Francis Marion University
When: April 25, 2018
Where: J. Paul Truluck Intermediate School
Who: Francis Marion University & Florence School District 3
Symposium Highlights
Superintendent Laura Hickson introduces the district's school principals.
Luncheon
Florence School District 3 (FSD3) hosted a partnership lunch with local businesses, district leadership, and the principals from each of their schools to deepen community connections and engagement. District leaders shared their college and career readiness strategy and principals highlighted the good work happening in their schools. As the district implements innovative strategies like PBL across the district to improve outcomes for students they are generating conversations within the community to inform and guide their work. With the projects already on display for the evening symposium event, everyone had the opportunity to see examples of the kind of work happening in district schools.
Including Other Teachers
FSD3 staff, students, and parents explore the exhibition.
FSD3 is implementing innovative approaches, like STEM and STEAM in addition to PBL, in several of its schools. Wanting to highlight all that is going on across the district, not just among the student teachers and cooperating teachers who participated in Out of the Gate, teachers from all schools in the district were invited to showcase an example of their work. Including other schools allowed teachers to share with and learn from others with whom they might not usually have the opportunity to work. Many teachers also invited their students, along with whom came their parents, to participate and showcase their work. Combining it with the partnership luncheon earlier in the day made for a truly community-wide celebration of the innovative work happening in the district.
The Exhibition
Students from Mainstreet Elementary share their projects with audience members.
Students and teachers from Scranton Elementary School prepare to share their projects.
Students, teachers, and parents from Lake City High School listen to opening remarks.
Audience members look at student products from J Paul Truluck Intermediate School.
Reflection
Keyanna Hampton
Cooperating Teacher of Fourth Grade at Mainstreet Elementary
Keyanna reflects with student teacher Courtney Canipe during the PBL 101 workshop
The Out of the Gate training has definitely been one of my favorite professional developments so far. Most times, teachers dread professional development because a lot of times, we are just instructed on what we should do, how we should do it, and then set free to do it. The success of the implementation of what was gathered at a normal professional development is usually a "hit or miss" moment, because their is usually no follow-ups or check ups on progress. I attended the Project Slice and PBL 101 trainings as I prepared to begin implementing projects in my own class. PBL is kind of new in my class; so to embrace the experience, I, along with my student teacher, decided to start with easier, more teacher guided projects and progressively move into more rigorous thought provoking projects that require more teacher facilitation and more student led activities with in it. So far, I can honestly say that because of the caliber of the training we've had, I feel more enthused and comfortable with implementing projects in my classroom. I no longer fear the amount of preplanning that may be necessary, because I find so much joy in seeing my students take pride in being held accountable for their own learning. My kids have actually started reminding me of deadlines and due dates when I forget to cover certain components within the project. Beginning to implement PBL with my student teacher and my students has definitely started a journey I want to continue.