Episode #357 - November 6th, 2019
Education Counts Michiana seeking out educational initiatives that are impacting students young and old. This week we feature how one school in Elkhart is incorporating Tinkergarten. See how the Forever Learning Institute is uniting former educators and curious learners. A new program called Be Nice is spreading kindness in Dowagiac schools. The Impact Institute gives students and adults vocational training for the workforce.
Original Airdate: November 05, 2019

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  • November 6th, 2019 Photo Carla Gull More Information

    Tinkergarten®

    November 6th, 2019 Photo
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    Play is learning. That's the approach taken through a program known as Tinkergarten. Here, children are brought together to learn in a natural setting. The kids are able to learn and develop a variety of skills like problem solving, collaboration and creativity. This is a national movement, but we head to our own Tinkergarten in Elkhart to learn.

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    Guests:

    1. Carla GullInstructorTinkergarten®

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  • November 6th, 2019 Photo Kara Cox, Heaven Wallace, Jaycob Hill, Aubry Hazelgrove, Kelly Millin, Bryan Henry, Jason Turner, Bella James, Jacob Daniel More Information

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    Being nice. It seems like it should be one of the easiest things in the world to do, but often times people forget how to do it. That's why a program called Be Nice was created. The program provides the tools for schools and communities to stamp out bullying. We head up to Dowagiac to see how they're using this program throughout their entire school system.

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    Guests:

    1. Kara CoxSchool CounselorDowagiac Union Schools
    2. Heaven WallaceStudentDowagiac Union High School
    3. Jaycob HillStudentDowagiac Union High School
    4. Aubry HazelgroveStudentDowagiac Union High School
    5. Kelly MillinPrincipalDowagiac Union High School
    6. Bryan HenryPrincipalJustus Gage Elementary School
    7. Jason TurnerTeacherJustus Gage Elementary School
    8. Bella JamesStudentJustus Gage Elementary
    9. Jacob DanielStudentJustus Gage Elementary School

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  • November 6th, 2019 Photo Barbara Jung, Steven Gable More Information

    The Forever Learning Institute

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    The old saying goes..."You're never too old to learn a new trick!"
    The Forever Learning Institute has been in the business of providing seniors in our community with the opportunity to continue to expand their knowledge and serve their community. The courses are taught by an all-volunteer faculty and cover topics such as dance, music, foreign languages, creative arts, literature, spirituality, health and wellness, technology and computers, and business. The Institute believes that programs like theirs fill a much-needed void in senior adult life, providing intellectual stimulation, social interaction and physical activities for a largely ignored population. Education and participation in intellectual pursuits should not end at high school or college, but continue throughout our lives.

    Guests:

    1. Barbara JungVolunteer TeacherThe Forever Learning Institute
    2. Steven GableVolunteer TeacherThe Forever Learning Center

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  • November 6th, 2019 Photo Kole Lounsbury, Noah Schooley, Jim Walmsley More Information

    The Impact Institute

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    Vocational training offers students the chance to gain hands on training as well as experience in the workforce. The Impact Institute was formed by a joint service agreement between ten school corporations in June 1969, with the goal of providing vocational programs, administering adult education and coordinating communications with the Indiana Department of Education and other state agencies. The thirteen currently school corporations currently served are located in the five northeast Indiana counties of Noble, DeKalb, LaGrange, Steuben, and Whitley. The Impact Institute's vocational and adult education programs use a competency-based curriculum approach and rely on student data and industry driven standards for continuous improvement. Through the support of consortium members, Impact Institute is also the vehicle used in the implementation of other change initiatives, such as School-to-Work, Tech Prep and the Technical Education Initiative.

    Guests:

    1. Kole LounsburyStudentThe Impact Institute
    2. Noah SchooleyStudentThe Impact Institute
    3. Jim WalmsleyDirectorThe Impact Institute

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