Educating Hearts and Minds, May 2023

By Alice Cotti, Notre Dame High School

In recent years, Notre Dame High School (NDHS) embarked on an educational journey that transformed the way students learn and innovate. A groundbreaking course titled "STEAM: Innovation Through Empathy" was introduced, revolutionizing traditional teaching methods and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Led by a team of dedicated educators and inspired by real-world challenges, this transdisciplinary program aimed to empower students to become empathetic problem solvers and agents of change.

At the heart of the STEAM approach lies the recognition that the conventional teaching models of the past are ill-equipped to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving world. NDHS embraced the vision of creating "Creators" rather than "Consumers," nurturing a generation of young minds capable of leveraging their ingenuity across multiple disciplines. Science, technology, engineering, art, and math intertwine, creating a dynamic environment where students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, and embrace innovation.

The genesis of the STEAM course at NDHS can be traced back to an inspiring documentary titled "Lives Not Grades." The film showcased an undergraduate course at the University of Southern California (USC), where engineering students embarked on a journey to design solutions for the challenges faced by refugees. This powerful example of applying engineering principles to real-world problems resonated deeply with NDHS, igniting a desire to provide a similar experience for their students.

After watching “Lives Not Grades” we knew instantly that this was something we wanted our NDHS students to experience. The concept of student problem solvers “bringing hope” resonated because of its direct connection to our Holy Cross charism. Professor Brad Cracchiola offered to serve as a mentor, assisting Ms. Sabitha Chanduri, Mr. Ruslan Babayan, and Ms. Raghubir Kintisch as they designed STEAM: Innovation Through Empathy.? Fr. Moreau taught that the primary mission of Holy Cross is to educate young men and women “with hope to bring” and our alumni like Brad Cracchiola and Dan Ryan are doing just that through their willingness to inspire and engage the next generation of NDHS students.?

Drawing upon the USC model, NDHS modified the course to align with the high school curriculum and tailored it to address local challenges. Partnering with Sages and Seekers, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, students had the opportunity to engage in authentic conversations with older adults, aptly referred to as "sages." Through these exchanges, students developed empathy and gained invaluable insights into the lives, needs, and struggles of their sage partners.

Through a rigorous process of design thinking and prototyping, students transformed their newfound empathy into tangible solutions. Collaborative teams worked tirelessly, iterating upon their prototypes and "failing forward" in pursuit of viable outcomes. The emphasis was not merely on academic success but on providing hope and meaningful change for the sages they sought to assist. This immersive experience nurtured social-emotional skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, empowering students to become compassionate and innovative individuals. This year we concluded a successful first year of the STEAM: Innovation Through Empathy course which has become a cornerstone of NDHS's educational philosophy. It is a unique way of educating the hearts and minds of our students, and showcases NDHS’s commitment to this indispensable part of our charism.?