Curriculum
Unique Aspects of the LTI Curriculum
- It's a self-sustaining learning cycle. The program focuses on training selected MIT students in the fall to become LTI mentors through an intensive four day training session and retreat. The MIT mentors will then apply what they have learned in our spring program. The spring program is for selected high school sophomores, who will be in groups of five paired with two MIT mentors. The LTI alumni are invited back to serve as peer mentors for the abridged summer HSSP session and next spring.
- Students create their own community service projects. A major component of the LTI curriculum is the Final Project. Students are required to develop and implement a community service project to address an issue in their community that interests them. LTI mentors provide guidance and connections to MIT and outside resources. The Executive Board provides financial support and continuous feedback on the project. By the end of the spring program, students must have developed a proposal and present their ideas at the Final Ceremony. The organization keeps in touch with students after their graduation from LTI to ensure the success of their projects.
- Technology is integrated into the curriculum. Attending the best engineering university in the world has opened our eyes to the importance of technology and science in our everyday lives. Our students write their reflections on blogs, create media presentations and play with cool programs like Scratch and PicoCrickets.
- The curriculum is interactive, innovative, and incremental. The foundation of our program is our curriculum and we strongly believe in creative pedagogy. None of our activities are lectures. In fact, we encourage the students and mentors to create the content within the themed framework of the day. Each session builds off of last week's theme and reserves time for self-reflection of each activity. Students delve into profound conversations, such as personal obstacles we had to overcome and social issues.
Course Objectives
Leadership Training Institute will teach motivated high school students the philosophy behind leadership, the importance of teamwork, and to promote self-reflection and the comprehension of self-identity. By the end of the course, we hope the students will reach their leadership potential and learn the following:
- Ability to recognize the different types and styles of leadership
- Ability to work in teams
- Ability to think critically and approach problem solving analytically
- Gain self-awareness, self-respect and self-motivation
- Ability to communicate coherently and charismatically
- Learn the rules of the professional, business environment
- Learn the importance of mental, emotional and physical health
