Stuck in Classroom-Based Learning? How Community Connections Boost Engagement and Real-World Learning

Struggling to make learning feel relevant and real for your students? What if shifting from classroom-based instruction to community-connected learning could spark deeper engagement—without adding to your workload?

In this episode, I sit down with Lori, an expert in community-based STEM learning, to explore how shifting learning from the classroom to museums, libraries, and local spaces creates powerful, real-world experiences- especially in STEM. Lori shares practical strategies to bring your community into the classroom—and how these partnerships can transform your students into scientists, historians, and creators, while making your role as a teacher easier, not harder.

She describes a moment when a young girl, after leading her own experiment in a museum, said, “I was the scientist... not my teacher.” We learn:

• How shifting learning from the classroom to community spaces makes projects instantly more relevant
• Why letting students “be the expert” drives deeper learning and ownership
• How collaborating with museums and libraries simplifies planning instead of complicating it
• How virtual field trips can extend your classroom to the world—on any budget

Tune in to learn more about these shifts in practice and how to apply them in your setting.

Connect with Lori: LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/lori-stratton-know2grow), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/knowledge_to_grow_on/) 

Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713 

Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard 

Lori's Bio:

Lori Stratton is an Educational Program Development Consultant with extensive experience in accessible STEM programming and museum education. She began her career as a Recreational Therapist and parlayed her medical background to become New York City's first Special Needs Museum Educator. She pioneered access programs at the New York Transit Museum and Intrepid Museum (specializing in History, STEM and NASA education) while consulting for The Tenement Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, MOMA, Holocaust Museum and other renowned institutions. Her work focused on curriculum adaptation and creating immersive experiences for diverse audiences through experiential and project based learning.