Since Barren County Schools partnered with Project Lead the Way in 2012, the new curriculum has been a hit with students and teachers alike. Principal of Barren County Middle School, Michael Davis, spoke to WCLU to announce the “Innovation Showcase” event to be held in March for families of BCMS students to, as the name implies, showcase how project based learning (PBL) has changed, how students look at learning.
Reva Bland, a teacher involved with PBL, spoke on its parallel with a program started by Google called “20 time” which encourages employees to use a fifth of their time working on passion projects.
Bland explained that students who are able to explore and learn more about subjects they are passionate about, would have an overall more positive outlook on learning in general, she said, “How can we take those things the students are passionate about and get their ‘hands dirty’ and then apply that project to the real world.” This innovation learning is just as stimulating to teachers as well, as PBL pushes both students and teachers to get through problems collaboratively, rather than students regurgitating information from the teacher.
Bland and Davis both beamed as they were joined by two 7th graders both involved with PBL, Cash Miller and Hannah Simpson. Both students spoke at length about the programs educational benefits to them and the diverse range of subjects offered.
Miller began by telling WCLU about his favorite project that he had participated in recently.
Simpson, who eventually plans on going into the medical field pointed out how the curriculum is different but more engaging than the schools she had attended previously, and was preparing her for her future.
One commonality came across very clear between the students and educators, that education needs to be flexible in order to benefit the growlingly diverse interest of the student body, so that as the come into society, they will be more able and prepared to face the challenges of adulthood.
Davis’ closed with a summation of PBL and the gravity of how much it has brought to BCMS students and staff.
