Guerilla Educators

"Dream. Design. Build."; PBL at 1st Philly High

"Dream. Design. Build.", a Project assisted by Guerrilla Educators with 10th graders from 1st Philadelphia Charter High School demonstrates the critical intersections between Project Based Learning, Community Partnerships, and STEM.  "Dream" was developed as a multi-disciplinary, student-centered way to connect the actual design and construction of their new high school to teachers, students, and curriculum.  Over the first month of this school year, the Project took place in Geometry, Chemistry, and Social Studies classes and helped students achieve academic and civic proficiencies in each of those subject areas.  Starting with the student visit to the actual construction site, the videos experientially document the actual processes that took place with "Dream" in, and out of, the classrooms.  This is the very best of best practices in action.  Take a look...

 

Best Practices; "Imagine" Student Voices

The students at Obama Green High School share their thoughts about participating in the "Imagine" Design Project.  Take a look..

Best Practices; Imagine Design Project; Educator Reflections

As the "Imagine" student design renovation Project winds down, we hear from the educators at Obama Green High School about their impressions of the Project.  Take a look...

Project Based Learning; Best Practices; Building a Bridge in 4th Grade

This video captures an activity conducted with my students as part of a bridge building project conducted in cooperation with the American Institute of Architecture's, Architecture in Education program.   It was also my first video.  My students were to measure the height of the Henry Avenue Bridge using a plumb bob.  Take a look...

This is a very powerful project that incorporates historical aspects of the American Revolution, geometry, public speaking, working cooperatively, ratio and proportion and a whole menu of grade appropriate curricular objectives and state mandated standards.  It also demonstrates many of the 10 Hallmarks of 21st Century Teachng and Learning.

Best Practices in 5th Grade Math

Donna Sole, Teaching for Understanding Coordinator at MaST Community Charter School has created another "Best Practices" video.  Here, 5th grade students have created  restaurants.  In the process of cooking, calculating tips, billed, divided bills, etc. these students have covered a wide range of Standards focused on math and across the curriculum. Take a look... To view a great example of Best Practices; Science, click here

Curve Fitting Quadratic Equations

Jason Pfiel, a math teacher at Math, Science, and Technology (MaST) Community Charter School encourages his students to learn "by any means necessary".  A group of Mr. Pfiel's students have taken the rather arcane math function of "curve fitting quadratic equations" and created a fun, engaging way to teach the concept via the video, below.  In it's way, this video demonstrates many of the best hallmarks of effective teaching and learning.  Props to Mr. Pfiel for creating a classroom environment that encourages his students to use technology to demonstrate a variety of strategies to learn the equation.