What is the philosophy and pedagogy behind the NuVu studio model?

It is an apprenticeship model in which the studio environment offers a low-pressure world that approximates the world of practice. It is in this world that novice learners will undergo a series of graduated problems under the close supervision of a master practitioner. Furthermore, the novice learner will have to confront unanticipated and sometimes messy consequences and solve problems by trying out new moves and trials. Such reflection-in-action will be constantly assessed by the master practitioner who is ‘coaching’ the learner closely in the studio.

The program combines the pedagogy of the Architectural Studio and the culture of the MIT Media Lab. The studio environment fosters creative and out-of-the-box thinking, problem-solving skills, and presentation, communication and collaboration. The Media Lab stresses a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and problem solving while promoting an entrepreneurial culture.

What skills does NuVu teach?

NuVu students gain an exceptional skill set as they are taught both the technical (what already exists and works) and the creative (to try as hard as they can to do something new). Students of traditional critical thinking methods are taught only the technical and often at the sacrifice of the creative. NuVu students see no such divide and experience no such conflict, so they are able to synthesize all elements equally, both sifting and creating at the same time.

Furthermore, NuVu students walk away with a more personalized understanding of the world and how they relate to it and can fully participate in it. They realize there are many solutions to any problem and that it is important to move from one solution to the next, combining, exploring and thinking of the possibilities. Given an ambiguous situation, NuVu students do not shut down, but rather use their skills and personal process to tackle it. They also learn how to change their perspective on an issue quickly so as not to get stuck, thereby enabling themselves to explore other potential scenarios. They know that the solution depends on perspective, and only by understanding an issue from multiple perspectives can they fully explore the terrain of possibilities.

Why are these skills so important to teach?

The innovation skills that NuVu is designed to teach are among those that today’s students will need to succeed in the 21st century Information Age. These are skills described by bestselling business author Daniel Pink in A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World.

Beaver’s 2008 Strategic Directions document tasked the school with developing a curriculum “that recognizes the defining characteristics of the millennial generation” and with offering “connections with other learning institutions that provide opportunities for authentic learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom.” NuVu fulfills both of these charges, and as Head of School Peter Hutton says, “NuVu makes Beaver better at being Beaver.”

How does NuVu complement Beaver’s approach to teaching and learning?

NuVu pushes students to engage in the kind of investigative, hands-on, collaborative learning that Beaver students are already familiar with, but takes it to the next level by letting them immerse themselves in solving real-world problems with no easy answers. Our visual arts teachers have long used the studio model to push students to adopt new perspectives and take creative risks, and the NuVu approach complements our mission to develop students who “reason and engage deeply with complex ideas and issues.”

Who teaches the NuVu studios?

The NuVu “coaches” are post-doc or graduate students at MIT or Harvard and expert practitioners in their fields of study. They come from many countries and backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives that inform their broad research interests. All undergo careful screening including the mandated criminal background checks by the NuVu program directors to ensure their ability to engage younger students.

The coaches’ areas of expertise include sustainability, cultural fashion, algorithmic probability, toys and fun, playgrounds and lighting, digital fabrication, sports, creativity and education, filmmaking, mathematics, visual arts, design and computation, urban planning, architecture and design, and rocket science.

In addition, NuVu staff are working closely with several of Beaver’s academic department heads (math, science, history, college counseling) on curriculum and assessment design to ensure the maximum educational impact of each NuVu studio offered. As the program progresses, other Beaver teachers may be called upon to participate in curriculum design and assessment and to sit in on some of the studios, so that the NuVu coaches and Beaver teachers can share successful teaching strategies.

Who is eligible for NuVu?

NuVu is open to Beaver students in grades 10-12. Priority will be given by grade seniority. We recommend that new students wait until they have spent at least two terms on the Beaver campus before starting NuVu in order to make a smooth social and academic transition.

Is there an additional cost for participating in NuVu?

No. NuVu is included in the cost of tuition. Like many other programs that enrich and enhance the academic and extracurricular experiences of Beaver students, NuVu is partly supported by Annual Fund gifts.

What type of student is right for NuVu?

There is no one “right” type; NuVu is designed to engage students with all types of creative strengths and interests, not just students who are interested in traditional science, math or engineering disciplines. Certainly, a willingness to collaborate and take creative risks is important, even if these qualities might need strengthening in some participants (that’s a reason to do NuVu!). Our intent is to create heterogeneous teams that can work together to apply their creative and analytical skills to the problem-solving at hand.

How does participating in NuVu affect a student’s schedule and core requirements the other two terms?

NuVu would fulfill all academic requirements for one of the three terms, but we will ensure that all NuVu students take two terms of English and math in the two terms that they are on campus. Scheduling other courses will depend on the student’s own interests, his/her remaining requirements and which term elective courses are offered. Our core science curriculum (physics, biology, and chemistry) is already designed so that students can take a single term of the course, starting in any term, without having to use concepts taught in a prior term. Many electives across departments are one-term courses. We’re being flexible about requirements because NuVu is a unique opportunity and because the work done in NuVu fits so clearly into our academic mission.

Who will guide students in deciding whether to sign up for NuVu, and which term and year might fit best with their schedule?

Each student’s faculty advisor can guide students on whether and when to apply to NuVu. The college counseling team, the registrar, the academic scheduler, and the upper school director will also offer their counsel. The ideal timing may vary for each individual. We will do our best to tailor a student’s course schedule so that NuVu is possible for every student who wishes to participate.

Does NuVu count toward Beaver’s graduation requirements?

Yes. Beaver will grant NuVu participants with the equivalent of 20 credits (one term’s worth of full-time work) toward the school’s graduation requirements.

How are students assessed in NuVu?

The primary means of summative evaluation is the end-of-term exhibition and review. The iterative process in the design studio is intended to provide students with constant feedback for improving performance as well as product, with the experience of working in an intense, feedback-rich environment providing students with information and support for continuous self-evaluation, reflection, and improvement.

At the conclusion of the program students will receive a narrative review of their work during the NuVu term as well as a final evaluation of either “Pass” or “No Credit.” Students whose performance has been exceptional and exemplary may be given “Distinction.”

How is NuVu reflected on a student's transcript?

Participation in NuVu is included on the student’s high school transcript in the same way that a semester abroad or term away would be. Beaver students have spent terms away in non-traditional programs like The Island School or The Mountain School, and colleges are used to seeing such experiences on high school transcripts.

What do colleges think about NuVu?

Even before Beaver students began pilot participation in NuVu in the Spring of 2010, Director of College Counseling Peter Gow communicated with all colleges and universities to which Beaver students have applied in the last decade, describing the NuVu program and soliciting reactions. Responses from colleges were uniformly favorable, with many echoing the words of the admission officer who called NuVu an “incredible opportunity for Beaver students.” Another wrote that “this program aligns well with what we look for in our applicants: a high level of motivation, self-initiated academic challenge, and academic adventures that push students beyond a comfort zone.” Still another summed up his college’s approval by stating, “We would certainly look upon the experience favorably during the admissions review.”

What is the daily schedule for NuVu?

NuVu will meet on all school days from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM with a midday break for lunch. The activities will vary daily and weekly based on the topics being studied in each studio. The groups may take field trips to work on projects or to gather resources. The finish time will permit students to return to Beaver in time for their afternoon activities (sports, fitness, service and the arts). Reasonable accommodations will be made for students whose participation in a varsity sport or dramatic production might occasionally conflict with NuVu. NuVu students will follow the same vacation and holiday schedule as other Beaver students, and will attend some class outings such as the fall orientation trips.

Seniors enrolled in NuVu will also have time to meet with their college counselors before or after their daily NuVu program, depending on individual schedules and preferences.

Can a student participate in NuVu and still play a varsity sport or be in a dramatic production the same term?

Students may participate in the play/musical and other after school activities. However, due to the frequency of early releases for athletics, students may not take NuVu during a term when they are on an athletic team.

My student is in chorus/chamber/jazz band – can he/she still do NuVu?

Students enrolled in courses that meet for three terms (Chorus, Chamber Ensemble, etc) will be able to re-enter a course after a term away at NuVu.

How will Beaver students get to and from NuVu?

We offer a morning and afternoon bus between Beaver and NuVu. Parents who prefer to drop off their children at NuVu in the morning (rather than at Beaver) may do so. Students who wish to take the “T” may take the Red Line to the Central Square stop. On-street parking in the area is very limited, even with a Cambridge resident permit.

NuVu FAQs