Deep Learning through the Design Process - Teachers Honor Teachers
- Kathleen Metcalf, Teacher, Akron Public Schools’ NIHF STEM High School
“Our job is to help students explore a topic, discover if they like it, and determine if they want to learn more about it.” - Zach Griffith, engineering teacher at Akron’s STEM high school.
“This design process permeates the verbiage used in all courses and grade levels at STEM High School, but Coach Griffith is one of the most consistent and effective at embedding it in the learning process!”
-Kathleen Metcalf
Public Schools’ NIHF STEM High School espouses mastery learning as the best approach to deep understanding of content in any learning environment. But the multi-chance nature of mastery extends beyond the content taught in a classroom and reaches into transferable skills, necessary for a variety of post-high school plans!
Students work collaboratively to design and build models of a solar paneled home through an intensive project that teaches science content along with 21st century life/career skills.
Zach Griffith has taken this mastery approach to soft skills to a whole new level in his multi-course Environmental Engineering CTE pathway at STEM High School! First, Zach emphasizes collaboration in his problem and project-based learning experiences. As learners work together, they take on different roles within the group. For each project, they rotate roles, to experience and practice being a Technician, a Media Specialist, and a Project Manager. Learners cycle through these roles multiple times before selecting a focus role for their upperclassmen courses. Deep learning through mastery occurs not only with these roles but also in the application of the design process as teams apply the process over and over to solve problems while they master new skills and tools.
This design process permeates the verbiage used in all courses and grade levels at STEM High School, but Coach Griffith is one of the most consistent and effective at embedding it in the learning process!
“It’s always about career exploration, collaboration, and using technology. Those are the three biggies in every project we do.” -Zach Griffith
Teachers Honor Teachers
The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has launched a new program this fall inviting teachers to recognize a colleague they know is doing exceptional work in the classroom.
In the above post, Kathleen Metcalf expresses her admiration for fellow teacher, Zach Griffith. Thank you to both educators for your dedication to students and for taking the time to showcase what it means to deliver challenging, innovative, and student-centered lessons that result in powerful and deep learning.
Through the Teachers Honor Teachers Program, The Foundation is seeking Ohio public school teachers to share great things about a teaching colleague in an Ohio public school that ensures deep learning for students. If we choose to post your story, we will award $500 toward that teacher's classroom for their great work and $500 toward your classroom for honoring their excellence. Apply here.