Two Rocky View educators will give a talk later today (June 23) at the eighth annual TEDx YYC event.

Greg Rankin and Jarrett Hooper will present on the Building Futures program that they created together, which has seen success in Airdrie.

Rankin explained that their talk at the TEDx event will focus on how the program came together, and how it can be used successfully in other school divisions, or even other contexts.

"It can also work in another context where you're finding a community partner, partnering with them and then trying to make whatever it is they do fit into that classroom curriculum. I think the program could work with restoring old cars, or trying to operate a small farm or business, or whatever a teacher would be passionate and interested in."

The Building Futures program sees students from all three Airdrie high schools go through a curriculum that teaches not only their core courses, but also incorporates trades so that by the end of the year the class has built a house. Two dedicated teachers work with the students throughout the year, and the students have a schedule that could see them working on math problems in the morning and framing in the afternoon. The program is also run in Cochrane.

Rankin said the program does much more than simply teach trades.

"I worry sometimes when we tell people about the program that they think, 'Hey, this is just a trade school,' and it's not, or 'Hey, this is really big and it wouldn't work in my classroom,' and that's not what it's about. It's just about trying to find someone in the community that's an expert in something and bringing them in to engage the kids."

Rankin said they have students from a variety of academic levels participate. While some might go for a trade job after high school, others are more likely to become owners of a builder, while others still might decide they have no construction in building.

Rankin shared the story of one student who had struggled in school before joining the program. While working on a problem in the classroom one day, he abruptly got up and left the class. When a staff member found him outside on the phone and asked what he was doing, the student proceeded to finish talking on the phone and asking questions. When he was finally finished, it turned out that he had been struggling with the problem and cold called a business owner in Toronto to find the solution.

"That's really what's cool about building futures," said Rankin. "They go from maybe not loving school to suddenly really feeling empowered to have control of their learning."

TEDx YYC runs from 1 to 6 today at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Rankin and Hooper will share the stage with musician Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser and comedian Peter Oldring.

 

Read More:

Building Futures Wraps Up

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com