At Hinsdale’s Exhibition Day, real-world learning is on display

Hinsdale student working on her ELO in Veterinary Sciences.

Hinsdale High School recently held their Exhibition Day, where students presented on the real-world learning experiences they had through their Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs).

In their ELOs, students learned more about what they want–and don’t want–to do after high school. From the Keene Sentinel:

Kelsi Clement, a junior at the high school, completed her ELO at the Westminster Animal Hospital in Vermont, where she experienced what it’s like to work as a veterinary technician.

On Exhibition Day she demonstrated how to do a comprehensive exam on a dog, and spoke about her experience observing surgeries at the veterinary clinic.

She said the program helped her decide to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. This summer, she will attend a pre-veterinary program at the University of Massachusetts working with large animals, and next year, she plans to continue working at the clinic — but with a different focus for her ELO.

“I’m gonna look at a different area, because my essential question this year was, what are the basic skills I need to work in a vet clinic? But next year it could be the different rooming types and what a clinic needs to make the animals feel comfortable,” Kelsi said. “So then I could present, maybe if I want to build my business, how I would set up my clinic for the animals to be more comfortable.”

For other students, the ELO program can be a good way to find out what they’re not interested in pursuing after high school. That was the case for senior Mariah Nichols, who spent her ELO working at Kathryn’s Florist and Gifts in Winchester.

“In the beginning of the year I wanted to be an organic farmer, because I work at Walker Farm in Dummerston, and then I wanted to be a dental hygienist, and then I wanted to be an organic farmer again. Then I thought, oh, maybe I want to be a florist!” she said. “And it lasted for a while, but then once I actually got into it, I was like, no, this really isn’t for me.”

Through the ELO she learned skills like plant identification, floral and plant care, floral design and organization. And though she’s decided not to become a florist, some of those skills — especially the social skills she built — will still be useful going forward.

Mariah now plans to attend the University of New Hampshire studying nutritional science, and is also interested in agriculture and agribusiness.

When it comes to the success of the program, the students point to two very important people: Karen Thompson, the school’s ELO coordinator, and Cathy Johnson, the ELO program assistant. Though she’s unlikely to take the credit, Thompson has been a driving force behind building the program; she was named this year’s New Hampshire ELO Coordinator of the Year.

“It’s so clear that it’s part of our culture now,” Thompson said on Exhibition Day. There are 56 students interested in participating in the program next year, which she estimates is about 60 percent of eligible students.

And educators across the state are taking note. This year’s Exhibition Day was attended by several representatives from other school districts, as well as Christine Brennan, the state’s deputy commissioner of education.

Brennan said she was impressed by how eloquently the students spoke about their ELO experiences, and the range of skills they learned — from technical competencies to social awareness skills.

“I was able to go to six or seven presentations and hear the kids be so highly engaged and so knowledgeable about their content and the subjects that they chose,” Brennan said. “And, to be so brave and courageous to share in front of groups of 20, 25 and 30 is not always easy.”

The state is trying to emphasize work-based learning and extended learning opportunities by recognizing businesses who partner with schools, as well as educators who are leading the charge.

And Hinsdale is a great example of what’s possible, she said.

“There are schools that are taking this on. It’s just that Karen has been really instrumental in making sure that this initiative moves forward,” she said. “And I think that this town in particular really has the support of their school board and their community members.”

At Hinsdale, a small school near the Vermont border, ELOs have helped the school offer more opportunities and have helped to personalize education.

Read more about ELOs in New Hampshire:

Source: Time to shine: Hinsdale exhibition showcases real-world learning | Keene Sentinel