By Beto Cedeño
ITI Virtual Learning Complex Facilitator
Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences (VAAS) students showcased their project-based learning work during the school’s second annual Project-Based and Presentation of Learning Night.
“Through project-based learning, we give students a unique opportunity for collaboration, technology integration, and exhibiting higher-order thinking skills,” said VAAS Principal Kelly Hanock. “The Presentation of Learning Night is how they showcase their learning to parents staff, and community.”
Students had worked in small groups, using technology and inquiry in an interdisciplinary project to respond to a complex issue of their choice. Projects ranged from exploration of the impact of philosophy on our society to a forensic inquiry that identified, collected, examined, and preserved digital information from clues related to a Cheetos bag.
“We used the iPad pretty much for everything,” one student said, explaining that it supported research, collaboration, video production, and more. “We scheduled when to meet, used Notability for notes, iMovie, and the Internet for our research.” Many students also used the iPads to present their movies and other multimedia to their audience.
In order for their presentation to be effective, and for students to receive full credit, everyone in their group needed to participate. “My group allowed me to focus on representing our philosopher with a painting, and that’s what I love to do,” said one student. “Each one of us was able to do a part that we felt comfortable with.” Throughout project development, teachers acted as facilitators and provided rubrics and constant feedback for final presentations.
As parents, families, and other guests made their way through the presentation stations in classrooms throughout the school, they completed feedback forms that had questions about the authenticity of the project, academic rigor, active exploration, applied learning, and community involvement.
Students will be able to showcase more of their work in May, when they present their Advisory Signature Project. For more information on how Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences students have synthesized their academic year contact the office at (818) 832-7750 for more information, and join us this May.