We are heading into a third week on the second session of our Project Based Learning demonstration. This session on "What Does a 21st Century Classroom Look Like" has been ambitious. We need now to have the student teams established and give them the time to create. While I'm not sure they all understand how to manage time all that well, at some point we must turn over the keys to the car and let them drive.

This might be the biggest challenge of PBL- developing in the learners a sense of being in charge of their learning. A few may already have a terminal case of "show me what you want so I can graduate" disease. The traditional system is too ingrained and they are too cynical to change. However, on Friday, I sat with two teams that understood their role much better. Five Latino students and two country boys had the right idea. I wonder if the reason is that they have more responsibility in their personal lives giving them a strong sense of what power they have in their lives. I can imagine them working somewhere in the future, driving a project with energy and purpose.

The career readiness of this approach becomes clear as the learners grapple with the challenges of working with a team. Some still want to work by themselves, but the inevitability of the 21st Century workplace standards make collaboration all the more necessary to master. Here's to making this work!

First Month of Project Based Learning a Success Friday

We completed our first month's session of PBL, collaborating with three other teachers to create lessons on the driving question, "Do you know what you are eating and does it matter?" The final project was for the students to create an infographic showing a particular point of view and a product and how GMO or Organic labels can affect the product.

The final presentation was to parents, other teachers, students and a large group of central administrators. Simply put, the students nailed their ability to demonstrate what they had learned. Two of us were positively giddy with excitement as the students displayed their authentic learning to adults.

Now that the teachers have the direction and support to lead the way, learning is happening.

Back in the saddle again

Back after being away from all this for a spell. I have spent time renewing my National Board Certification that involved formal reflections on my practice and took most of the appeal of blogging away. On the other hand, the old blog helped me to recall the experiences of the past couple of years on the reform which proved useful in my renewal process.

The last year with a new administration team proved a success. We doubled our number of graduates and reduced the number of dropouts by 50% or so. We showed a Student growth percentile of 54 in Math and 62 in reading over the year with about 40 students participating in all three measures. These results caught the attention of the state in a positive way. We were able to apply and receive another $100,000 to follow up on the grant.

I stepped away for several reasons. The perceived lack of an audience discouraged me. I found better ways to reflect on my experience mostly through long walks and internal reflection. The drama and stress that developed during the first two years of the TIG grant. I kept positive in my conflicts with administration. So much so that I still socialize with my former principal. Two of the teachers were not able to handle the changes and they directed their anger at our new administrative team, affecting a transfer to new schools for this year.

The change has been dramatic. The Project Based Learning that other teachers proposed has given me the chance to be a driving force and not the lead element. I can sustain change through my energy and hard work. Here we are near the end of the first session, showing more engagement on the part of our learners and becoming a pilot program for the district. Soon we will again become a model program in the state.