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Publication Incorporating Choice into the Classroom at a Rural High School in Western MA(2019-01-01) Chesmore, GinaI am having students research the ATP "energy module" in small groups, and allowing them to choose how they want to present what they have learned. The project is authentic to the outside world because it allows students to explore what they are interested in and develop a better understanding of their priorities and goals as they advance throughout high school. This is designed to help students with self discovery. The theoretical framework for this project is grounded in the seven elements of Project Based Learning, and it enables students to play to their strengths. This helps students better understand themselves because it forces them to momentarily reflect on their abilities and interests. Are they artistic and want to create an illustrated children's book about ATP? Are they tech savvy and want to upload a PowerPoint presentation about ATP? Are they silly and want to conduct a comedy skit?Publication CSL and the Harlem Renaissance(2019-01-01) Johnson, KathleenEither solo or in small groups of 2-3, the students will choose an influential figure from the Harlem Renaissance and conduct independent research. They will create a project from multiple options describing what they learned about the Harlem Renaissance in general and their important person in particular. Some of these students have a lack of awareness in regards to racial and gender-related cultural issues, and this project was done in an effort to mitigate that lack of awareness without directly confronting it. In today's world, racism and sexism are generally not acceptable in most polite company. My students do not react well when directly confronted with their own biases, so this was an attempt to do so indirectly.Publication Student Voice and Choice Within After School Activities(2019-01-01) Balezos, KellyMy project is a means of giving students the opportunity to build their leadership skills through an after school science extension or club. Instead of the students traveling home after school, they are staying to further their knowledge in the sciences while also taking charge of their learning by choosing the laboratory activities, for example. Additionally, the older students have taken charge of experiments for the two younger sutdents, explaining the science concepts which explains how the experiments work.Publication Community Service Learning Project(2019-01-01) Cullinan, HollyThis is a project based on students planning and implementing afterschool activities related to the prom season. All of these students were high school juniors. Ten of the leadership members were representatives of the entire school. This study shows how when a group of students is coached based on a community service learning model, they are able to represent a larger population and make decisions based on their behalf in a shared experience.Publication Promoting Leadership and Collaboration Through Competition in the Classroom(2019-01-01) Jones, ShannonAt a rural school in western Massachusetts my students in Geometry were lacking excitement and engagement. To improve class engagement and positivity we worked together as a class to create a competition that will promote leadership and collaboration among all students. As a member of the Bridges tot he Future education program I am conducting research regarding competition-based activities in the classroom. Through research I am able to make informed decisions in the classroom. My classroom experiences can also support or challenge research ideas. Throughout the integration of competition in the classroom I have incorporated projected based learning skills and habits of mind with the idea of fostering a community service learning environment.Publication Building Communication Skills in the Language Arts Classroom(2019-01-01) Mahler, Ilana B.The focus of this project is to explicitly work on developing students' skills relevant to communicating with clarity and precision. On a weekly basis, students participate in a discussion-based class activity. The purpose of these activities is to provide students with opportunities to consciously practice speaking and being heard by their peers. And in return, students are also consciously practicing actively listening to their peers. The end goal is for students to feel more confident and capable of verbally expressing their thoughts and feelings in a public, but low-stakes, setting.Publication Increasing Student Participation Through Model United Nations(2019-01-01) LaBelle, DanielProject Overview: Inviting at-risk and disinterested history students to join model UN Model UN offers a more hands on setting for learning and participating in historical scenarios Model UN offers students an opportunity to participate by choice and provides students with a worldview of history that is not present in the U.S.I. and U.S.II Model UN provides students with public speaking and active listening skills Model UN provides insight into world politics and the importance of political participation Students gain confidence working in a collaborative setting with their peersPublication The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)(2019-01-01) Hartmann, AnnaFemale students ages 13015 at a rural Massachusetts high school meet after school to explore and discuss real-world challenges faced by women and girls, reflect upon their own experiences, set goals, and develop leadership skills through the lends of the 7-Step Project-Based Learning Model. Built upon the frameworks of both Social and Emotional Learning as well as Costa and Kallick's Habits of Mind, this authentic, student-driven group is grounded by the following essential questions:How do you navigate the world as a young woman? What kind of person do you want to become? What kind of community and world do you want to help create? This experiential method of education seeks to promote learning through deliberate discussion, reflection, and action, which aligns with the purpose of Community Service Learning, in which students "achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves."Publication Cheerleading at a Local Vocational School: Advancing Female Students into Leadership Positions(2019-01-01) Gearty, AlexandraThe goal of this project is to assist students (all of whom identify as female) to achieve their goal of attaining a cheerleading team for next academic year. Underneath that substantial goal, the intention is to encourage these young women to become active leaders in their community.Publication Project-Based Learning and Student-Designed Extra Credit in a High School Science Classroom(2019-01-01) Soleil, ArielUsing inquiry and PBL to create an engaging classroom environment that fosters higher-order critical thinking skills and promotes student agency in problem solving encourages students to delve more deeply into content than is sometimes possible to accommodate when simultaneously trying to accomplish a semester's-worth of standards for an AP or MCAS class. Rather than truncating or glossing over answers to student questions that are larger or beyond the scope of a standardized tests in the interest of time, implementing a system by which inquisitive students can take their learning to the level they deserve within the confines of a semester and share their acquired knowledge with the rest of the class increases overall understanding of a subject, builds leadership skills, fosters self-confidence, and encourages a curious and innovative classroom climate.Publication Focusing on Affective and Strategic Learning Strategies to Improve Student Learning Outcomes in a Diverse Classroom(2019-01-01) Dorsey, SaraStudent learning outcomes (including both effective learning habits and proficiency in academic content and skills) can be improved through teaching methods which are directed towards improving students affective and strategic learning in the classroom.Publication We the People: A High School Civics Project(2019-01-01) Dadmun, TaylorIn the We the People program, students will immerse themselves in civics education with an authentic learning model. They competed in the MA state competition and will later be competing at the National level at the end of April. The following is the research of their growth and development, both social-emotionally and content-wise. Through this program, the students became engaged with material dealing with topics such as immigration, free speech in schools, the value of civic virtue, and the intention of the Founders in writing the Constitution.Publication Integration of Student Interest Into Learning(2019-01-01) Packer, SydneyThe goal of the Community Service Learning project was developing PBL method with an emphasis on 3 target habits of mind. These habits of mind focused on applying previous knowledge, listening and understanding, and cultivating joy in the classroom. This manifested into an afterschool “Game Club” where students are given a safe place to share a common interest with their peers. Built on the 7 essential PBL design elements, students were able to joint construct the club and its rules and goals. For some club members, since the clubs inception, significant improvement in the classroom can be seen. Additionally students have expressed interest in game development and computer programming. For these students, I’ve been developing a curriculum on “serious gaming” where students can learn the fundamentals of coding and trouble shooting.