Learning Unlimited was founded in 2007 by a group of alumni who had been involved with Splash at MIT and wanted to make educational opportunities more readily available for all students. With the mission of creating educational opportunities for high school and middle school students, and to provide leadership and teaching opportunities for college students' Learning Unlimited strives to engage students of all ages in an educational setting to share and discover their passions. We accomplish our mission through our core values:
- -Learning Unlimited encourages university students to choose what they most want to teach, using their passion as a resource for effective teaching. Meanwhile, pre-college students choose their own courses, often among hundreds of options, at each of our programs. In this way they become personally invested in their learning. Research has found that choice is a key component to building internal motivation.
- -Learning Unlimited believes that every student should have access to exciting educational experiences. We work to spread our programs as broadly as possible, and to ensure that all programs are either low-cost (with fee waivers available for those with need) or completely free.
- -We encourage children who attend LU's programs to use Splash as a jumping off point to more low-cost or free educational oppertunities to further cultivate their passions. Often times these programs are run by the same students who run Splash.
- -Learning Unlimited encourages its programs to make teaching and leadership opportunities available to all students at each university, so that its programs are accessible to all university students (and often community members). Additionally, we seek to make programs open admission with no application process, or a minimal one to gauge student interest. Thus, our programs are accessible to all pre-college students.
- -Each chapter of Learning Unlimited is an independent organization led by college students. This autonomy builds their leadership skills and self-reliance. Each teacher at a Learning Unlimited program has the autonomy to design their own course without intense oversight. Each student has the autonomy to choose their courses, navigate the campus on their own, and be where they want, when they want. The same research that validates the importance of choice in building internal motivation shows the importance of autonomy.
- -For more details on our work, view what we do.
- -
+
+# About Learning Unlimited
+
+Learning Unlimited was founded in 2007 by a group of alumni who had been involved with Splash at MIT and wanted to make educational opportunities more readily available for all students. With the mission of creating educational opportunities for high school and middle school students, and to provide leadership and teaching opportunities for college students' Learning Unlimited strives to engage students of all ages in an educational setting to share and discover their passions. We accomplish our mission through our core values:
+
+## Choice
+
+Learning Unlimited encourages university students to choose what they most want to teach, using their passion as a resource for effective teaching. Meanwhile, pre-college students choose their own courses, often among hundreds of options, at each of our programs. In this way they become personally invested in their learning. Research has found that choice is a key component to building internal motivation.
+
+## Opportunity
+
+Learning Unlimited believes that every student should have access to exciting educational experiences. We work to spread our programs as broadly as possible, and to ensure that all programs are either low-cost (with fee waivers available for those with need) or completely free.
+
+We encourage children who attend LU's programs to use Splash as a jumping off point to more low-cost or free educational oppertunities to further cultivate their passions. Often times these programs are run by the same students who run Splash.
+
+## Accessibility
+
+Learning Unlimited encourages its programs to make teaching and leadership opportunities available to all students at each university, so that its programs are accessible to all university students (and often community members). Additionally, we seek to make programs open admission with no application process, or a minimal one to gauge student interest. Thus, our programs are accessible to all pre-college students.
+
+## Autonomy
+
+Each chapter of Learning Unlimited is an independent organization led by college students. This autonomy builds their leadership skills and self-reliance. Each teacher at a Learning Unlimited program has the autonomy to design their own course without intense oversight. Each student has the autonomy to choose their courses, navigate the campus on their own, and be where they want, when they want. The same research that validates the importance of choice in building internal motivation shows the importance of autonomy.
+
+For more details on our work, view [what we do](/about/what-we-do).
+
+
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-Learning Unlimited's programs have reached well over 20,000 students, with an estimated program attendance of over 10,000 for 2013-2014 academic year alone. We continue to shape the way thousands ofstudents look at education.
- -
In addition, approximately 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students taught for a Splash program in the past academic year, providing crucial experience communicating ideas and sharing their passions.
- -After our programs, we conduct a survey of participants to measure their response to the program. The results are both informative and motivating.
- - -Found that learning a lot was a lot of fun: -
Found that teaching was both exciting and helpful to them: -
Learning Unlimited (LU) is leading a movement of college students teaching high school students everything and anything. By seeding and supporting self-sustaining student groups at colleges and universities around the world, LU reaches over 10,000 students annually.
- - - -LU's flagship program is Splash. In one weekend, hundreds to thousands of high school and middle school students are invited to a college campus to learn about everything and anything from passionate university students. Splash often serves as a gateway to long-term programs run by the same students.
- -These programs are run by undergraduate or graduate student groups. Each is independent, mentored and supported by LU, with their own budget and leadership.
- -While LU's most well known program is Splash, LU encourages and supports chapters creating and exploring other educational programs of their own. Our purpose is not to dictate or direct chapters what to do or how to do it, it is to provide support and guidance to the student leaders that create and run these programs. This allows college students to take on real leadership roles and work with each other to create a program that is truly their own and works best for their campus and community.
-LU has an intense mentoring process and the amazing college students that take charge of running programs. These up-and-coming leaders run their programs with energy, professionalism, and a real sense of fun.
-LU provides intense mentoring and start-up support, an open-source web platform for every aspect of program management, a knowledge base of organizational guides and best practices, and other shared national resources. With LU's help and guidance, each group customizes their programs to their university, community and individual strengths.
-By engaging volunteers to teach what they love to students not much younger than them, Learning Unlimited opens up a world of possibilities to young minds. For the first time, they can explore topics like urban design, or cosmology, or advanced mathematics, or impressionist art. Students realize that careers are open in these fields, and can picture themselves doing it. They have a chance to explore on their own terms, and then they make that study their own.
- -Learning Unlimited supports programs where students choose between hundreds of classes. Students have the freedom to explore a college campus on their own, and to be treated as responsible adults. Research has repeatedly shown that choice and autonomy, both key features of LU programs, are essential to developing internal motivation in learners.
- - - - - -University student leaders and teachers report benefits to their careers and interest in teaching. Pre-college students report increased interest in learning the topics they see at Splash. See more at our results page.
diff --git a/_about/what-we-do.md b/_about/what-we-do.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e492db --- /dev/null +++ b/_about/what-we-do.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: What We Do +seq: 10 +--- + +# What We Do + +Learning Unlimited (LU) is leading a movement of **college students teaching high school students everything and anything**. By seeding and supporting **self-sustaining student groups** at colleges and universities around the world, LU reaches over 10,000 students annually. + + + +## Splash +LU's flagship program is [Splash](/current-programs). In one weekend, hundreds to thousands of high school and middle school students are invited to a college campus to learn about [everything and anything](/current-programs/classes) from passionate university students. Splash often serves as a gateway to long-term programs run by the same students. + +These programs are run by undergraduate or graduate student groups. Each is independent, mentored and supported by LU, with their own budget and leadership. + +## What Makes Us Different + +### Leadership +While LU's most well known program is Splash, LU encourages and supports chapters creating and exploring other educational programs of their own. Our purpose is not to dictate or direct chapters what to do or how to do it, it is to provide support and guidance to the student leaders that create and run these programs. This allows college students to take on real leadership roles and work with each other to create a program that is truly their own and works best for their campus and community. + +### Mentors +LU has an intense mentoring process and the amazing college students that take charge of running programs. These up-and-coming leaders run their programs with energy, professionalism, and a real sense of fun. + +LU provides intense mentoring and start-up support, an open-source web platform for every aspect of program management, a knowledge base of organizational guides and best practices, and other shared national resources. With LU's help and guidance, each group customizes their programs to their university, community and individual strengths. + +### Passion +By engaging volunteers to teach what they love to students not much younger than them, Learning Unlimited opens up a world of possibilities to young minds. For the first time, they can explore topics like urban design, or cosmology, or advanced mathematics, or impressionist art. Students realize that careers are open in these fields, and can picture themselves doing it. They have a chance to explore on their own terms, and then they make that study their own. + + + +Learning Unlimited supports programs where students choose between hundreds of classes. Students have the freedom to explore a college campus on their own, and to be treated as responsible adults. Research has repeatedly shown that choice and autonomy, both key features of LU programs, are essential to developing internal motivation in learners. + + + +## Outcomes + +University student leaders and teachers report benefits to their careers and interest in teaching. Pre-college students report increased interest in learning the topics they see at Splash. See more at our [results page](/about/results). diff --git a/_current-programs/about.html b/_current-programs/about.html deleted file mode 100644 index 8b1a637..0000000 --- a/_current-programs/about.html +++ /dev/null @@ -1,65 +0,0 @@ ---- -layout: default -title: About LU Programs -seq: 10 ---- - -Learning Unlimited incubates and provides a national support structure for independent, college-student-led educational programs aimed at middle and high school students.
- -Splash is by far the most common Learning Unlimited program; it's a weekend-long extravaganza of classes at a local college or university, where pre-college students are invited to learn about everything and anything from passionate university students. Splash currently runs at MIT, at Stanford University, at the University of Chicago, at Duke University, at Yale University, at Boston College, and many more!
- -Take a look at our map and calendar for a complete list and to find a Splash near you!
- -
-Several groups also run a multi-week program, called Cascade at Chicago, Sprout at Yale, and HSSP at MIT and Harvard. This program has been going strong at MIT since 1957! HSSP classes are taught over several weeks, and cover material in greater depth than the typical Splash class.
- -The MIT group, MIT ESP, also runs several other programs, including an AP class program called Delve and a summer intensive course program called Junction.
- -Find out about where and when our programs run, or read about some of the classes we offer.
- - - - -
+Classes at LU programs are generally mix of academic and non-academic topics generally not covered in mainstream educational curricula. For example, classes often cover advanced topics in math and physics; hands-on skills like making ice cream using liquid nitrogen; creative expression in hip-hop choreography; and cooking the cuisines of the world.
- --Ever wonder what it's like at the end of the world? Look no further than Antarctica, the world's coldest, highest, driest, and windiest continent. In this class, we'll explore what makes Antarctica such a unique place, its significance to the global climate, and some of the weird and wonderful creatures that call the Antarctic home - from penguins and seals to giant sea spiders and glass sponges. Plus, see firsthand footage of icebergs and killer whales, and learn how you too can visit the white continent! - -(Yale Splash, Spring 2014)
- -
Students in this class learned about the ancient art of Pekin Face Painting. This facial make-up is applied to distinguish different roles and reveal their dispositions and moral qualities. Red stands for courage and loyalty and white represents brutality and cruelty. Students explored intriguing facts about Chinese culture and learned the application of face painting. (Stanford Splash, Fall 2009)
- - -
Students in this class learned about how to make very unique bikes. After an explanation of different design strategies and construction techniques (cardboard designs, wood designs), the students worked in teams to design their own bikes. These designs were reviewed at the end with ergonomics, integrity, and uniqueness in mind. (Stanford Splash, Fall 2009)
- - -Have you ever wondered how you can image the atomic structure of materials? In this class you will learn how one basic concept of quantum mechanics allowed for the development of a state-of-the-art experimental technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, to do just this. This class will include a demonstration of Clark's newly acquired scanning tunneling microscope.(Clark Splash, Fall 2012)
- - - -Science-fiction fans will enjoy and appreciate this presentation on the movie character that started modern sci-fi: HAL 9000, the psychotic supercomputer from Stanley Kubrick's film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. I'll explore HAL's enormous influence by showing clips of him and then showing clips from other popular movies that owe their memorable images to the character of HAL. These movies will include The Matrix, the Star Wars trilogy, the Terminator series, WALL-E, I Robot, Blade Runner, and even Peter Jackson's The Lord of The Rings. -(Boston College Splash, Spring 2013)
- - - - -We could go on and on about the breadth, depth, and excellence of the classes LU programs offer — but why not browse a few catalogs and see for yourself?
- -• MIT Splash 2015 Course Catalog
- -• Yale Splash Fall 2015 Course Catalog
- -• ClarkU ESP Splash Spring 2016 Course Catalog
diff --git a/_current-programs/classes.md b/_current-programs/classes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..deccba7 --- /dev/null +++ b/_current-programs/classes.md @@ -0,0 +1,46 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: Our Classes +seq: 30 +--- + +# LU Program Classes + +Classes at LU programs are generally mix of academic and non-academic topics generally not covered in mainstream educational curricula. For example, classes often cover advanced topics in math and physics; hands-on skills like making ice cream using liquid nitrogen; creative expression in hip-hop choreography; and cooking the cuisines of the world. + +## Sample Class Descriptions + +### Antarctica: Secrets of a Frozen Land + +Ever wonder what it's like at the end of the world? Look no further than Antarctica, the world's coldest, highest, driest, and windiest continent. In this class, we'll explore what makes Antarctica such a unique place, its significance to the global climate, and some of the weird and wonderful creatures that call the Antarctic home - from penguins and seals to giant sea spiders and glass sponges. Plus, see firsthand footage of icebergs and killer whales, and learn how you too can visit the white continent! *(Yale Splash, Spring 2014)* + +
