About Learning

Learning is not always linear. It's not always concrete. It is an elusive, moving target. Learning anything new can be frustrating as well as fun, and like everything else, it takes practice. And to add another twist, we all learn differently!

One thing doesn't change though and that is learning something new and difficult requires effort. In many cases, positive results take time and faith.  Learners cannot expect to sit passively and expect everything to come to them. They are required to leave the cave, hunt the animal, and drag it back to the cave. They need to initiate and build meaning, actively!

Students at Summit School are cultured to contribute to their learning as a member of a crew, but they also have to be individually responsible to remain active. This is what it looks like:

*Clarifying something for further understanding

*Initiating questions

*Pursuing deeper understanding

*Exploring beyond the assignment

*Taking risks

*Managing failure

In other words, kids aren't sitting by like existers, like birds in a nest waiting for the worm to show up. Here, kids are expected to lay their ears back and become active seekers. Doing something just for the "grade" or just for "extra credit" will not help learners become who they need to become. And make no mistake about it, we need to become WHO we need to become. We need to become something bigger. We need to expect more out of ourselves because sooner or later, someone very close to us, as well as the world, will depend on it!