Experiential learning high school programs get talked about a lot. What they actually look like varies enormously. At BC High, it means a founder of multiple AI companies walking into your classroom on a Monday morning. It means seventh graders being asked to think through what a Boston Olympics would look like if students designed it. The Jack Shields Center for Innovation exists to connect students to the real world before they graduate into it, and the work shows.
The Shields Center's programming model is built around opt-in opportunities, expert speakers, hands-on challenges, and cross-disciplinary thinking. In November alone, the Center offered 28 innovation opportunities, engaged 16 experts, and reached 319 students in opt-in programming. Experiential learning at the Shields Center isn't a single elective. It runs continuously across the school year, meeting students wherever their interests are.
Expert speaker programming is one of the Center's core pillars. Recently, Dr. Helia Jalili, Founder and President of Cavosh and founder of GeLaTo, spoke with students in Computer Programming and Intro to Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Honors courses about AI applications and opportunities across the Greater Boston ecosystem. Amaan Ali '20, founder of several AI companies, shared lessons from building those companies and what the future of the AI industry looks like. Brian Vizaretta '13 showed students how drone technology was used to map out BC High's new Cadigan Wellness Complex and how construction companies use those maps to evaluate jobsite progress. James Neal P'29 spoke about working for New Balance as a global footwear demand planner and the importance of forecasting demand accurately.
The distinction isn't just motivational. Students aren't hearing about industries in the abstract. They're in conversation with practitioners who are actively doing the work.
One student's response to the Civics Summit captures the effect: "I think the information that resonated with me the most at the Civics Summit was from all the speakers that came in, especially from Mr. Justin Casanova-Davis, who created participatory budgeting in Cambridge. I live in Cambridge and participated in the budgeting process last year." - Quinlan '31
The Civics, Leadership, and Social Innovation Summit brought seventh-grade students into conversation with leaders driving real community impact. Students engaged with the Edmond D. Villani '64 Institute for Civil Discourse, heard from keynote speaker Justin Casanova-Davis '04, Town Manager of Bridgewater and creator of participatory budgeting in Cambridge, and participated in two breakout sessions. State legislators, a former mayor, a city council member, and a former state party chair were among the speakers.
The Shields Center's definition of innovation extends beyond technology. Civic problem solving, systems thinking, and community impact are all part of how BC High students are trained to think about the world they're inheriting.
One of the Shields Center's experiential learning challenges asked students to apply their design thinking and problem-solving skills to a genuine civic question: if Boston hosted the Olympics, how would you design it?
The Spring Student Expo, run in partnership with the Centers of Human Excellence, is the public culmination of the Shields Center's experiential learning programming. In the most recent year, the Expo featured over 50 group presentations highlighting service projects, meaningful coursework, and immersion trips. Students present to a real audience, with real accountability for the work they've done across the year.
Students can engage with the Shields Center through opt-in programming and speaker sessions throughout the year, or pursue the Innovation Certificate track for a more structured pathway. Learn more about the Shields Center for Innovation.