School: Piper High School
Class: Introduction to Healthcare
Instructor: Kristen Graham
Client: Trusted Adults (each student had different clients)
Problem: How can we solve a challenge presented in the current American healthcare system regarding cost?
Summary
Students tackled the complex issue of healthcare costs by focusing on a key barrier: understanding health insurance. Guided by the question, “How can we solve a challenge presented in the current American healthcare system regarding cost?” Students began by meeting with two trusted adults to hear firsthand experiences and challenges related to navigating health insurance. They also met with Matt Tritz from Lockton to gain expert insight into how insurance works and how to access it.
Using their research and interviews, students collaborated in groups to identify common misunderstandings and developed creative, informative resources aimed at making health insurance more accessible to their peers. Final products included pamphlets, posters, handouts, and video essays, all designed to explain key insurance concepts in student-friendly language. These materials were displayed throughout the school, shared online via YouTube, and distributed to industry partners at Lockton, making the project both educational and community-facing.
Takeaways
Students gained an understanding of how to acquire health insurance and what the different terms associated with it are. This is an essential part of our society, and in turn, having students well versed with this vocabulary and system will only benefit them in their futures!
Advice
Have scaffolded assignments be part of the project—by having each piece broken down as small as possible and as detailed as possible, it allowed me to be a facilitator and for the students to have more voice.
Standards/Learning Targets
Students will gain an understanding of the American health insurance system and be able to apply their knowledge to improving the current issues in the system