The Labs are a student-led, technology-assisted, and standards-driven program designed to prepare students to communicate with confidence. Grounded in social-cognitive theories, active and experiential learning, students will gain confidence through an iterative process of Learning, Doing, and Leading!
STUDENT OUTCOMES & LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
SKILLS STUDENTS WILL PRACTICE DURING THE LAB:
Students who can express themselves clearly, actively participate in classroom discussions, and form positive relationships are better equipped to excel in the classroom.
Students learn to offer feedback and work collaboratively with others to complete a presentation or innovation project on a topic they are interested in.
Communication allows students to express their ideas and creativity. The Learning Labs empower students to share their interest, unique ideas, and engage in imaginative play.
Effective communication equips students with essential problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. The Learning Labs fosters an environment for students to articulate their thoughts, actively listen, and express their viewpoints respectfully.
Communication in the Learning Lab nurtures empathy, self-knowledge, and understanding of other's perspectives. Students will practice active listening, gain self-awareness, and express empathy towards others.
By developing effective communication skills early, the Learning Labs help students lay a solid foundation for their future endeavors, including further education, college & career preparation, and successful social and interpersonal skills.
"Thank you so much for this amazing class! I see it as a stepping stone to growing. It's so important for our kids to become better and stronger as they grow into who they are becoming."
"What a wonderful class! I hope you will continue the Learning Labs at our school. We can not wait to see you again. I pray that you do the classes all year long at school."
"I definitely believe it (the Learning Labs) was a huge benefit to all who were able to participate."
"Overall, the (Learning Lab) sessions were a success. The students enjoyed participating in the Learning Labs. They developed new skills that will come in handy as they grow in their education. It was a great learning experience."
Research shows that 3 in 4 people fear public speaking. The Learning Lab is a safe space for students to develop the essential skills they need to succeed. With active, collaborative, and inquiry-based learning, students will learn the skills to communicate with confidence!
After completing the Learning Lab during the summer of 2021, Evelyn shared this story in the fall. (The content has been paraphrased for brevity.)
"I recently joined a club called Cyber Patriots/Cyber Security at my school. I think the Communicating with Confidence Learning Lab helped me a lot in giving my speech and having enough confidence to do so, so thank you!
I applied to be a Officer and gave a speech in front of 80+ people!! I was elected as 1 of 2 secretaries!
The Learning Lab have given us so many opportunities this year including presenting at the Empowered: Women in Industry District Event. We've grown a lot, not only in our confidence and public speaking skills, but also mentally and personally.
Thank you so much! I hope 2022 will be an even better year for the REACH Foundation."
"One thing I've learned is that it is better to learn how to communicate correctly sooner rather than later, as the use of communications will always remain an important part of our future."
"Learning to take initiative, learning about how to be confident with speaking, and learning how to give feedback in a way that others can use to help themselves."
The Learning Lab allows for students to expand and develop their communications skills while in a safe environment so that even if they're nervous or make a mistake, it's ok, and they know no one will judge them for that. It allows students to have fun while learning and to think deeply about STEM topics and practice their writing skills when preparing their speeches using the Communicating Outline Checklist.
The Learning Lab has been a great experience! Some of its key benefits are that it has helped me to educate myself on various topics. The feedback givers are great as well because they help you to understand what areas you need to work on.
I enjoy how it's structured. How there are certain things that we do every day, the games. How we get to learn about new things every day with the speeches.
The Learning Lab "has many benefits, but the main one is helping to build public speaking confidence in students."
At the Learning Lab, our vision is to empower students to communicate with confidence, an essential skill for career and life readiness. Our Mission is to engage, inspire and transform through the power of communications, using oratory techniques and educational technology to create a supportive environment. To ensure that your student(s) will achieve the expected performance outcomes, please review the following guidelines:
Students are expected to attend every Lab and give their best efforts to maximize their learning.
Students will be encouraged to speak about topics that interest them, especially topics, they are learning in school.
Students will have access to the Learning Lab documents, PDFs and google worksheets to help them work efficiently and effectively.
For in-person Learning Labs:
Refund/Drop Policy:
If a student does not show up, or is absent for 2 or more classes, they will receive a 50% refund. (This excludes absences that are excused with prior communication to the Facilitator). Our facilitators and staff have invested a significant amount of time to plan for a successful and productive Lab for your students. Thank you for your cooperation.
For online virtual Learning Labs: