21st Century Learning and Teaching

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

Effective project-based learning is grounded in a strong learning community, one teachers create and must regularly foster. “Project-based learning requires kids to take risks and they aren’t going to take risks if they don’t trust you or each other,” Thomas said. She suggests teachers co-create a social contract with the class at the beginning of the year and make sure it is a living document that can grow and change. Every joke or put-down is a test of the teacher and she should stop everything to revisit the social contract and discuss violations. When kids are resisting a new kind of learning, it’s often because they feel unsafe.

“When we focus on the skills and dispositions at the beginning, the depth of the work is much greater. And [students] internalize the skills much more than when it’s a separate unit because it’s contextualized.”

“A lot of teachers don’t understand how important it is to build a learning community,” Thomas said. One of the best ways to do this is through meaningful work, but it’s also important at times to take a break from academics and just play together. A short game outside can refocus students and build trust and teamwork at the same time.

 

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