Submitted by Tony Bencivenga (not verified) on March 28, 2006 - 02:24.
Nicholas,
Your high and low ropes course sounds exciting and meaningful. Your concepts of engagement, safety, choice, and structure are absolutely relevant, clear, and useful. All of them are essential to nurturing a child-centered school community. My sense is that your program gives children a role in their learning.
There is no doubt that quantifying "the value of classroom culture" is difficult; but, we can find hard data in the academic success of students and in their ability to solve problems both individually and cooperatively. As I've suggested, children who are given meaningful, reality-based tasks (similar to those you present in your course) "own" their work and are more likely to translate content knowledge and skills to all subject areas. The transference you seek will happen. In addition, children who are engaged, explore, and thrive on a range of challenging opportunities will have lots of anecdotal data to support your efforts. I applaud your vision of bringing the adventure-based program into the classroom setting. It's another way to enhance the school community that seeks to integrate imagination and academic success.
Nicholas, Your high and low
Submitted by Tony Bencivenga (not verified) on March 28, 2006 - 02:24.
Nicholas,
Your high and low ropes course sounds exciting and meaningful. Your concepts of engagement, safety, choice, and structure are absolutely relevant, clear, and useful. All of them are essential to nurturing a child-centered school community. My sense is that your program gives children a role in their learning.
There is no doubt that quantifying "the value of classroom culture" is difficult; but, we can find hard data in the academic success of students and in their ability to solve problems both individually and cooperatively. As I've suggested, children who are given meaningful, reality-based tasks (similar to those you present in your course) "own" their work and are more likely to translate content knowledge and skills to all subject areas. The transference you seek will happen. In addition, children who are engaged, explore, and thrive on a range of challenging opportunities will have lots of anecdotal data to support your efforts. I applaud your vision of bringing the adventure-based program into the classroom setting. It's another way to enhance the school community that seeks to integrate imagination and academic success.
Tony Bencivenga