Andrew - Current Issue 3

Title: New Series Promotes Project-Based Learning for High School Math and ELA Students
Date: October 20, 2007
Source: PR.com
Link: http://www.pr.com/press-release/56885

This was a brief article I found through Google News, that caught my attention. Given the various discussions throughout my various classes with NYIT, including the latest, one theme has arisen again and again. That theme is Project-Based Learning and the educational benefits to students.

Much of the current debate centers around how teachers can incorporate Project-Based Learning into their curriculum, especially if they teach any of the core subject areas. Given the enormous weight these content areas carry in terms of testing and assessment, teachers often feel there is little room within their instruction to incorporate Project-Based Learning opportunities.

Couple this with the fact that text books, and curriculum materials for these content areas are required to be rigidly adhered to, and it is no wonder that Project-Based Learning is rarely seen in Math and ELA.

So, when I saw this article, I was rather intrigued, and surprised at what was described.

Walch Publishing, provides supplemental materials to middle and high schools across the USA, and has done so for over 80 years. The organization has now, however, designed a series of books designed for two of core content areas, with Project-Based Learning at the heart of the design and implementation.

This marks a significant departure for text book publishers; to address the two areas students are tested most heavily in, by providing clear outlines of suggested projects designed to help students "solve real problems involving real people, with themes that appeal to high schoolers".

This is the first time I have heard of a publisher who aligns all of their curriculum content to standards for each of the states, bring Project-Based Learning to educators and students through innovative materials. This series of books are also aligned to NCTM and NCTE standards, and are accompanied by supporting materials.

The reason for doing this, the publishers say is to "require students to pull together new information, skills, and technologies to figure out the solutions to problems. The math is rigorous, the English is challenging, yet it all takes place in a fun setting.”

I really do hope this can mark a turning point in how publishers address the needs of students, given the vast amount of revenue they receive from schools across the country. To see Project-Based Learning incorporated not only into new text books, but those for the two main core content areas, really does seem amazing given our current educational situation. It will be very interesting to see how successful these books are, but it is my hope that now teachers have some guidelines, a framework with which to work, and an alignment to standards, they will be far more able to implement successful Project-Based Learning opportunities for their students.