Unlike traditional teaching and learning, the principle of CUBE electives is simple but powerful: engage students through real-world experiences and guide them on a learning journey that matters. Using project-based learning, students work with real clients, co-design solutions, and ask the big questions; What does the client need? Why does it matter? And how can we make a difference?
At the beginning of every elective sits The Hook. Closely aligned to each guiding question, the hook session sparks curiosity, builds relevance and draws students into meaningful learning from the very beginning. When learning feels authentic, student engagement and agency naturally follow, two essential ingredients for successful project-based learning.
During this week’s hook sessions, our three elective groups explored their guiding questions in very different, but equally powerful, ways.
One group began by tackling the sensitive and complex issue of homelessness and hardship within our community. Through a collaborative, human-centred design challenge, students used scrap materials to design a functional backpack. More than just a design task, the activity encouraged empathy, teamwork and deep thinking about the lived experiences of people, including children, facing hardship. Working together to understand and respond to real community needs is a vital step in developing compassionate, socially aware learners.
Meanwhile, the Live Streaming group embarked on a listening journey, exploring the question: What do we really hear when we listen? Students reflected on how often we move through the world without truly noticing the sounds and stories around us.
Through their first sound walk, they recorded the voices of their surroundings and began uncovering the stories places tell about environmental health, human impact and responsibility. This immersive experience highlighted the power of attentive listening and its role in understanding the world more deeply.
In Behind Those Eyes, students discovered that without truly knowing a person, it’s difficult to create a meaningful photographic portrait. Their journey began with a Creative Portrait Team Challenge, where students worked in groups to capture the most creative portrait possible. This hands-on task was followed by an exploration of photographic elements and techniques, helping students understand how composition, light and perspective shape powerful visual storytelling.
Across all electives, The Hook set the tone for learning that is purposeful, engaging and connected to the real world. By placing students at the centre of authentic problems and creative challenges, CUBE electives continue to show the power of meaningful, real-world learning where curiosity leads the way and learning truly sticks.
Photo by Annie Cao, Kayaan Pitalia, Jayme Schnitzler and Kyra Pickup.
