Project Based Learning

Eligible Grades: 11 and 12.

9th and 10th grade may be considered for large scale projects involving several students.

Project Based Learning (PBL) allows students to address a real-world issue that interests them. These often require students to draw upon previous learning and courses (formal and informal) to tackle complex questions, issues, and ideas. These could be scientific in nature, but PBLs could also include large scale civic, social, and economic questions. 

Potential Example: FIRST Robotics, or a community service project that requires organizing and community approval, etc. An Eagle Scout project could also fit here.

To begin your ELO, you should:
1. Complete the ELO Request Form (You MUST be signed into your MHS Google Account to complete this form; sign into your Chrome browser using your MHS credentials, not your personal Gmail account). If there are several students working on the same project together, you should all complete individual ELO Requests and then complete the last question on the ELO Request Form where you provide your prospective teammates. 

2. If you haven't already, you will want to meet with a MHS teacher or community member to serve as a mentor. Due to the nature of PBLs, your project, no matter its focus, will need a mentor.

3. Arrange a meeting with the Director of Graduation Pathways and your Teacher/Community Mentor. At this meeting, we will discuss the required elements of the ELO (Research, Reflection, Product, and Presentation) as well as specific learning competencies embedded within your desired ELO. We will also discuss the grading of your ELO. Your choices will be: 

• Pass/Fail (WILL NOT impact GPA)

• Traditional Grade (A, B, C, D, F) at the Comprehensive level (WILL impact GPA) 

• Traditional Grade (A, B, C, D, F) at the Honors level (WILL impact GPA). Note: This will not be a common pathway unless it is an AP course

• Important Note from the outset: Once a grading pathway above is chosen and approved, it CANNOT be changed.

4. Return the completed ELO Contract Form, ELO Agreement Form, and ELO Implementation Plan. All of these forms will be filled out and provided to a student at the meeting above. These forms will require a few signatures (student, parent, school counselor, etc) and must be returned to the Director before the ELO can begin. Once returned, students can begin their ELO.

How does Project Based Learning fit into my Day?

1. PBL is not assigned to a specific class period and will not appear on your daily PowerSchool Schedule; the student(s) and mentor will need to determine a time that works for them to meet on a regular basis. It is important that a student meet with their mentor regularly to ensure the student is working through any barriers they encounter. Students completing an ELO cannot interrupt a teacher's academic courses for any reason. Regular meetings can occur before or after school, during a study hall, a mutual "off period", or during X Block. Due to the in-depth nature of PBLs, it is more than likely that most work will be done outside of the traditional school hours. 

2. As for grading, The Director will review the Reflections and assign scores based on the rubric. The Director will also evaluate the Research, Product, and Presentation.

3. Credit for the course will be based on the Reflections, the connection of the student's Research and Product to the learning competencies laid out at the start of the ELO, and the Presentation at the end of the ELO. The Director and Teacher/Community Mentor will be present for the Presentation, but may include other members of the Administration, community, or guests invited by the student(s).

4. Generally speaking, Project-Based Learning ELOs are not subject to schedule modifications such as Late Arrival or Early Release. Exceptions are subject to approval by the Director of Graduation Pathways and the Director of Guidance. 

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