Student Voice: Experiencing Deeper Learning Through PBL

TL;DR

A student's experience at Impact Academy, a project-based learning school, transforms their academic struggles and provides valuable life skills for college and the workplace.

Transcript

I was born in Suva, which is the capital of Fiji and life was different in almost every single way. My father felt that if I received a college education here I would be a lot more successful, so that was one of the significant reasons we left Fiji. I started eighth grade here and I struggled academically at first. Coming here to Impact was reall... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎓 The decision to move from Fiji to the United States was driven by the belief that a college education would lead to greater success.
• 🧑‍🎓 Impact Academy focuses on both academic content and essential life skills, preparing students for college and the workplace.
• 👨‍🔬 Rahil's research on immigration in his AP government class highlighted the complexities of analyzing the Constitution and determining government responsibilities.
• 🧑‍🏫 Deeper learning involves applying knowledge and experiences beyond the content being taught.
• 🎓 Attending Impact Academy inspired Rahil to believe in his ability to succeed in college and pursue a successful career.
• 👪 Immigration was a personally relevant topic for Rahil due to his family's experience with immigration.
• 👻 The assignment on federalism allowed students to explore various issues and apply their analytical skills.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did attending Impact Academy help Rahil change academically?

Attending Impact Academy provided Rahil with a fresh start and the opportunity to overcome his academic struggles. The school's focus on project-based learning and essential life skills allowed Rahil to develop and succeed in various areas.

Q: What was the focus of Rahil's AP government assignment?

Rahil's AP government assignment centered around analyzing the Constitution to determine whether the state or federal government should be responsible for a specific issue. He chose immigration as his topic of study.

Q: Why did Rahil conclude that the federal government should have control over immigration?

Through extensive research and analyzing laws, Rahil determined that the federal government should be in charge of immigration. He found that national security and the need for consistent rights across all states were key factors supporting this conclusion.

Q: How does Rahil define deeper learning?

According to Rahil, deeper learning goes beyond mastering content and involves applying experiences and knowledge from other classes. It is the internalization of information and the ability to use it effectively.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The student, Rahil Maharaj, shares how leaving Fiji for a college education in the United States brought significant change to his life.

• Rahil attends Impact Academy, a small project-based learning school that focuses on leadership skills and academic content.

• He discusses an assignment in his AP government class that allowed him to research and analyze the issue of immigration and determine the appropriate level of government responsibility.