The Chevron Open Minds School Program is a unique and exciting educational program that advances student learning by moving the classroom into the enriching environments of the Calgary Zoo, the Glenbow Museum, the Cross Conservation Area and the TELUS World of Science - Calgary.

"It’s hands-on learning in real-life settings”

The week-long curriculum based program integrates traditional classroom learning with hands-on educational experiences that enable students to develop vital critical thinking, problem solving, and writing skills.

“It prepares students for the future by encouraging critical thinking”

Research has shown that students’ participation in programs like Chevron Open Minds helps to improve literacy, writing skills and interest in learning.

“It improves students’ literacy skills, creativity and original expression”

Evaluation

Evaluation is an integral part of how the Chevron Open Minds School Program works. Some of the assessment strategies used are:

• Ongoing feedback from teachers and staff — Each session is designed by and for each teacher. No two experiences are ever the same. This is what makes the program unique and what makes the learning so powerful.
  
  
• Systematic collection of samples of student work —We have observed that students' thinking and problem-solving skills improve, and the rich experiences trigger more complex and extensive writing
  
  
• Evaluation surveys conducted of every class and teacher — Teachers realize that powerful learning has occurred, while students give us valuable information on which activities were most memorable for them. The vast majority of students would like to visit the site again - a significant issue for these community sites
  
  
• Hundreds of letters sent to Chevron and the site staff.
  
  
• Increase in numbers of teacher applications — For the school year 2005/2006, we received 144 teacher applications for 96 spots.
  
  
• Outside independent evaluation of the program — Funded by the Devonian Foundation, an evaluation company undertook an extensive multipronged examination of the Chevron Open Minds School Program in the 1996/97 school year. Through student and teacher surveys, interviews, and focus groups they prepared a lengthy report that clearly demonstrated our goals are being met.
  
  
• Academic research projects:
  

  Former Education Director and academic Gillian Kydd has conducted extensive research for her doctoral program at the University of Calgary on the impact of the program on teacher practice. As a result of this work Gill has published a book entitled Seeing the World in 3D: Learning in the Community.

  Former Education Director Cathy Cochrane completed her master's thesis in 2000 on the impact of Campus Calgary/ Open Minds programs on student writing. Her research showed that Grade 3 students who participated in the program improved their writing skills by 24 per cent.
  
  View the research report (pdf format - 27kb)

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