Hello.
Welcome to LEAP Academy, a hands on, immersive, project based learning experience offered to High School Students at Green School, Bali. Within a span of 6 weeks we free a select group of students from the shackles of the timetable to immerse themselves in a few projects of their own design. In this process, the students learn deeper collaboration techniques, better communication skills, and effective strategies for time management.
That is all well and good, but the real reason we do this is because it is FUN! Taking ownership of the learning means that students bear both the responsibility to educate themselves as they see fit as well as the freedom to explore ideas and concepts that the regular school classes may never dream of exploring.
What do students work on?
The programme is based on the idea that students should lead what we do, however, we follow a process that guides our experience. Each LEAP iteration is six weeks long and it always begins with a world of possibilities. Our one and only requirement is for all projects to have a social impact. Inspiring the desire to contribute to their community is a big deal for us. Below is an explanation of how we roll.
Mini Missions
Our first week is all about exploring and exposing ourselves to all that is out there. Through a series of very varied challenges – that have included a zombie apocalypse hike, tarot reading and a day in the kitchen – we get kids thinking outside their comfort zones, so they begin embracing the possibilities of acquiring new passions, learning new skills and working with any type of idea. At the same time, students start get to know each other and begin to create a rapport.
Mini Missions
Our first week is all about exploring and exposing ourselves to all that is out there. Through a series of very varied challenges – that have included a zombie apocalypse hike, tarot reading and a day in the kitchen – we get kids thinking outside their comfort zones, so they begin embracing the possibilities of acquiring new passions, learning new skills and working with any type of idea. At the same time, students start get to know each other and begin to create a rapport.
Magic Mondays
Magic Mondays are super fun days designed to expose students to a completely new and different skill. Through a variety of intro workshops, kids learn about industries/traits/jobs they have yet to experience. Planting seeds for unknown passions is what it’s all about. A few examples of activities we’ve had are:
– 3D printing
– Earth bag building
– Traditional bamboo construction
– Sewing
– Fishing
Magic Mondays
Magic Mondays are super fun days designed to expose students to a completely new and different skill. Through a variety of intro workshops, kids learn about industries/traits/jobs they have yet to experience. Planting seeds for unknown passions is what it’s all about. A few examples of activities we’ve had are:
– 3D printing
– Earth bag building
– Traditional bamboo construction
– Sewing
– Fishing
Garuda’s Nest
Based on the hit famous TV shows “Shark Tank” and “Dragon’s Den, we hold a space where adults come in and pitch project ideas for the students to take on. Kids listen, question and scrutinise the ideas, while the adults try to convince them to make the project happen.
The intention of these pitches are to provide insight into how one may share an idea, create a scale around it, and visualize a project. It also encourages our students to ask deeper questions and find a critical eye when looking at an idea.
Garuda’s Nest
Based on the hit famous TV shows “Shark Tank” and “Dragon’s Den, we hold a space where adults come in and pitch project ideas for the students to take on. Kids listen, question and scrutinise the ideas, while the adults try to convince them to make the project happen.
The intention of these pitches are to provide insight into how one may share an idea, create a scale around it, and visualize a project. It also encourages our students to ask deeper questions and find a critical eye when looking at an idea.
The Group Projects
This space is designed for students to pursue their interests and passions, while understanding how to run a project, both as a team and as an individual, from ideation to execution. Emphasis is made on learning to fail fast, on practicing good team dynamics and on cultivating a social impact mindset. Instilling skills revolving digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving are also integral to the structure of the programme.
The Group Projects
This space is designed for students to pursue their interests and passions, while understanding how to run a project, both as a team and as an individual, from ideation to execution. Emphasis is made on learning to fail fast, on practicing good team dynamics and on cultivating a social impact mindset. Instilling skills revolving digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving are also integral to the structure of the programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Green School studentsFrequently Asked Questions
For Green School students
How many credits do I get as a LEAP student?
LEAP requires the same commitment as a full time student does, so we will provide our students with the equivalent number of credits (1.2 credits, which is equal to 6 full time courses). If a student takes other courses outside of LEAP we will adjust accordingly.
What kind of credit can I get?
It all depends on the types of projects you undertake, and the kind of output you produce from your project? Naturally, there will be enterprise credits, and it is fairly easy to connect these to Arts as well. However, many LEAP students receive English credit due to the communication aspects used in projects, or maths credits since they are applying financial maths or calculating needs for a project.
As a rule of thumb, the LEAP facilitators choose three credit categories based on what they saw in the project, and the students argue for 3 other ones based on evidence they can provide to demonstrate the validity of those credit allocations.
So you are capable of getting any type of credit… it all boils down to the projects you take on and the angle you choose to take in exploring them.
Can I take courses outside of LEAP?
We handle this on a case by case basis. In some instances, you will be encouraged to join a course in the regular stream as it is pertinent to a project. Other cases may require you to be a part of a course due to extenuating circumstances (eg. you are going on a trip relevant to the course you are taking). However, it is probably best to stick with fewer courses so that you can really enjoy getting into the flow of the projects you undertake in LEAP.
Do we need to stay on campus?
One of the big advantages we have in LEAP is flexibility, and when students show initiative to change our environment to spawn creativity or offer a change of scenery we are most open to it. Ideally, we would do it as a group so we can all benefit from the new environment and keep the creative juices flowing.
We aren’t going to take days off to go to the water park or hang out at the beach though (unless they are directly related to your project).
What do we do everyday at LEAP?
Well, we are flexible, as you may have already read. We acknowledge that all people are going to need downtime throughout their day, but we also hope that you make the most of your project based learning experience. After all, you likely have a group of people counting on you for many parts of a project.
Is LEAP for me?
This is one of the questions that we are still trying to figure out. We have noticed that LEAP does take a person who is intrinsically motivated. That does not mean that you love school, nor do you have to have great grades. It does mean that when you find an interest you can dig deep into it, and keep yourself focused on your learning journey. Of course, we are there to help you along, but ideally we want to be working with your natural characteristics, rather than against them.
Coming into LEAP with project ideas is a good way to start. Also recognize that we form the bulk of your projects through finding something that appeals to your group, so also expect that you may be working on something very different than you originally thought.