What happens when curiosity leads the classroom? The answer has been powerful shifts in teaching, learning, and student voice, all made possible through an Olentangy Education Foundation (OEF) grant supporting Designed Ingenuity (DiG).
Andrea Vescelius, an AP Language and Composition teacher at Orange High School, received an OEF grant to partner with Catalyst Learning Labs and bring the Designed Ingenuity framework to teachers and students across the district. Designed Ingenuity places students at the center of learning, driving their learning through curiosity, ownership, and reflection, with teacher support.
“Designed Ingenuity puts students at the center of the classroom,” Vescelius said. “You aren't a teacher, you’re a coach and a facilitator and students drive the learning through curiosity”
With support from Catalyst Learning Labs, two Sparking Brilliance workshops trained 12 Olentangy high school and middle school from schools across the district and they continue to receive coaching as they implement the framework in their classrooms. So far, 126 students have taken part in Designed Ingenuity experiences, sharing their learning with peers, district leaders, and community members.
The grant’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Seven of Vescelius’s AP Language students presented their work at the Learning InspirED Student Power Summit in Los Angeles in March; the nation’s only conference focused entirely on student agency in education. The students worked collaboratively, led sessions, and confidently participated in discussions. Vescelius says several students called it “the best learning experience” they’ve ever had.
“I just opened the doors for them. They have run through them and kept on going. It’s really cool when we get out of their way and see what they can do,” she said.
Through additional community support, including a matching grant from the Delaware County Foundation and contributions from OEF and local donors, students raised the funds needed to attend, making the experience entirely student-driven.
“This work is their legacy,” Vescelius said. “They created the Learner Agency Club so future students can continue having a voice in their education.”
Thank you to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for sponsoring this grant.