Visit to PBL Schools Columbus

Today we visited two Project Based Learning Schools in nearby Columbus Indiana: one elementary school and one secondary school (grades 9 to 12 - about year 10, 11, 12, 13). Both are examples of magnet schools. These bring students toward them (like a magnet) from within the county and outside the county. These schools are not charter schools, but do offer a focus that is different to the larger public schools. The elementary school is guided by about 4 different topics and themes for inquiry per year per grade level. However, the staff will go with the direction the students select re timing and topics. A lot like our UCF platform. At the moment they are looking at (Grade 1) Endangered Animal, (Grade 2) Animals in Indiana, Grade 3 Columbus - their city, (Grade 4) Giving Back - community, (Grade 5) Clean water for Cambodia, and (Grade 6) Colum Tykes - the students response to the local city initiative of encouraging bikes for all. These topics start with a member of the community in these fields coming into the school and discussing the situation with the students. They have a 1:1 tech, device to student ratio for grades 1 to 6. They also have a kindergarten attached to the school. We were 'ambassadored' around by some wonderful young people from each of the grades, Clearly it was normal for them to do this kind of thing. There are about 350 students and they take both special ed. students and those across the capability spectrum.

The secondary school was initiated by industry in its conception with a focus on engineering. It has developed further form there to involve a wider range of subjects. Teachers strive to get students to be self regulated learners by prompting them through a process that starts with a topic to study that student select, key prompting questions that promote further investigation. Students are very enthusiastic with the programme. The school was started from scratch with 100 students and 450000$. The principal reckons that a size of 400 max is enough for this type of school, because building a culture of trust, respect and innovation. The classrooms are arranged around central corridors with open class fold out doors. It is part of the 'New Tech Network' of schools of which there are now 180 in the US. Note that there are some of these in Australia. Class sizes are as high as 28 for freshman (Year 10) and as low as 10-15 for older specialised subject groups. Some subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Citizenship and Social context, Art and Design, Business, IT, Mathematics, Geometry and Calculus ESL, Spanish. It takes the full spectrum of learners re ability. This school works in partnership with the local much bigger standard state school. Students who graduate from the PBL school do so with the bigger public schools qualification, but with a PBL endorsement. Some of the projects going on here were building boats, algae in fish tanks, bees, windmills etc..... Similar to a YES approach. See you soon here comes some donner and blitzen!