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Experiential Learning Isn’t Just for Students

Embarking on the 2021-22 school year was a unique experience for teachers worldwide. At Episcopal, faculty looked forward not only to the return of all EHS students, but also to the opportunity to fully implement the much anticipated new weekly schedule, which was waylaid by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Laying aside the conventions of the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. school day, Episcopal’s new schedule fully leverages the School’s unique position as one of only four 100% boarding schools in the country, and as the only one located just minutes from the nation’s capital. Among the myriad benefits of the new schedule is the creation of a midday flex block dedicated to experiential learning opportunities. Every other week, each class has the chance to combine its regular block period with a 75-minute flex time to create a two-and-a-half hour experience in the Washington region that links directly to the students’ academic work. This translates to classes heading into D.C. four times a week for unparalleled learning through meaningful real-world experiences.

Developing the partnerships in, and curating the resources of, the greater Washington region to support the curricular work at Episcopal is no small endeavor. Enter our McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage. Staffed by a cadre of impassioned EHS educators, the Center strives to support faculty in connecting their curriculum offerings with the vast resources of the greater D.C. area, and actively creates professional development opportunities in support of experiential learning and teaching. 

“The best way to understand and begin employing experiential education is to ‘live’ it, or be immersed in such experiences, with the opportunity to reflect and plan outside of the classroom,” explained Jeremy Goldstein, Director of the McCain-Ravenel Center.

To that end, all teachers embarked on “Flexperiences” themselves during faculty meetings in late August. They headed to a host of destinations that included the National Mall, where they discussed topics such as how societies decide what to memorialize and what factors contribute to the timing of memorials; the Eden Center, where they learned about the development of the largest Southeast Asian (Vietnamese) shopping mall on the East Coast and the history of the Vietnamese community in Northern Virginia; Arlington National Cemetery, where they visited gravesites of notable people many do not realize are interred at the site; and Del Ray, where they used Sanborn insurance maps and other primary sources to explore its history.

The deep dive into first-hand experiential learning led to some creative and authentic visioning of how the flex block Washington Experiences could enhance both classroom instruction and community building. The afternoon explorations also garnered rave reviews from Episcopal faculty members. 

Mathematics and Computer Science teacher Pierce Brennan’s and Assistant Chaplain Richmond Jones’s group visited sites that honored the enslaved peoples of Alexandria. “The flex block excursion was one of the best experiences I have had as an educator,” said Brennan. “The power of the day was in its simplicity. The experience was engaging, powerful, and effective in the teaching process. I am excited to leverage the flex block in my classes to teach beyond the traditional mathematics content and allow for experiential learning that the students will hopefully remember for many years after leaving EHS.”

Similarly, Jones was deeply moved. “Ms. English and Ms. Goldstein did an excellent job of walking us through the sites and sharing the historic importance of each. It helped me understand how necessary these trips are in creating an expanding awareness of the complexity of the world outside our campus and our responsibility as educators to expose our students to that world and equip them with the tools to process it.”

Stacie Galiger, also a member of the math and computer science department, was inspired as well: “Our excursion to Winkler Preserve was a great reminder that there are so many amazing places so close to campus. We were only 3 miles away yet felt completely removed from school. The idea of being able to take little adventures like that with our classes is exciting from a number of perspectives, and while getting off campus can be a great way to enhance content it is also a wonderful opportunity for building community.”

The faculty experiences were varied and also included treks to Lafayette Square, St. John’s Church and the Ashburton House, Black Lives Matter Plaza, The Phillips Collection, the southwest waterfront and the National Mall.

In reflecting on the August trips facilitated by the McCain-Ravenel Center, Goldstein said, “My colleagues had the opportunity to connect with each other and reconnect with one of the elements of Episcopal’s unique style of teaching and learning: Washington-based opportunities. In these small expeditions faculty were able to creatively explore the places that make the National Capitol Region special, while working on the craft of experiential education. We are all invested in creating unique and impactful student-centered experiences and these expeditions were a powerful way for us to jumpstart our planning for this year. I cannot wait to see where we go!”
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