How to connect student passion to a purpose through capstone projects w/ Dagan Bernstein

What happens when we provide time for students to pursue their passions, and connect them to a deeper purpose through projects they design? 

This was the big question behind the Capstone Program at Hawaii Prep Academy; a learner-centered initiative that affords students 3 hours a week during their their 5th, 8th and 12th grade years to develop projects that are meaningful to them. 

One 8th grade learner used the time to start the school's first LGBTQ+ club; while another used it to co-design reforestation projects with a local NGO. 

I sat down with Dagan Bernstein, the program coordinator to learn more about the program, and how we as edu-transformers can:

• Help our students discover their passions and connect them to a greater purpose
• Scaffold and support the project process by using the 6 'P's' 
• Shift from Teacher to Project Mentor by adopting a growth mindset
• Start a similar initiative in our classrooms or schools

Dagan's Website: dagan.education

Dagan's Blog: dagan.blog

Connect with Dagan on Twitter (@DaganBernstein) and LinkedIn (@DaganBernstein)

Dagan's Bio: Dagan currently works as the K-8 Capstone Coordinator at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy in Waimea on Hawai’i Island with additional experience in music, digital media, and mathematics instruction. A strong believer in developing student agency and supporting skills for a “future curriculum”, he is an advocate for using design, futures, and music thinking to support productive collaboration among educators. Dagan is also a musician who loves writing, recording, and performing at farmer’s markets and coffee shops throughout Hawai’i Island.