An Experience They’ll Never Forget: Expeditionary Learning

In my previous post, "A Passion for Knowledge: An Introduction to Expeditionary Learning [1]," I introduced the concept of expeditionary learning with a video clip taken at ASCEND School, in Oakland, California.

King Middle School, in Portland, Maine -- profiled in "Laptops on Expedition: Embracing Expeditionary Learning [2]" -- is yet another school committed to the innovative style of instruction in which students use nontraditional methods to investigate topics and find answers to their important questions. For example, students at King integrate science, social studies, art, math, and English with field studies, individual student and group projects, partnerships with community organizations, and presentations of student work. Instead of relying on textbooks, students complete their projects by researching on the Internet and consulting with experts in the community.

Educators at King constantly look for ways their students can become the authors of their knowledge, thereby deepening it. Multimedia teacher David Grant says, "All schools should have students make things to show what they've learned, because it's in the very process of making things that kids learn." Have a look at some of these student projects, and let me know what you think.