Academics

What Does Learning Look Like at MBCI?

We take the best of what research tells us about how students learn and grow and apply it to our own practices as educators and to how students engage with curriculum.

We know that students will need a skillset that includes communication, collaboration, creativity and critical-thinking, and that they will need to graduate well-versed in using technology as a tool for learning and for life; so we embed these practices, daily, into how students learn curriculum content.

Teachers incorporate Project Based Learning (PBL) whenever possible, knowing that this approach helps build the mindset and abilities required by the 21st century workplace and post-secondary environment:

  • the capacity for giving and receiving feedback.
  • the confidence and leadership required to work collaboratively.
  • the ability to apply the design process to authentic and perplexing problems.
  • the confidence to take risks and grow from and move beyond setbacks and challenges.

By using a student-centered and hands-on approach to solving real-world questions and problems, students acquire knowledge and not just content; they move past memorization and engage more deeply with their learning. We have high expectations for our students, and provide high levels of support to help them reach their goals. 

STEAM

S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) is an holistic approach to learning that helps equip students with the 21-century skillset they will need to navigate the complexities of higher education and employment. Cross-disciplinary understanding and collaboration are essential tools both now and in the future.

Learning within a STEAM framework encourages curiosity, experimentation, the use of technology as a tool, design thinking, creativity and analysis, and helps shape students into learners who are flexible and growth-minded.

While teachers incorporate a STEAM approach in all grades and across all disciplines, students also have opportunities to take their STEAM learning to the next level:

  • STAR6 events take place once a month for Grade 6 students when they gather for a day of collaborative learning. Hands-on STEAM challenges help inspire students as problem solvers.
  • FULL STEAM AHEAD is a co-curricular option for students interested in applying their own creative ingenuity and innovative solutions to authentic and compelling STEAM questions. Months of work culminate in the FULL STEAM AHEAD symposium where students showcase their projects for guests and judges.

 

Project Based Learning allows for concepts that may initially be abstract for students, to be visualized and observed in the real world. This results in a tangible way for students to interact with the material they are being taught. Examples of projects I completed at MBCI include a DNA amplification exercise during our molecular genetics unit in Grade 12 biology, a disease research project during human biology in Grade 11, and a catapult project during our projectile motion unit in Grade 12 physics. Now, as a medical school student at the University of Manitoba, I often find myself being easily able to recall scientific concepts that were solidified in my understanding because of the projects I completed at MBCI. I’m often grateful for how MBCI did a fantastic job of preparing me for post-secondary education.  – Emmit ( MBCI Class of 2018)

Projects at MBCI stand out as an important part of why I enjoyed school. Rather than always  focusing on textbooks, my teachers would design projects that pushed us to be inventive, thoughtful, and resourceful. These projects also helped relate the concepts and curriculum  to real life: I designed and created a vertical garden; dissected different animals; designed  a new Mars rover; created short films; and learned to create large-scale presentations.  Projects are an incredible way to help us remember and internalize the concepts we were  learning. We were motivated to learn new skills like building physical structures, editing videos, public speaking, leaning into being creative, research methods, conducting interviews,  recording audio, and so much more. Projects gave me a reason to be excited and proud of what  I was learning, and allowed me to hone many skills and concepts I continue to use today.   – Sarah (MBCI Class of 2019)

Dining On Campus

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Dining On Campus

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Dining On Campus

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.