In 2023, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) introduced the Youth Education and Outreach Program (YEOP) to promote place-based, career-connected, outdoor learning experiences on state lands. This initiative is a key part of DNR's workforce development strategy, aimed at creating a natural resource workforce that aligns with the sector's needs and mirrors the community demographics. The program focuses on four core goals: Equipping formal and non-formal educators with the knowledge and skills to teach about natural resource management complexities. Providing Washington youth with experi ..read more

In an extraordinary educational project, students at Elizabethton High School in northeast Tennessee, under the guidance of their sociology teacher Alex Campbell, tackled a nearly 40-year-old cold case known as the Redhead Murders. These serial killings, which occurred in the 1980s and involved several redheaded women in Tennessee and neighboring states, had remained unsolved. Campbell saw an opportunity to make his sociology class more engaging and meaningful by having his students work on this real-world problem. Throughout the semester, the students engaged with professional investigators ..read more

In an innovative program at Bronxville Elementary School in Bronxville, NY, first graders are learning to handle disagreements through a project-based learning experience. The students, guided by their teachers, designed a Peace Path for their school playground to address conflicts peacefully. They conducted research by reading books, interviewing their school psychologist Joyce Vastola, and exploring the benefits of a peace path. This Peace Path is intended to be a designated area on the playground where students can walk and talk through their issues, using prompts to facilitate respectful ..read more

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Salt Lake City has adopted a dynamic approach to education through cross-curricular teaching, blending various disciplines to offer students a comprehensive understanding of knowledge interconnectedness. This method acknowledges that real-life challenges don't conform to single subject areas, promoting collaboration among teachers to create a unified learning experience that enhances critical thinking and prepares students for a future requiring multifaceted knowledge application. A key feature of this approach is project-based learning, where students u ..read more

The innovative educational approach at Academe of the Oaks, high school education transcends traditional methods of textbooks and lectures. Here, students engage deeply with academic subjects like history, language, math, and science through hands-on experiences, promoting both collaborative and individual learning. Academe's commitment to experiential learning is exemplified in their annual Project Week. This event breaks the regular academic routine and challenges students to creatively respond to a thematic challenge, with past themes including ‘Beloved Community’ and ‘Reimagining the Publ ..read more

The Johnson School Legacy Project is a five-month-long learning initiative at the Johnson School, managed by Charleen Belcher, the Library Media Specialist, and Grace Magley, the Director of Digital & Personalized Learning. The project kickoff event, held on January 16, was met with great anticipation by the second, third, and fourth-grade students participating. This project is a prime example of project-based learning, where students have the unique opportunity to learn directly from alumni and experts about the school's history, often through live interviews. They are tasked with compi ..read more

Math education faces a significant crisis. Recent results from The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a test mandated by Congress, reveal a concerning decline in student math scores over the past two and a half years. These findings offer a measurable insight into the educational disruptions caused by the pandemic and its impact on student learning in math. In response, educators and administrators are actively seeking strategies to enhance math performance among students. These strategies aim to increase educational equity, make math more appealing to students, or modernize ..read more

Legend High School's EDGE program is an innovative project-based learning initiative designed to prepare students for post-graduation life by engaging them in an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program, directed by Mari Farley, was developed seven years ago after researching best practices from innovation schools nationwide. EDGE stands for explore, discover, grow, and engage, and integrates English, humanities, science, math, and technology education with practical experiences such as professional internships, travel, and skilled mentorships. EDGE aims to maintain student engagement throug ..read more

Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) course at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School in Edison, New Jersey is utilizing Project Based Learning. The first of five projects involved students auditing the school's waste, water, and energy usage and developing solutions to minimize its ecological footprint. After studying consumption patterns and researching the consequences of resource overuse, the students proposed actionable strategies to address the identified problems, backed by data and research. APES instructor Ann Pengue facilitated a presentation session where two student groups pitche ..read more

Alpha School in Austin is an innovative educational institution that offers a unique approach to education, emphasizing the empowerment of students to pursue their passions while achieving academic excellence. The school blends advanced technology with a personalized touch, ensuring every child unlocks their full potential. For students, every day is a new adventure in learning where they dive into a world where passion meets purpose. When it comes to test scores, students consistently rank in the top 2% nationally on tests like the MAPs and SATs, but what truly sets them apart is their dedic ..read more