According to many educators, “Project-based learning’ refers to students designing, planning, and carrying out an extended project that produces a publicly-exhibited output such as a product, publication, or presentation.”
The unique characteristic feature of PBL is the publicly exhibited product. A presentation of learning (POL), is required by all students as the end result of the project. It makes students delve deeper into their learning by asking them to understand the process of learning not just the content. The staff of the ELC, have chosen to focus on PBL because it incorporates inquiry, and/or problem based learning. We believe that the student’s POL and the public display of their projects is a powerful motivator for both students and staff.
When students create a project that they know will be displayed publicly, this changes the student’s approach from the initial start-up of the project. Knowing that all their work will be put to the test of public examination, students rise to the occasion. No one wants to display work that is ‘below average’. This display of student work becomes a powerful motivation. Students become ambitious, creative, and totally committed to producing terrific work. This commitment is much greater than what is stimulated by the incentive of getting good letter grades.
The exhibition of student work will also link the schools to the community. Possibly strengthening its relationship with each other. Hopefully you will find the following pictures of student mask projects from the ELC pleasing.
If you want to know more about our projects and the ELC, please drop by and I will be honoured to give you all the details.
Sheldon Steele
VP Energetic Learning Campus
The ELC ‘Mask Project’ display below is an excellent example of inspired students and staff. Thanks Adam Stefiuk for your very creative idea!
Community groups painted their totem pole their comm color, added their comm letter, and hung their masks by fine line so you are able to turn the masks to view the inside detail.
