Providing Rich Educational Experiences for All Students

Exposure to opportunities for active learning as well as the liberty to learn in a social context appears to positively affect brain growth. This should impact how we approach instruction for all our students. Current brain research demonstrates that almost all students are capable of brain growth and change, so they should be exposed to learning experiences that are challenging and engaging. Instead of working around or accommodating areas of weakness, educators can strengthen and support the skills of most students with learning differences through relevant instruction and targeted, research-based interventions.

All students benefit from being provided with rich, authentic learning tasks that make what is being taught come to life. Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.

However, it’s important to remember that without impactful experiences, school becomes dull and forgettable. Instruction that focuses exclusively on memorization and skill acquisition can be slow and repetitive, leaving students bored and making them feel disconnected from school and their own learning.

By bringing real-life context and technology to the curriculum through a PBL approach, students are encouraged to become independent workers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners.