Kelvinside Academy’s latest recruit ‘could transform education in Scotland’ 

Kelvinside Academy has further boosted its commitment to creative learning and innovation in education with the appointment of American designer James Addison. The move is the next step of the Glasgow school’s exclusive European partnership with NuVu, the world’s leading innovation school.

A successful innovation and tech camp, which centred on solving real world challenges, launched last summer. This camp will return in July and now, Kelvinside pupils will benefit from this unique style of learning throughout the new academic year with the appointment of the NuVu design fellow. To enrich the traditional curriculum, the MIT Masters graduate will lead pupils through two-week immersive design projects.

Headmaster Ian Munro said: “I believe as educators, it’s our duty to grow the spirit of innovation within pupils and develop their curiosity and creativity. I don’t believe the current educational model always does that very well.

“That’s why we’ve chosen to be open-minded and progressive in our approach. This move will introduce a new, but certainly no less powerful, style of learning for our pupils. I believe the KA-NuVu collaboration will challenge aspects of Scotland’s education system for the better and help pupils to develop essential social, problem-solving, communication and technology skills.

“James will be a fabulous addition to the school and he will immediately enhance our offering. I hope this encourages other schools to introduce industry experts as part of the education process alongside fully qualified teachers. If so, it could transform education in Scotland.”

Addison is from Charleston, Illinois, and completed a Masters of Architecture at MIT after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Architectural Studies. Previously he has worked on urban-rural revitalisation projects in the Jiangsu province of China and was the lead design instructor for a technology-based entrepreneurship course in Mongolia.

“Growing up, my exposure to creative learning was very limited,” said Addison. “As a fellow with Kelvinside I will have the opportunity to share my perspective with kids, to challenge them to see the world through a new lens and to guide them in affecting positive change.

“This partnership also represents an opportunity beyond the classroom to co-create an educational experience with Kelvinside Academy’s teachers, the Glasgow community and local institutions that can be a beacon for education in Scotland.”

Read our exclusive Q&A with James Addison: ‘This style of education will influence Scottish education positively’.

For two weeks from 23 July, Kelvinside Academy will welcome pupils from across the UK to its tech camp powered by NuVu. Attendees will have the opportunity to dive into hands-on design, engineering, science, technology and art. Registration is now open to children aged 11-18.

During the summer camp, pupils will go through the full design process: researching, conceptualising, innovating, designing, and making using digital fabrication tools (3D printers and a laser cutter).

Based in Boston, NuVu was established in 2010. Since then, thousands of pupils have experienced its unique educational model. Rather than classrooms and subjects, pupils work on collaborative projects, immersing themselves in the creative process and all its challenges, under the guidance of designers and experts from Harvard and MIT, solving real life problems through a critical and rigorous process.

Communication skills are honed with pupils presenting their finished project to guest experts, receiving constructive feedback in real time.

For further information on Kelvinside Academy, and to sign-up for this year’s NuVu summer camp, visit www.kelvinsideacademy.org.uk. More details about NuVu can be found at https://cambridge.nuvustudio.com/.