We have an amazing and diverse group of engineers and designers to support students as they explore the open-ended design challenge through making. “The scholars at Odyssey are working with the very best tools and techniques which are taken straight from industry leading practices and top universities. This intensive approach to project work allows for deep, uninterrupted periods of work and is more conducive to the evolution of a learner’s creativity. Scholars rotate through the Idea Lab twice a week in three-hour increments, immersing themselves in the studio learning model, borrowed from the architectural world. During this process, scholars connect their learning across the disciplines to deepen their understanding and apply big ideas like empirical reasoning to their designs. Robot parts are created on 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC mills and electronics are programmed using Arduino. Scholars brainstorm, research, design, and prototype their ideas quickly with hand sketches, cardboard, scissors, and glue to test their ideas and then progress to precise 3D planning using Rhino and Illustrator. There are no kits nor predesigned parts at Odyssey. Working in teams of two, scholars take a deep dive into the inner biological workings of unusual creatures, plants, and processes that inspire the development of their robots. The challenge? Design a robot that emulates a movement in nature to traverse a difficult terrain.

Learning at Odyssey is hands-on and the concept of bio-inspiration anchors the curriculum across disciplines during the first trimester. Acting as bio-inspired engineers, scientists and designers, scholars take cues from nature as a way of enhancing existing technologies and inventing new ones. Paramount Unified’s newest high school, Odyssey STEM Academy, opened in August 2018 with scholars immersed in an Idea Lab designed to awaken their curiosity and passion for transforming themselves and the world. Keith and Becky shared more about the underpinnings of the design: What better than to hear directly from the founders how this model works. When we stopped in, students in an engineering class were getting immediate feedback on their work and designs.Ĭlick here for their full mission and vision Odyssey Learning Model They work towards mastering competencies that are expected of each and every graduate (see graduate profile below).

Students engage in projects and use their surroundings, technology and each other to create.

Students engage in internships in their own community by following the Big Picture model and use the Altitude platform to drive their learning of core content and subjects. Odyssey also will be the first Big Picture Learning and Altitude Learning inspired high school to date. Why We Exist: To empower learners by awakening their curiosity and passion to transform themselves and the world. They also derived a driving mission and vision that they adhere to and reflect on daily. Therefore, they worked diligently over the course of a year to design principles that would fuel the teaching and learning at the school. What’s unique about the Odyssey model? Keith Nuthall and Becky Perez (PUSD graduate) decided that the new high school needed to speak to the community and reflect the needs and desires of those within the four walls as well as the four square miles beyond its walls. Aspiring creative writer, she knows Odyssey is giving her individual attention and support that she wouldn’t have received otherwise. Patricia, one of the scholars who we had the pleasure of chatting with, relayed that Odyssey STEM Academy and the driving purpose has been a refreshing change for her and that she has never enjoyed and felt belonging to a school this much. These are scholars who have been attending the new high school in Paramount USD for just a short 8 weeks. “Strong heart, strong mind, strong will … ODYSSEY!” scholars sang in unison.

Altitude learning