Programs at City Cite
Program Design
The design of the program depends largely on the length of time that the students will spend at City Cite. We consult with partner schools to design a program that meets their intended learning outcomes. Our programs are designed using a project-based learning framework and include the key elements of a challenging problem or question, sustained inquiry, authenticity and reflection.
Our programs generally range in length from one week to three weeks. Therefore, the depth of investigation and learning outcomes will vary.
One week - Choose several themes
The students are introduced to the main concepts of civics and citizenship in Melbourne.
Working in groups of four to six, students choose a theme to explore and pose an inquiry question. They use a variety of research methods to investigate the theme and present their response to the inquiry question in an oral presentation. The finale of the program may be an exhibition evening, where parents and school leaders are hosted by the students and welcomed into their office space. The public exhibition of their work is an authentic celebration of all that the students have learnt through their collaborative research and shared experience.
Two Weeks - Choose several themes
Two weeks allows for more time and space for deeper investigation, formative feedback and enhanced reflection.
Students can delve more deeply into their research, develop greater confidence for learning independently of their teachers and establish more strategies for collaborative working, critique and time management. Students also have more time to reflect upon what they have seen and learnt in the city.
Three or Four Weeks - Go further in all areas
Extended programs take students to the next level of collaborative learning and self-confidence.
The students become very comfortable with the routine of working with others, giving and receiving formative feedback and building a greater level of empathy, compassion and understanding of difference. Reflective learning becomes a part of the normal practice. The students have the time to extensively develop many transferable skills which hold them in good stead for not only their learning in the senior years of school, but their learning for life.
The other major advantage for a longer program is the potential for student groups to tackle more significant projects, sometimes of their own devising.
Learning Through Group-based Enquiry Projects
All City Cite programs have a group-based enquiry project at their core. Each group of approximately five students has a breakout space as their home base and are given time to complete an enquiry project while at City Cite.
Schools can choose to pursue a group task based on a geographic area of the city, a theme/issue, a question or an hypothesis. It is possible for students to negotiate their own topics and they are given a great degree of freedom in the direction they follow. Alternatively, some schools choose to follow a set structure in order to scaffold student research and all these details are discussed in the initial consultations with staff from the school prior to the program.
The aims of group-based enquiry projects at City Cite are to:
- Develop student initiative and independent research skills
- Encourage critical analysis in the research process
- Develop collaborative learning skills
- Provide opportunities to present ideas in unique and creative ways
- Develop skills in time and task management
