Student-led problem-solving in the real world
Nicole Ames Chipana
When Nicole taught in a rural Peruvian school, she helped students drive meaningful change in their community. Using the Teach For All Collective Leadership Framework, her students developed a project to address the health risks of cooking with firewood. Students led the research, collaborated with local experts, and involved their families, turning their learning into real-world impact. Nicole saw the power of student-led problem-solving and the value of community involvement in learning. She learnt the role teachers play in challenging and supporting students as they become leaders and innovators. Teaching is not about providing answers, Nicole believes, but about equipping students with the tools to create their own solutions.
Listen to Nicole
“When we give students real challenges that matter to them, they stop seeing themself as just kids in classrooms. They see themself as problem-solvers, as innovators, as leaders.”
Nicole Ames Chipana
Nicole Ames Chipana
Nicole Ames Chipana is an educator committed to transforming rural education through innovation, teacher training, and community leadership. With a strong background in curriculum design and formative assessment, she has worked closely with rural schools, empowering teachers to implement competency-based learning and adapt education to diverse realities. Her work focuses on fostering meaningful learning experiences that drive social change. As a mentor in the student leadership program of Enseña Perú, she supports student-led social impact initiatives and advises global STEAM education projects. She believes in the power of education to create opportunities and is dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality learning.
Related episodes
Nicole Ames Chipana