Global Problems, Local Classrooms: Project-Based Learning in Action
Winnacunnet High School, a public school in New Hampshire, is committed to preparing students for an interconnected world. Since 2018, it has partnered with Shared_Studios to bring real-world global learning into the classroom—connecting students directly with communities and experts around the world. What began as cultural exchange has grown into a multi-year collaboration focused on curriculum-aligned, project-based learning.
Client
Winnacunnet High School
The Experience
Over several years, Winnacunnet has embedded immersive global experiences into academic courses, especially in Social Studies and Geography. More than 200 students participate annually in sessions co-designed with teachers to meet learning goals.
A centerpiece of the partnership is Winnacunnet’s global project-based learning. In one signature unit, students explored housing shortages in Rwanda, connecting repeatedly with residents of Kigali to conduct needs assessments, gather firsthand perspectives, and develop real-world solutions. Final presentations—including business plans and advocacy campaigns—were shared back with the community for feedback.
Other projects have focused on sustainability, fast fashion, agriculture, and media literacy, all anchored in dialogue with the communities most impacted by these issues.
Each year, more teachers join the program. Shared_Studios handles session planning and global guest curation, making it easy for teachers to integrate global engagement into existing coursework. What started as a pilot is now a recurring part of the school’s approach to global education.
The Results
Shared_Studios has become a trusted, flexible tool for global learning—bringing relevance, empathy, and real-world context into the classroom.
Student Outcomes
~200 students engage annually in curriculum-aligned Portal sessions
Project-based learning units helped students apply classroom concepts to real-world global issues and build empathy through direct dialogue
Faculty Feedback
Increased student engagement through real-world application of social studies and global issues
Teachers appreciated the ease of integration: Shared_Studios handled guest curation and session planning, making global learning accessible and sustainable
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“What I really like about it is that our students are not just reading or watching videos about a topic—they're speaking directly with people who are living those realities. It builds empathy and helps them see the world in a more complex way.”
Ross Phillips, Education Table Talk Podcast
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“Shared_Studios makes it easy for teachers to bring the world into their classroom. The guests are phenomenal, and the sessions connect seamlessly to what we’re already teaching.”
Ross Phillips
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“There are direct lines between what our students heard in the Portal and what they created. The conversations didn’t just inform their projects—they inspired them.”
Ross Phillips, Social Studies Teacher, Winnacunnet High School
Inside the Experience: Articles & Media
WHAT’S NEXT?
Winnacunnet continues to grow its use of Shared_Studios year over year, deepening its integration across the social studies curriculum and exploring new interdisciplinary opportunities. Its sustained commitment reflects a belief that global collaboration and empathy are essential parts of modern education.
