Collins Middle School

Why Collins Middle School was nominated

Collins Middle School reimagined school to make students feel empowered, connected, and unbounded by their learning, by designing personalized, community-based, and hands-on learning. Personalization is most prevalent in math and English language arts as a method to allow students to progress at their own pace, through the use of data-driven learning platforms. Personalization also included students setting goals, reflecting on their progress through peer and teacher check-ins, and leading conferences with their families to update them on their development. Community-based learning provides students with the opportunity to venture into the community to explore rich community assets and to understand the complex challenges facing Salem, giving stuedents chance to connect the learning they do in the classroom with aspects of the outside world. Hands-on learning occurs thorugh expereinces like Design Studio, a highly collaborative workspace for students that uses inquiry-based learning and takes learners through the design thinking process from sketching ideas, developing prototypes, iterating, refining, and finally presenting.