The curiosity, wonder, and inquisitive spirit of Guilderland High School students were recently celebrated at the annual E=MC² Symposium, an event that showcases the year-long original research projects of students enrolled in the Exploring with Mindful Creativity & Curiosity (E=MC²) course.
This inquiry-based class empowers students to pursue self-directed research projects on topics of personal interest. Rather than following a traditional curriculum, students in E=MC² spend the year developing key skills known as the 5Cs: creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and curiosity. The emphasis is not on memorizing facts, but on learning how to ask meaningful questions, think deeply and explore complex ideas.
With the theme of “Pushing Boundaries,” this year’s symposium gave students enrolled in the E=MC² course the opportunity to showcase their investigations in a TED-Talk style speech. View the recording of the symposium to watch presenters Nanaadwoa Frimpong, Shaivi Gupta, Shruthi Manga, Drisana Kunwar, Harsetha Jasti, and Hamsini Subramanian share their findings.
Learn more about E=MC2
Inquiry learning is about investigation; in E=MC², students are tasked with selecting a topic they want to research and explore. Through asking questions, action research and the 5Cs, they journal their findings and create their own assignments as “public displays of understanding” to showcase their learning each month. The students not only connect the content they’re studying to other subject areas, but also use it to help shape themselves as citizens who enjoy learning and value the process. In the traditional classroom, the teacher controls the information, how it is disseminated and which information is most important for the student to learn. E=MC² gives students greater independence and control over their learning.