Techniques October 2012 - 9

Classroom Connection

demic and state standards. It also enables students to learn “key academic content” much more thoroughly through handson experiences, and these experiences can make an incredible difference for a community and take student learning to a new dimension. Sometimes getting started is half the battle. Swanson & Cosgrave share a host of implementation tools like worksheets on their site (www.swansonandcosgrave. com/resources.php) to organize team projects when implementing PBL, as well as rubrics for how to access and hold accountability for each person for their workload.

“One of the keys to the success of any project is the ‘scaffolding’ that teachers provide for students as the project is implemented. Like real scaffolds that support people who work on buildings high above the ground, ‘project scaffolding’ refers to the various types of support that teachers provide for students during the risky business of project work. Essentially, through scaffolding teachers provide the time, tools and training students need in order to succeed in the project,”5 according to Swanson and Cosgrove.

to find out which cause or charity makes a connection with them. If they have a passion for the project, then they are more likely to be enthused by the work ahead. Creating a classroom that makes a difference all starts with a great idea.
Deb Moore is a marketing educator at Raymond
S. Kellis High School in Glendale, Arizona. In 2011, she was named the ACTE Outstanding Teacher in Community Service. She can be reached at demoore@peoriaud.k12.az.us.

Endnotes
1. Boston Consulting Group, “Study Highlights Distinctive Buying Behaviors and Attitudes of U.S. Millennials,” (Press Release April 16, 2012) www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails. aspx?id=tcm:12-103623. Ibid. The Buck Institute for Education, “Project Based Learning for 21st Century Students,” www.bie.org. Ibid. Swanson and Cosgrave Consulting LLC, “Projecy-Based Learning and Professional Development,” www.swansonandcosgrave. com/resources.php.

Getting Started
An excellent starting point for ideas on how to create a classroom that makes a difference is to look in your community for an issue or problem that connects to your curriculum, state standards and/ or common core standards. Next, think how you and your students could integrate how to solve the problem into the classroom. There are a multitude of causes your classroom can adopt to make a difference while simultaneously incorporating PBL. One place to look for a cause to adopt is at your school’s career and technical student organization (CTSO). See what your CTSO is involved in and adapt it to your classroom. In addition, Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA); Future Educators Association (FEA); and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), to name a few, hold competitions based on community service projects. Additionally, there are several great projects that you can adapt for your classroom at www.Schooltube.com. Raymond S. Kellis High School (my school) has posted some of its projects that were featured on the local news at SchoolTube. You can get an idea of the scope of these projects and adapt as needed. Or, watch your local news or read the paper for ideas on causes you can have your students work on. There’s no shortage of causes! Informally survey your class

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Sample Projects
Take a look at DECA’s “Be a Hero” guide for ideas on causes to adopt. One Night without a Home To raise awareness of the plight of homeless people during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November, organize a night when students sleep in cardboard boxes on the school parking lot. Invite a speaker from a local shelter to address the students, and use the event as the kick-off to a canned food or warm clothing drive. Visit www.nationalhomeless. org/awareness for a manual on organizing an awareness event. Coats for Kids Sponsor a coat drive to collect gently used winter coats and jackets for children. Donate the collected coats to a local agency serving underprivileged families. Youth Service Day Organize a service project all students can participate in for National and Global Youth Service Day in April. Visit www.ysa.org/ nysd for ideas and free planning materials.

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Explore More
Check out these websites for sample planning guides and more information. The Buck Institute for Education www.bie.org DECA’s “Be A Hero in the Eyes of Your Students” www.deca.org/_docs/publicationsattachments/DECA_Be_A_Hero.pdf National Coalition for the Homeless www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/ awareness/index.html SchoolTube www.SchoolTube.com Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting LLC www.swansonandcosgrave.com Youth Service America www.ysa.org/nysd

Deb Moore will be presenting the 1-hour Idea Lab, “Creating a Classroom that Makes a Difference” at CareerTech VISION 2012. For more programming information, visit www.careertechvision.com.

www.acteonline.org

October 2012

Techniques

Techniques October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Techniques October 2012