“To really learn about something you have to FEEL it.”
– Joann McPike
Travel has always played an important role in Joann McPike’s life. At 18 years old she left her native New Zealand to explore the world and since then she has lived in 7 countries and photographed over 100 others. In 2008 McPike published THINK – a collection of her travel photography accompanied by the reflections that certain places and experiences provoked in her about the human condition and the world we inhabit.
Having always harboured a deep curiosity for the lessons we learn when meeting people from different cultures who express contrasting perspectives to our own, Joann and her husband introduced their son Alexander to the benefits of travel at an early age, encouraging him to also keep a journal of his experiences.
By the age of 14 Alexander had visited 70 countries and, when his parents couldn’t find the kind of high school they had in mind for him – one that valued travel, cultural immersion and empathy as much as they did – they decided to start one. In September 2010 THINK Global School (TGS) opened its ‘symbolic’ doors (the school employs a full-time traveling model as opposed to a brick-and-mortar campus) with 15 students from 11 countries enrolled to take part in its first semester in Stockholm, Sweden.
THINK Global School Founder, Joann McPike with TGS students in Yunnan Province, China
“Most people feel safe in the status quo, then there are a few risk takers who want to shake things up a little. I guess I am one of those people who want to shake things up a little... as are the courageous parents who took a leap of faith and sent their children to get a completely new kind of education.”
– Joann McPike
Unlike traditional high schools, THINK Global School believes that education can mean more than knowledge and its aim is to not only shape students to be informed, engaged, and inspired, but also to leave a positive impact on both the world of education and the world at large.
The school operates on 8 core values, which have been adopted from separate cultures around the world:
Empathy
Treat others with understanding, compassion, and respect.
Grit
Persevere – embrace challenges with passion and courage.
改善 Kaizen (Japanese)
Continually improve – be self-aware, responsible, and disciplined.
Meraki (Greek)
Put all of yourself – your soul, creativity and love – into your work.
Pixki “The Guardian” (Náhuatl)
Modifying your actions to protect the environment while adopting a more sustainable lifestyle.
求知欲 Qiú Zhi Yù (Mandarin)
Thirst for knowledge – be open, be curious, and challenge assumptions.
Satya (Sanskrit)
Live truth – in a way that is honest, steadfast, and uplifting to others.
Ubuntu (Zulu)
Connect to a greater whole – in mutual support and community.
Yada and Charis learning from a Guaraní shaman in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Since its launch 12 years ago, students at THINK Global School have visited every continent except Antarctica, interacted firsthand with over 100 cultures and worked on countless projects that explore the pressing issues relevant to the countries they visit.
The school’s teaching model intertwines 2 core educational philosophies: place-based and project-based learning. Place-based learning refers to the practice of learning through immersion, rather than through textbooks or the internet, encouraging students go out into the world to explore subjects in person. Project-based learning, on the other hand, is rooted in the belief that allowing students to learn through inquiry and active exploration of real-world challenges and problems leads to a deeper understanding of subjects than conventional paper-based or teacher-led instruction.
Also critical to THINK Global School's model is its focus on diversity. The school currently has 60 students who hail from over 30 countries and the varied perspectives and viewpoints they bring to conversations are just as relevant as the insights students gain from their time exploring the world. TGS students represent a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities and systems of belief, all of which are equally valued.
Each year TGS takes its students to 4 different countries where it partners with local host schools that provide essential infrastructure. These include classrooms, science labs and maker-spaces – collaborative spaces where students can get hands-on with 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, and many other types of tech critical to their projects. These shared spaces also allow TGS students to interact with local students by joining some of their classes, workshops and athletic events.
The bold model that THINK Global School employs is aimed at students who possess strong academic qualifications, are fuelled by curiosity, crave independence and are adaptable to different environments. The latter is crucial as, in the span of 3 months, students could find themselves in Mumbai, back at home, and then in Tokyo.
THINK Global Schools students exploring the world
The school employs a year-round calendar, with the academic year starting in July and ending in June, during which time students continuously study for a period of 8 weeks and break for 5 weeks. While at home, students reconnect with family and friends, continue working on projects, participate in online learning and prepare for exams. At the end of the 3 year program TGS students obtain a WASC-accredited high school diploma recognized worldwide, as proved by the fact that 94% of TGS graduates have gone on to attend over 100 universities worldwide.
THINK Global School is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate students from all walks of life, irrespective of their parents’ income. To achieve this, Joann and Harald McPike established a foundation that provides long-term funding for students who would otherwise be unable to access its programs. Meaning that, as well as offering a tailored educational program, a student’s financial contribution is also based on its family’s financial situation.
“What really interests me is what do teenagers need to learn to survive in 'life' not just high school or university. What makes a person truly happy and satisfied with their life? I think that is a question on a lot of people's minds.”
– Joann McPike
As TGS has grown over the years, it has attracted the attention of educators from all over the world who began contacting McPike and the TGS team to enquire about the school’s methodologies. What started as an informal sharing of information about project-based learning, with the aim of spreading knowledge and opportunities, eventually led to the creation of THINK Learning Studio (TLS).
Operating as a separate entity and established in the summer of 2022, TLS was set up to help teachers and schools worldwide how to foster the mindset and methodologies employed at THINK Global School so they can support their own students in taking the next step in their real-world journey.
Its consultation offerings include tailored workshops and consultations that can last any length of time from 3 days to 3 years, during which the TLS team evaluates a school’s current curriculum, provides analytical feedback, and offers comprehensive project-based learning strategies, structures and programs which are designed to be adapted and scaled according to each school’s goals.
There are also 3 professional development courses – Discovery, Odyssey and Deep Dive – that equip educators at all levels with the necessary skills and tools to deliver effective project-based teaching strategies that will inspire and engage students to deepen their observations.
The applications for the 2023-2024 THINK Global School year are now open and the deadline is 1st January 2023. TGS is also taking early inquiries for 2024-2025 and future school years.