Schools
Glen Ellyn Schools Host Superintendents, Demonstrate Project-Based Learning
District 41 has been recognized as a leader in the progressive educational approach since launching their program two years ago.
Glen Ellyn District 41’s Lincoln and Franklin elementary schools hosted about 50 superintendents from across the country on Friday to demonstrate the fundamentals of Project-Based Learning (PBL), an educational approach within which D41 has been recognized as an exemplar, the Daily Herald reports.
According to the paper, PBL strives to engage students with a problem—for example, how to make a miniature car out of pasta, or testing the absorbancy claims of diaper commercials—thus fostering critical thinking, collaboration and creativity skills; D41 has been using the program for the past two years, and Franklin’s program was specifically honored by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning.
"Kids are taking ownership for their learning, they are thinking globally and thinking outside the box," Lincoln Elementary Principal Linda Schweikhofer told the paper. "The learning is being generated from them rather than teachers giving information. Kids are retaining information longer."
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"I'm finding that the information is sticking with [my daughter] longer," one mom, Sharon Ick, agreed to the paper. "She feels like she's an expert."
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