The Hearst Seminar Program believes seminar students are unique in their ability to learn advanced concepts quickly or intuitively with a high degree of complexity and depth. The teachers offer a positive learning environment where students are stretched cognitively, accepted for their individuality, inspired in their creativity, and given opportunities to express their ideas. The learning environment is invigorating and engaging, and the students' needs and interests drive instruction. The teachers encourage the students to develop their own unique abilities, focusing on their strengths, while making a high degree of academic growth. They understand the power of like-minded peers working together to set goals and advance their knowledge cooperatively. The depth and breadth of the curriculum provided by the teachers captures the students' interest with novelty and higher-level thinking; each student's innate curiosity is allowed to flourish. These knowledgeable and practiced teachers are passionate and dedicated to the idea that seminar students need an intellectually enriching environment commensurate to their unique abilities.
In keeping with San Diego Unified School District, Hearst's seminar program uses these teaching strategies:
- Simulation games
- Project-based learning
- Accelerated pacing
- Depth and complexity
- Like-minded peers
- Team building strategies
- Cognitive challenges
- Creativity
- Interdisciplinary instruction
- Meaningful, real applications
- Socractic Seminar
- Icons for depth & complexity
- Open-ended questions
- High level questioning techniques
- Independent study
- Collaborative projects
- Leadership opportunities
- Opportunities for published work
- Technology instruction
- Problem solving & logic
- Scientific process
- Hands-on inquiry