In an inquiry based project lasting several months, teachers of grade 7 students at Chestermere Lake Middle School have initiated a unique method of learning for their students.
This project based learning activity which was related to the growth of Chestermere was an exceptional way for the students to research about their community while engaging other members of the public through a survey asking participants about the future of the city.
The survey asked questions regarding the amenities in Chestermere which related to growth, economic and social factors. Once students compiled the results from over 250 participants, they put together excellent presentations for a panel of community representatives including the mayor and city councilors on Monday, May 11.
Aja Coe and Jenna Burns were the two teachers that initiated this project for the grade 7 students. Coe said that her passion involves project based learning, “Having an authentic audience is so important for the kids to have because they feel like they are being heard and listened to.”
There were four well prepared, interactive and creative presentations made by small groups of students. The information shared was presented as recommendations that students wanted to make to council members based on their thoughts as well as the survey results.
“Students were really excited and enthusiastic about the project,” states Burns. “The ones that presented to the mayor were nervous but also really proud of their accomplishments – one students said it was the best social studies project ever.”
Common themes that were heard throughout all the presentations included building a new Rec Centre complete with indoor swimming pool, providing more family restaurants and a shopping mall. Although budgeting was not a part of the students formal ideas, some did come up with ways of helping to keep the cost down and even generate revenue like corporate sponsors for the Rec Centre and ways of attracting business from outside the city.
Some unique ideas were also presented like the desire to build a church and public transit. It was evident in the student’s professional performances how much work and thought was put into their projects. Students used models, posters, power point presentations and even on-line building designs to effectively share their ideas.
“Thank you to all of you for doing the homework on this and bringing forward some really great ideas,” said Mayor Matthews following the presentations. “There is an awful lot of people in the community I’m sure that are far more educated now on some of the things as a community we wanted then they were before you started this so you should pat yourselves on the back for having done this community service.”
“You all had some really central themes so I want to let you know that we are in the process of doing a feasibility study for a recreation center including swimming pools, soccer fields, turf fields, rinks, you name it and we have a coordinator working with the community to bring those ideas forward,” Mayor Matthews stated.
Burns also wanted to recognize how willing and supportive the community, council members and Mayor were of this project. “The project confirmed the importance of having an authentic audience for student’s voices to be heard and offering student’s choice in the way they show that they’ve learned. Textbooks are great for providing students with information but what is really important is what they do with that information.”
