Lens Adventures: Exploring Student Projections!

High School Grade Lesson 30 minutes

Lens Adventures: Exploring Student Projections!

Laurel C

Collaboration

Self Directed Learning

Effective Communication

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Purpose

Students explore and deepen their understanding of learning goals by co-designing and implementing projects that highlight collaboration, self-directed learning, and effective communication. Through initiatives such as creating a sustainable school garden, students connect their academic growth with real-world impact. The focus on these competencies helps students recognize and harness their existing capabilities to achieve personal and academic success.

Learning goals

Students will collaboratively create a sustainable school garden project, actively engaging in shared decision-making and conflict resolution. They will participate in self-directed learning by using feedback to improve and gain self-awareness. Communication skills will be honed through empathetic listening and presentations to diverse audiences. They will explore real-world applications of their knowledge, devising innovative project solutions. Successful project outcomes will be measured by their community impact and personal growth alignment.

Competencies

Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a comprehensive project portfolio that maps out how their initiatives, like the sustainable school garden, align with the Big Picture Learning Goals. This portfolio will include detailed plans, reflections on decision-making processes, and documentation of how each project component addresses specific competencies. Additionally, students will produce a presentation that highlights how diverse perspectives and strategies were used to meet their learning objectives, providing a clear connection between their experiences and the defined learning goals.

Launch

Facilitate an interactive session focused on visualizing and understanding the Big Picture Model Learning Goals. Encourage students to map out their academic and personal development objectives, exploring how these align with the competencies of collaboration, self-directed learning, and effective communication. Through this process, students will identify the significance of these competencies in their project-based learning journey.

Exhibition

Host an exhibition titled "Big Picture Learning Goals Experience," where students showcase their journey through interactive exhibits demonstrating collaboration, self-directed learning, and communication skills. Invite peers, teachers, and community members to participate in a walkthrough of visual and digital displays that highlight students' reflections on the learning goals. Engage attendees in discussions that focus on how these projects have enhanced students' understanding of diverse perspectives and real-world problem-solving.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Collaboration	I co-design projects with my peers, actively engaging in shared decision-making and strengthening our teamwork I resolve conflicts with my group and contribute my ideas to help lead us towards our shared goals.	I can work with my peers to design a project and help make decisions by respectfully sharing my ideas I need some help resolving conflicts but I can listen to others to find solutions and sometimes lead group tasks when guided.	I can actively participate in group projects by sharing ideas and listening to my peers, making sure everyone's voice is heard I work with my team to make important decisions together and help solve any disagreements that arise, showing leadership when needed, to successfully reach our project goals.	I can seamlessly co-design and implement complex projects with my peers by actively participating in shared decision-making processes, adapting to challenges with a solution-focused mindset, and thriving in leadership roles to guide group efforts toward achieving our academic and personal goals.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Self Directed Learning	I can take ownership of my learning by seeking feedback from my teachers and peers and using it to make thoughtful changes to my project I actively reflect on my progress, setting goals for improvement and finding new ways to deepen my understanding both inside and outside the classroom.	I can demonstrate my ability to use feedback from teachers and peers to make improvements in my project tasks I seek out additional resources when needed and set goals to guide my learning process I gain insights into my strengths and areas for growth by reflecting on my learning experiences.	I can effectively use feedback from teachers and peers to make meaningful improvements in my project work, showing increased self-awareness I confidently set personal learning goals and develop strategies to achieve them, reflecting on my progress and adjusting my approach when needed.	I can take initiative in my learning by independently setting academic and personal goals that align with the project objectives, while actively using feedback from my peers and teachers to adapt and improve my strategies and outcomes I consistently reflect on my progress to adjust my approach and achieve meaningful results both in the classroom and the real world.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Effective Communication	I can share my ideas clearly and listen to others actively, responding with empathy during group discussions I can use reflective feedback to improve my communication skills and present my learning effectively to diverse audiences through my project presentations and exhibitions.	I can communicate my ideas clearly by creating a presentation for the school garden project that explains the project goals and my role in it I use visuals and examples to help others understand my perspective, and I listen to feedback from my peers to improve my communication skills.	I can effectively share my ideas and insights by presenting my project clearly and confidently to different audiences I listen actively, consider others' perspectives, and respond thoughtfully during discussions Through my presentations and reflections, I can connect my learning to real-world applications and communicate my project's impact on the community.	I can confidently present my project portfolio to a diverse audience, clearly articulating my ideas and project goals I listen empathetically to feedback and engage others in meaningful discussions that reflect my understanding of diverse perspectives and how they inform my project solutions.

Learning Journey

Empathize

Students will engage in a 'Community Immersion Day' where they partner with local environmental groups to conduct interviews, gather insights, and observe local agricultural practices to better understand community needs and environmental challenges, laying the foundation for their sustainable school garden project.