There is a lot of buzz around words like project-based learning and inquiry. These can be amazing ways for students to learn, but they can also fall flat and leave everyone feeling defeated and frustrated. This happens when teachers design projects for kids and when kids design their own projects.
Martinez and Stager outline 8 key elements to ensure a good project.
Elements of a Good Project
1. Purpose & Relevance
2. Shareable
3. Connected
4. Complexity
5. Time
6. Access
7. Intensity
8. Novelty
I have toyed around with the idea of taking Google's 20 time into my own classroom for a long time. Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin give their employees 20% of their time to work on a project that will most benefit Google. This helps foster more creativity and innovation within their company.
Education has taken to this model, and many teachers have started giving their students 20% of their time to work on whatever project/learning they are interested in.
On the surface this seems like a great idea, except for the fact that we work with kids, not adult specialists hired by a multi-billion dollar company. Or maybe it has nothing to do with kids, but rather that the education system has cured our children of all creativity and ability to think outside the box.
Regardless, I think there is a way to make 20 Time work better in schools and it ties in with Number 1 of Martinez and Stager's 8 steps. We need to help guide students to find their learning relevant and purposeful. This is the difference between a student creating a project where they bake banana bread to a project where they create awareness for people in their school with disabilities. The second project idea shows motivation, courage, drive, compassion, and much more.
Design for Change is the largest global movement of children driving change in their own communities. I love how this movement challenges kids to become active, caring participants in our world.
