This Week in the Classroom: Pantographs

My school spends a lot of time, energy and financial resources on project-based learning.  In my experience, teachers use project-based learning as a catch-all term for anything from make-it-take-it projects which last twenty minutes to inquiry-driven, rubric-graded, long-term explorations.  Calling the former project-based learning is lazy and misdirection.  Creating incredible experiences for students with the latter definition is exhausting and rewarding.  Most of the time, a teacher must follow a middle course.  This is one of those projects. We started off by designing and building pantographs.  If you don’t know anything about pantographs – check out the video below.  Also … Continue reading This Week in the Classroom: Pantographs

This Week in the Classroom: Math Effect 2012

My job description will change a little this year: I’m a full-blooded, fully functioning math/sci teacher.  Less woodshop, more classroom projects.  And speaking of classroom projects:   You can recognize a school that gives more than lip service to hands-on learning. Within its walls, you will find the arts, woodshop, theater, music and laboratory science. All of education within those walls will be experimental rather than set, leading to unknown outcomes via Wisdom of the Hands: lip service…. Continue reading This Week in the Classroom: Math Effect 2012