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PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Submitted by Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), Clovis, CA
All CART students are involved in the creation of a sequence of projects that require public presentation and reflect academic achievement and professional quality standards. The content and number of projects undertaken by students varies across the "career clusters" and "labs" that define the CART curriculum, but projects are an integral part of each student's experience. Reasons for Practice
The founders and current staff of CART believe that "hands-on," project-based learning provides invaluable opportunities for students to work on "real-life" problems similar to those that they will encounter in their professional and/or university careers. Length of Time in Effect In the fall of 2002, CART began its third year of operation and its third year of using project-based learning.
Project-based work typically involves students working, either individually or in groups, with employees from business or government to identify a problem, research it, and develop conclusions in the form of a final presentation. In the Environmental Sciences lab within the Professional Sciences cluster, for example, students have worked with staff from the California Department of Fish and Game to map out the life cycle of trout and identify problems that affect their reproduction rates. What are the Benefits to the Student?
What are the Benefits to Employers Involved with the School?
What are the Benefits to the School?
Take advantage of consulting services of curriculum writers/instructors from existing programs that are implementing programs similar to the one you hope to establish. This can be an extraordinary resource in avoiding various pitfalls.
Susan Fisher Tel: 559-248-7400
Student Work Sample: The following student work sample has been provided courtesy of CART and students Pao Ly Vang, Suwan Keo, and AnJali Singh:
What is soil? This is the question that three CART students pursued during a semester-long project. Working alongside a soil scientist, they learned about the characteristics of soil that benefit plants. Their goal was to ensure the success of a native garden that was being developed by students and community members for the purpose of learning about California native plants.
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