At IFS, we deliver the required board of studies curriculum content a little differently to other colleges. We present the work to students through project-based learning.
PBL is about learning things simultaneously and being guided through the process of researching to gain knowledge and present solutions to real-world issues or problems.
In stage 4 we are developing their understanding of PBL and students are already discovering and acquiring the skills they need to be active, confident and independent learners in the classroom.
Our projects follow this process:
Entry event– an event that will grab attention and focus on the issues and provoking ideas and discussions.
Driving Question – poses a question that is open ended and can be answered at the end of the project through the final product.
Norms – a contract to work in a team. All member are to adhere to them so teamwork can be enhanced, and conflict managed and resolved.
Need to Know Questions– work with the driving question to form the pathway for research and discovery of knowledge that enables students to gain an in-depth understanding of content.
Final Product– the presentation of their understanding of the work and research that then focuses on the driving question on.
This term in the Open Learning Space we are focusing on the driving question and need to know questions. We have worked collaboratively and independently to develop questions and questions within questions which then allow students to research and develop answers. They will share their finding with team members and using the 4 C’s will plan their final product.
In stage 4 their first project driving question was: Why are there rain forests anyway?
Their final product was a formal letter to a construction company who wanted to cut down the rain forest and build a super city.
We worked together in this project to support each other to develop a need to know. I was extremely impressed with their ability to come up with questions that lead to them researching and gaining a wide range of knowledge about rainforests and how and why they are important. I have also attached an example piece of work from a student’s final product.
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