ASIJ IMPACT
The American School in Japan
WHAT IS IMPACT?
Program Overview
The IMPACT program is a personalized learning framework designed to empower students with skills for self-efficacy and a passion for learning that transcends school. A student’s IMPACT experience may be enriched by work they have done in previous courses, or it might spring from an area of personal interest. The possibilities are diverse and driven by students’ interest in becoming self-guided, lifelong learners.
The program consists of four components: Design for Impact, IMPACT Seminar, IMPACT Club, and a Presentation of Learning. A successful IMPACT experience will provide a foundation for students as they continue to chart their path towards university, summer opportunities, internships, and other opportunities to pursue their future goals.
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We envision that a student’s IMPACT experience will provide a foundation for students as they continue to chart their path towards college, summer opportunities, internships, etc. Upon completion, the high school will honor students who complete the program by showcasing their work through opportunities such as public presentations and recognition events.
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Students meet together regularly and participate in several larger key events throughout the year:
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IMPACT Seminars - students learn networking and entrepreneurial skills;
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IMPACT Summit - a student-organized event between ASIJ and SAS to explore how schools can move toward more meaningful personalized learning experiences;
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Engage Forum - a forum and networking dinner at the Tokyo American Club, which links students to 60+ members of the Tokyo business community;
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TEDx Youth - hosted by and for IMPACT students
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External events hosted by other leading schools in the region such as NOVA and Global Social Entrepreneurship Summit.
“The research is clear. Young people learn best when actively engaged, creating, and solving problems they care about, and supported by peers who appreciate and recognize their accomplishments” Connected Learning Lab - University of California, Irvine
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A student’s IMPACT experience may grow out of work they have done in one of our more open-ended research or design courses (such as AP Seminar or AP Research, Bioengineering, Independent Inquiry, or one of our CID courses). Or it might spring from an area of interest a student has been pursuing for a number of years.
Examples might include deep research that culminates in a proposal for real-world change, the composition of a musical, an environmental impact study, the launch of an entrepreneurial activity, or the creation of programs or organizations that focus on problems identified by the student. The possibilities are broad, and driven by a student’s interest in becoming self-guided, life-long learners who are aware of the impact their efforts can have on others, and the impact their learning has on them
