Real World Learning

At Lakota, many of the secondary course options in the Programs of Study are designed around real world learning. Students show their mastery of the content by applying the concepts they've learned to projects and exercises that mimic what they might encounter post-graduation.

Courses like speech, engineering, world languages and financial literacy, for example, offer opportunities for students to apply what they learn to a real life scenario. Both high schools' journalism programs (Lakota East's Spark and the Lakota West Press) challenge student reporters to publish their own news. Students in INCubatoredu@Lakota ideate, develop, and iterate their own product or service startup. Cyber Academy students gain the resources and training necessary to fight cyber crime. 

Internships and co-ops place students directly into companies to gain industry experience. Internships provide this experience through engagement in extended and intensive job shadowing activities or project-based work for the company, earning credit on the student transcript. Co-ops are paid work opportunities with a company. These experiences provide students with industry experience, allowing them to "test drive" a career path prior to post-educational pursuits. 

Students can have the opportunity to spend time with a professional in a variety of careers, should the position be appropriate for students to be on-site and able to be in the environment. These experiences can be arranged by need, or on a wide-spread intentional basis. Job shadowing days are one-time, off-site visits and include follow up activity or a check-in assignment that is turned in for accountability.  

Please submit the Job Shadow Request Form to inform the school of your need for an excused absence for one of these experiences. This form must be submitted one week prior to the planned job shadowing. Additionally, parents must submit the Parent Consent Form 24 hours prior to the experience. Both components must be received for student records.

Teachers and building administrators are encouraged to invite industry professionals into their buildings regularly. Industry professionals can be connected to teachers based on curriculum relevancy or as desired. Logistics for the visit are coordinated by the teacher. 

Be a Guest Speaker

Events are another way to expose a large portion of students to many different opportunities in industry. Some events are hosted internally, while others are hosted by outside organizations and are held at off-site locations.

Sign Up to Participate in Future Events

Community service is another potential avenue for gaining real world learning experience and skills. Every Lakota graduate is required to complete a specified number of community service hours as part of the government course, but may have additional requirements associated with other courses and extracurricular activities.