An Experience They’ll Never Forget: Expeditionary Learning
By Diane Demee-Benoit
7/24/07
In my previous post, "A Passion for Knowledge: An Introduction to Expeditionary Learning," I introduced the concept of expeditionary learning with a video clip taken at ASCEND School, in Oakland, California.
King Middle School, in Portland, Maine -- profiled in "Laptops on Expedition: Embracing Expeditionary Learning" -- is yet another school committed to the innovative style of instruction in which students use nontraditional methods to investigate topics and find answers to their important questions. For example, students at King integrate science, social studies, art, math, and English with field studies, individual student and group projects, partnerships with community organizations, and presentations of student work. Instead of relying on textbooks, students complete their projects by researching on the Internet and consulting with experts in the community.
Educators at King constantly look for ways their students can become the authors of their knowledge, thereby deepening it. Multimedia teacher David Grant says, "All schools should have students make things to show what they've learned, because it's in the very process of making things that kids learn." Have a look at some of these student projects, and let me know what you think.
Expeditionary learning is amazing
I lived in South Portland briefly in order to be closer to my family while I underwent surgery. My sister was an Ed tech at King Middle School and on one occasion showed me the work produced by students. I was amazed at the level of sophistication of the papers that I read. These middle school children were writing papers that were of better quality than MANY of the people in my college level composition classes. The level of education at King Middle School should be the goal of every school in this country.
I am amazed
I am also amazed by what I have been learning about expeditionary learning. How can we get more schools to try this wonderful approach to education?
Unforgetable experiences
It is amazing at the level of learning that these children get to experience. Just by seeing this small clip about these students, I was wanting to see more and kept wondering what else they could be doing in the classroom. I cannot imagine all the possibilities these children can accomplish. I am currently studying about holding each student's attention during the day, and King Middle School goes beyond this. Mr. Comstock says it all when he says "the students have a deeper knowledge and work with their own knowledge to become authors of their own learning." Students really take ownership of their learning rather than just learning something for a test and forgetting that concept later on in life. These students will look back on these experiences and truely be thankful.
Extraordinary
Thank you for sharing this fascinating approach that does not rely on a single test to demonstate student learning.
It seems clear that expeditionary learning is beneficial for not only students, but teachers, schools, and even entire communities that adopt this approach to learning. What is the point of rote memorization for a test? The only way students can have a meaningful learning experience is to be able to apply what they have learned to their own lives.
What an incredible way to teach and learn. The students are learning to collaborate with each other and members of their communities and the result is these incredible projects. They have connected with this material so deeply and on so many different levels - why aren't more schools using this approach? This is a true way for no student to be left behind - it takes into account all of the intelligences! Everyone can experience success while working on these projects. I cannot wait to learn more about this approach and how to incorporate it into my classroom.
What an incredible way to teach and learn. The students are learning to collaborate with each other and members of their communities and the result is these incredible projects. They have connected with this material so deeply and on so many different levels - why aren't more schools using this approach? This is a true way for no student to be left behind - it takes into account all of the intelligences! Everyone can experience success while working on these projects. I cannot wait to learn more about this approach and how to incorporate it into my classroom.