Students complain that school isn’t relatable. Employers complain that we don’t generate problem solvers. Problem Based Learning answers the complexities of both of these issues in one fell swoop, all the while being aligned to state curriculum standards.
Alexandria received a grant of $335,000 from the state of Indiana as part of the Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program to help with the demolition of eyesore properties around town. The question remains: was this a good deal for the city? A slideshow outlining the entire project may be viewed at: https://www.emaze.com/@AFRWRLTW/razed-and-rising
The entry event slated for our project is touring the city in a school van to see properties under contract to be demolished.
Throughout the project students will answer questions such as:
- What is the difference between house demolition and deconstruction?
- How are work permits filed?
- What are the labor costs associated with such work?
- What are the environmental concerns regarding house demolition?
- What are the social ramifications of this project?
- What are the future plans for the properties that are cleared?
I chose to center this plan around a relevant issue in our community so that students will have a stake in the project. My plan is to have the students present their final project of either multimedia Public Service Announcement and Poster, an official report to a government agency, or a brochure, pamphlet and billboard announcement demonstrating the repercussions of demolishing houses presenting their findings to a local government representative. Teaching science through inquiry based methods while allowing students to have a stake in their own learning allows for a more engaging experience for all.
Multiple InTASC standards will be covered during this project, including standards 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10. Instruction will be inquiry based and differentiated using universal design principals. HLPs to be employed include 1-2-4-5-6-10-11-13-14-15-16. This will be the longest unit that I have planned to date, and the most risky one in my mind as I have little experience with problem based learning, and even less with project based. I look forward to the experience and seeing how the students and community receive it.