Middle School gearing up for 'Midmester'

What do you do when you’re offered a chance to take a class that can teach you how to make better donuts?
You sign up for the class, of course. And hopefully, you eat some donuts.
Donut-making is one of several skills students will have the opportunity to learn in an atypical way when the Midmester Academy opens at New Hampton Middle School later this month.
“It’s focused on 21st-century skills,” New Hampton Middle School Principal Matt Manson said. “Problem solving and critical skills, communication and collaboration.”
This will be the second year the school offers the classes, which Manson said is an enjoyable break in the routine for the students. New Hampton High School presented a similar “J-Term” in January this year, in which students immersed themselves in a three-day class in which teachers taught courses that they were passionate about. J-Term Classes included things like “Analyzing the Criminal Mind,” “The Art of Geometry,” “Baseball’s Place in U.S. History,” “Extreme World War II for the Ultimate History Buff” and “A Tale of Two Philosophies: Exploration of Medical Practices,” just to name several.
Manson said one of the middle school classes that caught his eye for the Midmester this year is called, “Will You Go Out With Me?”
No, it isn’t a class about dating, but about the outdoors — Manson said it will feature kayaking, hiking and other recreational opportunities in the New Hampton area.
“This year the Midmester is in the spring, so some of these classes can take advantage of that and learn outside,” Manson said.
Unlike last year, when it was held during the winter cold, this year’s Midmester Academy will start March 26 and run through April 13.
“It was a great experience for our kids and our community and we look forward to doing it again,” said Manson.
The academy is founded on a strong focus on teamwork, real-world application of what’s learned, problem-solving skills and innovative support such as unique scheduling and team teaching.
And most of all, it’s fun.
“Last year we saw that the kids really enjoyed seeing education happen in a different way,” Manson said. “This year, many of the classes will be focused on getting out into the community.”
It’s called problem-based learning, which is defined as rigorous learning intended to teach significant content, requires inquiry and creativity, is organized around open-ended driving questions, creates a need to know content and skills, allows the students voice and choice, includes processes for revision and reflection and involves a relevant and real audience.
 
For more of this article, see Tuesday's Tribune.

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