Voluntary Project Based Learning

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Ninth graders will have the opportunity next year to participate in voluntary project based learning. 

Project based learning focuses around an issue, and students explore the issue in many different subjects – English, science, history and more. Nicole Talbert, a credit recovery teacher and drama teacher, said students may focus on several different topics during the school year, such as the environment and social health, water, or the concept of “I, you and we.”

“(We’ll) teach traditional courses in a hands-on, project-centered way,” Talbert said. State standards would be integrated into the project and electives would revolve around interests.

Still in the planning stages, the program, called “InTech,” would be an arm of East Valley High School, and discussions are underway to use the Walker Center on Sullivan Road. Talbert said there would be 125 to 150 slots available in the program, and students would need to apply. If more apply than there are slots available, students would be selected by lottery.

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Darsi Bankey, who teaches in the district’s teen parent program, said InTech would include a connection piece that fosters a relationship between the student with other students, teachers, parents and the community.

The group of teachers, Bankey, Talbert, Kurt Krauth (math and social studies), Stephanie Etter (French and online credit recovery), Justin Becker (special education), and Amy Tellinghusen (work-based learning), have been collaborating since September on the program.

Krauth said they were asked last year if they were interested in doing school in a different way. Talbert said they were put in a room together and started talking.

The group said they aren’t hoping to appeal to any certain group of students. They wanted to focus on the grade level, rather than the ability level.

“It’s for all types of personalities,” she said.

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