Day 1 - Project Based Learning

July 4, 2011

Today's class on project based learning was very exciting and timely for me. Our District currently has 15 of our schools on a pilot project with the Dept. of Education; looking at the learning needs of the intermediate learner (gd. 7 to 9). I've been involved in several planning sessions with colleagues this spring in preparing a presentation on the learning needs of students of this age and how to best meet their needs. We looked at such things as: the adolescent brain, social, emotional, physical, and academic needs. As District personnel, we will deliver this presentation to each of the 15 schools early in the fall. I can't wait to share what I anticipate I will learn this summer, when we meet in the fall. (we just might have to edit that presentation).
From what I learned today, I think project based learning could make learning more purposeful in an inclusive classroom. Obviously, the teacher(s) would have to know the needs of the students really well and provide the accommodations (AT) that they would need. But then, whether it is project based or not, teacher(s) still have to know the learning needs of students really well, if inclusion is to be meaningful. And what other reason would we have for inclusion if it wasn't for learning to be purposeful and meaningful?