For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Photo: Melrose Middle School Students Present at Project-Based Learning Conference

MELROSE — Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS) Principal Brent Conway is pleased to announce that several students traveled to Regis College last week to present at the Frank Locker’s Project-Based Learning 7.0 Conference.

Project-Based Learning is a teaching method that presents students with a question, problem, or challenge and allows them to work for an extended period of time to investigate and respond, gaining valuable knowledge and skills in return.

“This learning strategy allows students to take ownership of their learning while grappling with a real-world scenario,” said teacher Josh Cristiano, who worked with students on the project.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, five of Melrose’s seventh grade students presented at the conference to help educators learn about the process of project-based learning and how to implement this practice into their classrooms.

“This was a great finale to all the research and work students completed on project-based learning,” Principal Conway said. “They were able to showcase their ideas to a group of 75 attendees interested in using this style of teaching and learning in their own school districts.”

Last year, students in a sixth grade English as a second language class, Sophia Holz, Ted Er, Rick Noel, Dana Miquilena and Salah Farouqi, worked with Cristiano and teachers Irina Kouznetsova and Wendy Arnold to complete a project-based learning unit that incorporated target academic language, research and digital citizenship skills.

While considering the driving question, “how do you teach source evaluation?,” students developed research skills, analyzed the elements of reliable digital sources, created a mock website, and planned and conducted a lesson where they taught the importance of source evaluation to Melrose High School student interns.

Following the completion of their work, Frank Locker Educational Planning invited the MVMMS students to present at the conference, where they were able to share their findings with teachers, administrators and school committee members. Students were accompanied by Cristiano and Arnold.

As one of three schools, along with Holliston High School and Jenkins Elementary School in Scituate, MVMMS students described the project’s narrative, explained the inquiry process, shared what they learned about source evaluation and explained how project-based learning shaped their learning and thinking.

To conclude the presentation, the group participated in a lively question and answer session, where conference attendees explored the depth of student knowledge about their topic and asked them to reflect on how project-based learning impacted their academic experience.

“This was an amazing opportunity for students to showcase their work and we’re so proud of what they accomplished,” Arnold said. “They demonstrated great presentation skills and were able to articulate their message and findings concisely and informatively.”

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