The Hockaday Experience
Innovation and Collaboration
The Power of Synthesis
Thinking beyond boundaries at Hockaday.
The Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan challenges us to cultivate “creative and divergent thinkers who are prepared to lead lives of purpose and impact in a rapidly changing, complex, and connected world.” Every day, across all grade levels, this vision takes shape in countless ways. One particularly innovative approach is encouraging students to engage in synthesis—the art of combining seemingly unrelated ideas to form new, insightful connections.
syn•the•sis /sínthisis/ n.
1. combination, integration, fusion, blend, amalgamation.
1. combination, integration, fusion, blend, amalgamation.
In the fall of 2021, Director of Innovation and Collaboration Laura Day, and I piloted a “Synthesis Project” in my Form IV Neuroscience course. The goal? To break down academic silos and inspire students to connect ideas across disciplines and life experiences. By training students to recognize patterns everywhere—whether in academics, co-curriculars, or personal experiences—we sought to cultivate a more interconnected way of thinking.
Neuroscience provided an ideal backdrop for this pilot, given its inherently interdisciplinary nature and the reflective mindset of seniors in their final year at Hockaday. Through collaborative workshops led by Ms. Day, students explored their purpose, learned the power of synthesis, and mastered the art of storytelling. Anchored by neuroscience concepts, the Synthesis Project encouraged students to weave together knowledge from all aspects of their lives, leading to a deeper understanding of how interconnected ideas shape the world.
Our Goals Were Clear:
- Build confidence in neuroscience while connecting academic principles to real-world challenges.
- Train students to blend diverse experiences into unified concepts.
- Foster empathy and encourage out-of-the-box thinking.
- Replace rote memorization with analytical reasoning and creative problem-solving.
- Make learning personal and relevant, enhancing overall educational engagement.
Impactful Outcomes
The results were profound. One student explored the emotional implications of isolation, linking her End of The World science class, Studio Art, and the neuroscience of social cognition to create a thought-provoking art piece. Paraphrasing her reflection on the project, she shared, “I look at loneliness in a new way… it’s about a deep, human need to connect. I now understand the importance of social interaction, just as essential as food or water.”
Another student investigated the intersection of light, community, and education, envisioning a project with the potential for community-wide impact. Yet another student explored her fascination with numerical patterns, while a fourth student composed and performed a song about the butterfly effect, drawing connections from history, biology, neuroscience, and her personal life.
A Lasting Legacy
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One student remarked, “The Synthesis Project was unlike anything I’ve ever done in my 14 years at Hockaday. It allowed me to see connections I had never noticed before.”
By teaching students to think beyond conventional boundaries, the Synthesis Project empowers them to recognize patterns and connections that will serve them well in college and beyond. This is the Hockaday Difference in action—preparing students to navigate and impact an ever-evolving world with creativity, empathy, and purpose.
The Hockaday School
Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.
The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.
The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.