The Prima Approach to Learning: Our curriculum is designed with the following beliefs about learning in mind:
- Learning should be ‘hard fun’. Kids will spend hours doing something challenging if they’re having fun. In fact, most kids love doing hard things and crave interesting problems to solve. Prisma designs a curriculum that encourages “hard fun:” the enjoyment that comes from being deeply absorbed in a challenging game, project, or activity.
- Learning happens through making & doing. Lectures and worksheets aren’t only boring, they’re often ineffective at pushing kids to take true ownership of new skills & concepts. Kids learn more when asked to make their thinking visible & tangible, instead of simply regurgitating information. You’ll find Prisma learners constructing their own cities, building websites, designing museum exhibits, and user testing new inventions.
- The deepest learning is driven by intrinsic motivation, not external rewards. Grades and scores have been proven to have negative effects on the motivation and growth mindset of all kids, even the kids who earn A’s. Because Prisma kids are motivated by wanting to improve, they’re more willing to take risks. Learners take pride in what they create, seeking feedback from peers & mentors to improve until their work is their personal best.
- Learning isn’t one size fits all. The Prisma curriculum is personalized in two ways. First, we personalize the curriculum to learners’ interests, giving them opportunities to make choices and tailor their learning to their passions and curiosities. Second, we personalize the curriculum to learners’ abilities, supporting them in learning at the pace and depth most appropriately challenging for them.
- Learning should have a purpose in the real world. Prisma learners never need to ask “Why do we need to know this?” The Prisma curriculum is designed to prepare kids to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges, not just pass standardized tests. We help kids draw connections between what they are learning today and how this knowledge is applied in real contexts by real people. We also provide kids with opportunities to participate in the conversations and events happening in the world around them right now.
- Learning happens in community. Sharing their learning with peers helps kids clarify & refine their ideas and motivates them to produce their best work. Even if they are learning from home, Prisma learners are never alone. We build intentionally small, intimate cohorts of learners that get to know each other well and push each other to be better. We also build a global community of learners, allowing kids to build relationships & connect around similar interests with kids all over the world.
- Kids should learn how to think, not what to think. Today’s kids are growing up with access to infinite information and media that, while abundant, varies in its accuracy, quality, and depth. To develop the critical thinking skills kids will need to thrive in this landscape, at Prisma kids are exposed to and analyze diverse viewpoints and perspectives. We encourage kids to ask questions, seek their input, encourage them to develop their own worldviews, and deeply value their freedom of expression.