69ý

Teaching

Housing Project Razed

By Bess Keller — September 18, 2007 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

In her earth and environmental science class last year, Laura O. Spencer assigned students to build model houses that could withstand the equivalent of hurricane-force winds. At the time, she was delighted with at least one product: a house so sturdy that it stood up to a leaf-blower.

But this year, she is scrapping that activity, cool as it was. “I don’t think the students got much out of it educationally,” the 31-year-old teacher said, mulling over the project. “That was a reflection of me not setting up specific learning goals.”

Laura O. Spencer chose to scrap a model-house project.

With a better grip on project-based learning, thanks to a summer workshop at her Charlotte, N.C., community of small high schools, Ms. Spencer is trying a different plan.

Unlike the hurricane-house lesson, the new project started with a serious question. It’s one that cuts across course content and takes into account the thematic focus of the school, called Global Studies and Economics at Olympic.

Known as a “driving” or “essential” question, Ms. Spencer’s query is this: How does the availability of natural resources affect the economic development of Third World countries?

The way Ms. Spencer has planned it, groups of students will tackle the answer, in parts. 69ý will complete individual assignments weekly, with Ms. Spencer’s expectations laid out for them in scoring guides she has devised.

See Also

Return to the main story,

No Easy Project

Later, each group will identify an economic or environmental problem in its chosen country and propose a sustainable solution to it. Finally, the groups will pitch their solutions—with visual aids—as if they were facing potential donors at a summit of the wealthy G-8 nations. Again, rubrics will be available as guides.

It’s a stretch from the hurricane houses, and the workshop leader hinted it may be too ambitious. But the project is an improvement, and the best ones are built over time.

Related Tags:

Coverage of new schooling arrangements and classroom improvement efforts is supported by a grant from the Annenberg Foundation.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Teaching Opinion 69ý Are Often Blamed for Our Foundering Democracy. It’s Not That Simple
Regardless of who wins the election, teachers must help students see what it means to forge a collective path ahead. Here are three steps.
Nicole Mirra & Antero Garcia
4 min read
Collage art of civics and democracy images.
iStock/Getty + Education Week
Teaching Opinion Post-Election Advice for the Classroom From a Teacher
What educators can say to their students or families if they express concerns or anxiety about election-related classroom discussions.
7 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion 3 Stories About How Teachers Turned Things Around With a Student
Some students struggle with learning how to function in a classroom. With patience and understanding, teachers can change that dynamic.
9 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion The Hidden Benefits of Distraction in the Classroom
Distraction can support healthy emotional regulation—but only when properly understood. Here’s what teachers need to know.
Eliya Ahmad & Zi Jia Ng
4 min read
Concept art, idea of brain and psychology, surreal painting, conceptual illustration. Distracted mind, emotional regulation.
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock