In Engineering Creative Solutions for Living With Marfan Syndrome, meet Cal, a person with Marfan Syndrome, who creatively solves a medical complication by applying engineering knowledge to his condition. Cal’s condition causes his heart and aorta to stretch due to the structural abnormalities that characterize Marfan Syndrome. Instead of undergoing traditional surgery, Cal takes matters into his own hands, using his engineering background to find a more innovative solution. This video demonstrates the intersection of medicine and engineering, as well as how individuals can advocate for themselves and influence their treatment plans. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.
In Engineering Creative Solutions for Living With Marfan Syndrome, meet Cal, a person with Marfan Syndrome, who creatively solves a medical complication by applying engineering knowledge to his condition. Cal’s condition causes his heart and aorta to stretch due to the structural abnormalities that characterize Marfan Syndrome. Instead of undergoing traditional surgery, Cal takes matters into his own hands, using his engineering background to find a more innovative solution. This video demonstrates the intersection of medicine and engineering, as well as how individuals can advocate for themselves and influence their treatment plans. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.