Students in Dawn Hanson’s Internet Publishing class at Lake Stevens High School are anything but bored. They are creators of their very own school website. The project-based learning class is engaging to students and successful because as Hanson says, “it gives them ownership and they take pride in it.”
According to a recent story in the Everett Herald, Hanson believes her class, which is fully dedicated to the site, is the only one in Washington. Hanson, who has been teaching for sixteen years, said the classroom is, “kind of like a small business.”
Each year, no more than 15 students collaborate on template design, communicate with each other about ideas for content, and make decisions about what areas they would like to work independently on. Students have to follow specific guidelines from the Lake Stevens School District on what is allowed, but are solely responsible for its creation and maintenance.
“They do it all,” said Hanson who calls herself the “overall monitor” of the classroom. Hanson explained it’s the student’s responsibility to communicate with coaches, clubs, and other school organizations and personnel, to generate and organize their content, and solve any problems that arise.
Hanson’s innovative class is an excellent example of how to incorporate project-based learning that teaches collaboration, problem solving, and communication. These are known as 21st Century skills, and are necessary for greater success in college and the workforce. According to 21stcenturyskills.org -a 21st century advocacy organization-“Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in the 21st century and those who are not.”
Hanson, who also teaches digital design at the high school, said roughly 50 students have come through the class since she took it over two years ago. Prior to that, it was a low-access, independent study class, until the district approved the funding necessary for expansion. Next year, Hanson is looking forward to upgraded computers for the class, but admitted she is unsure if the class will grow because of statewide budget cuts with K-12 education.
Students need basic curriculum, but deserve more opportunities to work on projects in the classroom, to gain the skills necessary to compete in a competitive global economy. Although Hanson’s classroom may be the only one like it in the state, the incorporation of project based learning should be weaved into all curriculum across the state.
Digital age literacy, inventive thinking, and effective communication are what students need to learn now. The 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, was just elected utilizing the latest digital communication technologies. Millions and millions watched him deliver his message on his youtube.com channel alone.
All students across Washington, not just the small group in Hanson’s classroom, should be given the chance to be involved with projects that will teach them 21st Century skills they will so desperately need. Hanson’s students are on track for continued success in the digital information age, and their website creations can be viewed here, and here.