The start of a new college year is always exciting but this year I feel that it is even more so. The vibe around campus on the first day back was electric – the buzz of chatter and anticipation of both old and new students. So much so, it gave me goose bumps. The teaching staff had already been working hard planning and preparing two weeks prior to the start day, in the back of our minds the figure of 240 kids and how we were going to manage them. It was not until the first morning when I was standing among all the parents and students did I really get a feel for what 240 kids looks like!
This week I have been running the stage 5 Project Based Learning introduction workshops, putting into practice what I learned at the PBL Conference I attended last term. It’s amazing to see how far we have come at IFS in such a short space of time.
This week students have been working on developing essential skills that will help them to fully engage in PBL – skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and conflict resolution. For the past two days we have been putting these skills into practice and solving a problem. The project: to create a short video clip on what PBL is and how we implement it at IFS. Students have until Friday lunchtime to complete their projects. Students will vote on the most effective video which will then be shown at the Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 4 February.
I hope to see you all there.
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