Sparking Civic Engagement by Building in Public Spaces
Sixteen-year-old Alexa gains hands-on experience and leadership skills by collaborating on a play space for kids through Philadelphia’s Public Workshop, which promotes community engagement and innovation.
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Edutopia's new series profiles young people who are making their learning more authentic by taking it into their own hands, on their own time. This series is produced by Mobile Digital Arts and Twin Cities Public Television, as a companion to an hour-long PBS special that is now available to watch.
More Resources on Community and Civic Engagement
- BLOG: Studio H: How Design/Build Curriculum Can Transform a Community
Edutopia blogger Suzie Boss talks with the teacher behind a project where students designed a farmers' market pavilion that earned them early college credits along with summer stipends.
- BLOG: Bringing Authenticity to the Classroom
Edutopia blogger Andrew Miller examines a few of the ways to bring authenticity into your PBL classroom with projects that benefit the community.
- BLOG: Students Take Action in the Community
Edutopia blogger Suzie Boss explains how thousands of kids volunteer their time and energy to improve their schools and neighborhoods.
Philadelphia-based Public Workshop creates uniquely engaging opportunities for youth to shape the design of their cities and changes the way they participate as citizens and leaders in their communities. Tiny WPA is a Public Workshop program, launched in July of 2012, that encourages groups of young people to make a transformative contribution to their neighborhood. Keep up to date with Public Workshop on Twitter.
Visit the Is School Enough? series page to see more videos on informal learning.