For students attending York County Virginia schools technology and content are integrated seamlessly into life-changing, serviced-based learning projects. With a higher purpose driving them, students not only learn their curriculum-driven subject matter, they also master the 21st century skills they’ll need to succeed throughout life. And they stay engaged long after the assignment is due.
Eric Williams, York County School Superintendent , a former Social Studies teacher and principal, promotes providing students with opportunities to make a difference locally, nationally, and globally through project-based learning. He says it’s never too early to start students on this path, citing third graders in his district who were charged with a difficult decision: how to invest real charitable dollars allocated to Oxfam. The students experimented with different fertilizer types, Skyped with experts and ultimately made a decision based on their findings. “So much can be accomplished when you combine service learning with learning content,” Williams says.
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Filed under: York County Schools
