Full-Speed Reform in Rural Georgia

TL;DR

Georgia schools in Whitfield County are implementing project based learning to engage students and promote collaboration.

Transcript

These students are investigating a murder mystery. It's one of several projects developed by educators from Whitfield County in northwest Georgia, as they transition their schools to project based learning. The process began two years before when Whitfield teachers and administrators visited High Tech High. The San Diego charter school specialize... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚀 Whitfield County educators were inspired by a visit to High Tech High and launched their own project based learning initiative.
• 🤩 Projects are key to serving the diversity of students within each classroom.
• 🧑‍🏭 Collaborative planning time and freedom to experiment and fail are critical factors in transitioning to project based learning.
• 👻 Project based learning allows students to put their passion into their work and promotes engagement.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Whitfield County educators become inspired to implement project based learning?

Whitfield educators visited High Tech High and were inspired by their methods and workshops showcasing project based learning. They launched their own initiative a few months later.

Q: What subjects are integrated into the projects designed by Whitfield County teachers?

Whitfield County teachers design projects that integrate various subjects, including history, math, and forensic science.

Q: What are the three major factors that help these teachers transition to project based learning?

The three major factors are collaborative planning time, freedom to experiment and even fail, and remembering that not every lesson has to be a project.

Q: How does project based learning change the conversation between teachers and students?

Project based learning allows students to put their passion into their work and collaborate with others, transforming the adversarial relationship between teachers and students into a more positive conversation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Whitfield County educators visited High Tech High to learn about project based learning and launched their own initiative a few months later.

• Teachers in Whitfield County worked together to design projects that integrate various subjects, including history, math, and forensic science.

• Collaborative planning time, freedom to experiment, and remembering that not every lesson has to be a project are factors that help teachers transition to project based learning.