In classrooms today, students resist many practices of old. In part, that's because they know there are better, more facile, comprehensive ways to learn.
As I grow with my students, I continue to revise learning experiences to reflect latest research, learning processes, and intent.
Hence, for our upcoming endangered species study, we'll complete the projects with collaborative teams. Student work will depend on apt collaboration, and collaboration will be a key component of the project. The question, "How can we work together to achieve a meaningful project?" will lead student work.
The project which has taken many twists and turns over the years, will look like this.
1. After an exploration of the world's habitats, students will choose an animal preserve to study.
2. Students will be grouped according to their animal preserve choices.
3. Students will use backwards design to plan their project path and teaching/learning presentation.
4. Together the students will study the preserve and the animals that live there.
5. Students will present a collective project to a predetermined audience that includes required and chosen elements.
6. Students will assess and reflect.
7. Students will use their learning to inform their spring project base learning which will focus on research and study related to a project of their own choice.
Stay tuned for more information about this project in the weeks to come.
Related posts:
Collaboration: http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/10189
