Appalachian Learning Lab is an educational co-op community based in Hendersonville, NC that brings young people together to work on collaborative educational projects with real-world application. Participants gain confidence as doers, innovators, creators and leaders as they explore meaningful ideas, organize, problem solve, build and share while developing friendships.
Participants deepen their understanding of local history, culture, geography, financial literacy, government, science, life skills, the natural world, etc. through hands-on projects. Participants connect academic knowledge to authentic experiences and local issues.
Participants design, build, create, and experiment with the intention of problem-solving or building something of value. Participants are encouraged to see the project through and reflect on all valuable lessons -- the successes and failures.
While working on a project, participants engage in respectful discussion and collaborative problem-solving as they share or rotate through roles based on interests giving each participant opportunity for various exposures and learning opportunities. They practice listening well, asking thoughtful questions, evaluating evidence, explaining their reasoning, reconsidering ideas, and working productively as a team.
