EF Academy Pasadena Announces An Exciting Collaboration That’s Reimagining Education
Danny Dooreck, a Los Angeles-based ceramicist and founder of Danny’s Mudshop [EF Academy Pasadea photo]
At EF Academy Pasadena, a private day and boarding school in Pasadena, learning is not confined to the classroom. The school has teamed up with Danny Dooreck, a Los Angeles-based ceramicist and founder of Danny’s Mudshop, to offer an exciting partnership to reimagine education.
The collaboration exemplifies EF Academy Pasadena’s student-centered approach to education, which is integral to the high school’s curriculum.
As part of the partnership, EF Academy Pasadena hosted a free ceramic workshop for 48 parents and students from the LA/Pasadena community, led by Dooreck on Saturday, March 2 at the school’s Pasadena campus. The workshop was to reimagine education and how we learn best.
“We chose an artist workshop to showcase that an optimal learning environment is one filled with freedom, joy, and courage,” explains Dr. Sally Mingarelli, Head of School at EF Academy Pasadena.
“In art, we embrace experimentation and emphasize iteration, honoring both the learning process and the final product. To make art one must embark on an ongoing journey with a continuous feedback loop, where learning is personalized at your own pace and facilitated by teachers who help students highlight strengths and identify areas for improvement. This prompts the question: why aren’t all subjects and classes designed this way?”
EF Academy Pasadena is rooted in a competency-based learning approach that focuses on mastery of skills rather than the memorization of facts. Competencies and project-based learning are central to each class in order to delve deeper into subjects, specific skills, and their interdisciplinary connections.
Danny Dooreck understands the importance of honing his skills across interdisciplines all too well. Before being recognized in the LA Times or Mr. Porter as a ceramicist, Dooreck pursued various careers, including line cook, restaurateur, and sommelier.
“From my own journey and teaching workshops to students of all ages, I’ve witnessed amazing art produced by people from diverse backgrounds and professions,” says Dooreck. “Regardless of industry, we all possess skills beyond our jobs, and when you create a collaborative environment for people to learn and explore, they quickly realize the interconnectedness of these skills.”
The March 2nd event was the first workshop in a series, with more to come later this year. These workshops offer a unique opportunity for parents or guardians and their middle or high school children to engage in a creative and educational experience together.
To learn more about the EF Academy Pasadena and be notified of free workshops in the future, click here.
