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Incoporating Student Voice into Orientation at El Centro

In 2009, Big Picture Philadelphia acquired a contract with the School District of Philadelphia to open El Centro de Estudiantes, an alternative school. Over the last three years, El Centro has enrolled an average of 150 students a year. All of our students participate in real world learning opportunities. Students gain motivation, parents/guardians are actively involved in their children’s education and hundreds of partners throughout the city provide real world opportunities and mentorship.

Type of School

Alternative

Grade Level

Ages 15-20

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Project Team

Andrew
Christman

Dan
Schimmel

Nina
Bilynsky

Andrea
Fullington

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Define

A clear, human-centered and open-ended design challenge

Design Challenge

How might we incorporate student voices into conveying expectations for success at El Centro?

Project Pitch

Due to the constant flow of students in and out of our school each trimester, Team El Centro recognizes that our school is constantly in flux, and that our staff members have become experts at embracing the reality of change. We asked ourselves, “Why do students come to El Centro, and does our Orientation adequately prepare them for success in such a dynamic environment? What are their expectations about our program?" We look forward to creating a more effective Orientation process at El Centro.

Explore

A new understanding of your design challenge

Key Observation

"It’s not the nuts and bolts. They’ll get it eventually. Philosophically we want to help them take their education back in their own hands. They need to feel and celebrate that they’re a little bit better off because they came to our orientation." "We want them to feel the climate and culture. It’s not limited to just the “no fighting” but we want them to feel the core values, and the fact that teachers speak to them. They should observe the interactions between teachers and students."

Exploration Plan

To understand people's experience of the challenge, we used interviews and observation with students, advisors, and other staff to learn about students' expectations coming into the program. We also learned about orientation processes at other schools and organizations. To better understand the system surrounding orientation, we also learned how staff at the re-engagement center recruit students into El Centro.

Reflect

A clear direction for solving for your design challenge

Design Principles

Benefit both students and staff.
Support Outcomes: Academic Foundations, School Culture, Attendance, LTI.
Embrace the Dynamic of Change, "Focus in the Flux."
Promote collaboration and cooperation.
Create value together that can't be created alone.
Foster positive relationships within El Centro and in the greater Community.

Insights

The vast majority of current El Centro heard about the school through word of mouth--primarily friends, with siblings being a close second. This points to a possible channel of recruitment that may have been overlooked in the past, and may contribute to a greater atmosphere of family within the school. Students also desire a stronger sign of cohesion (uniforms) within our school community. We must answer the questions: What kind of school are we, and whom do we serve?

Imagine

An exciting idea that will positively impact people's experiences

Concept Summary

A council of current and alumni students who will collaborate with staff and provide insight on new student readiness during the gateway orientation process. The council will participate in its development and the creation of projects used to convey expectations for new students.

The New Experience

We realized that word of mouth plays a central role in recruitment, and that by encouraging students to prepare their peers for the El Centro experience, then we as a community could effectively cultivate positive school culture. Ultimately, the student experience would be improved because expectations would be apparent, and new students would respond to the leadership of their peers.

Play

A prototype of your idea that has been tested and validated

Design Prototype

Solution Evolution

Team El Centro decided to create a prototype to test the effectiveness of incorporating student voices by convening a student focus group. Participation will be voluntary, and evenly-representative of our student population. The Team received positive feedback about the prototype, most notably that many schools do not implement such student-centered practices within their institutions. This encourages us to cultivate student leadership beyond the focus group.

Transform

A meaningful solution and new problem-solving approach

Next Steps

Team El Centro will meet with the Student Focus (in the flux) Group on June 11, 2014. By this time we expect to have more information about the status of Gateway. Also, we anticipate more students joining the discussion, and will ask students to commit to leadership roles for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Project Link

http://vimeo.com/thebif/review/104721034/8f882fcd43

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