sliding-Scale tuition. Students also learn subjects like math and science, and in the 11th grade they begin preparing for the International Baccalaureate exams they use to get into college. The school says its students regularly test above the national average.
The THINK Global School has proven to the world that education does not need a place but needs instead a habit of mind.
Images Courtesy: THINK Global School
Video Courtesy: YouTube New Zealand Herald