SERVICES:Â LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGN (LXD)
FUNDERS:Â DN BATTEN FOUNDATION
COLLABORATORS:Â LAUREN GERSCHEL, PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS AT THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
iThrive Curriculum: A Moment in Time is a standards-aligned, eight-lesson curricular unit for 9th and 10th grade English and humanities classes. The unit pairs with Mountains' Florence, a video game that follows shifts in the life of a young woman, to take teens through a deep exploration of their own emotional landscapes. Throughout the unit, students consider their own relationships and experiences with grief, loss, and change. A Moment in Time is aligned with national ELA standards and field tested with students and educators.
With Teens and Educators: A Moment In Time was co-created with students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Philadelphia English teacher Lauren Geschel, drawing on two decades of on-the-ground experience with social and emotional topics that are top-of-mind for 9th and 10th grade students. The unit was piloted by fellow Philadelphia School District educator, Stephen Quaranta, and his 10th grade students. The final unit incorporates educator and student feedback and experiences, direct from the field.
- "It's refreshing. It goes to show that there's a lot to be learned about storytelling in visual novels that aren't labeled as educational. Just tell a good story and what makes the story good will be evident for students who look for it. I hope this is the new norm." — Teen
- "There was really good connection. Students wanted to talk about the issues in the unit." — EducatorÂ
