David Lee EdTech

Sammamish High School was given a federal grant to redesign their curriculum and school with project-based learning (PBL). The school plans to transition the whole school to a PBL curriculum by 2015. Edutopia created this video to document the school's first year of PBL implementation. Here are some of the things Edutopia found out:  All disciplines and grade levels are shifting from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning.  There is a great focus in engaging students with authentic challenges. Students are learning academic content through the process of finding the solutions to authentic problems.  The hands-on experiences also help students to retain information better. Students were motivated to created quality work when clients were involved.  Teachers are required to attend a five-day professional development on PBL in the beginning of the year.  ELLs can benefit from projects that require them to work in groups. These ...

PBS NewsHour offers a great  lesson plan  about the Presidential Inauguration. Here are the objectives of the lesson: Students will:  Learn about the Constitutional provisions for the Presidential Inauguration. Learn the history of the Presidential Inauguration, including changes to the procedure and notable speeches. Work in small groups to analyze President Obama’s first inaugural address and to compare his ideas with the actions of his first term. Have an opportunity to predict the content of President Obama’s second inaugural address on January 21, 2013. Fun Facts There is also a PBS NewsHour supplement article that will inform students on the President’s Oath of Office, the Inaugural Address, and additional fun facts. 

There are some Florida high schools that provide additional learning options called career academies. A career academy is a high school learning community that provides students with authentic experiences in a particular career field. In the two to four year period, teachers from different subjects work together to provide students with a career themed,  college-prep curriculum.  These academies can help students earn certification in career fields that could land them a job after graduation.  Career Academies: The New School Option