Our World Discovery Seminar Program’s main goal is to estab­lish a smaller learning community that cre­ates a sense of iden­tity, belonging, and teamwork within the World Discovery Seminar Program, while maintaining strong ties to the CHS families of de­partments and programs. The World Discovery Seminar Program is an alternative learning community within Chugiak High School, with a school-within-a-school des­ignation. At present, WDS consists of approximately 200 students and a team of 5 teachers and 1 counselor. The program employs the Paideia methodology, a Socratic ­based learning/teaching technique focused on in-depth understanding of classic historical and literary docu­ments. Discussion and written expression of ideas com­ing out of the seminar process are emphasized along with challenging projects and hands on activities.  Stu­dents work toward becoming multifaceted thinkers by examining and questioning real world events: past, pre­sent and future.

The goal of WDS is to assist young people to become avid, self-motivated learners. In the classroom, students will examine, define, draw conclusions, articulate, and debate about the significance of great historical, literary, mathematical, and scientific ideas. A student’s full range of credits for both English and social studies will be completed in this program.