How the Digital Sausage is Made

One of the greatest things about students creating digital projects and assignments is that the final products are almost always more dynamic and powerful than a tri-fold poster or diaroma scene of a pioneer settlement. That being said, creating and managing digital projects isn't for the faint of heart. The ultimate goal of project-based learning is more than just the final product. An emphasis is placed on practicing and perfecting the skills of teamwork, problem-solving, perspective-taking, and a host of real world abilities that will help them to be successful in the future.

Case in point, my latest project in my 8th grade U.S. History class to end our Constitution and Bill of Rights unit. In order to demonstrate their understanding of the civil liberties protected by law in the United States, groups are creating movie/book trailers for a dystopian future stories in which some (or all) of the rights protected by the Bill of Rights have been limited or eliminated completely. In doing so, the hope is that they build a greater respect and appreciation of the rights and opportunities that they enjoy in a democratic system.

Having a vision for what you hope your students will learn and the process in which they learn it are sometimes two very different things. To an outside observer, it may appear that a classroom full of 13-year olds are running around with swords, small picket signs, and laser guns, but as is always the case, when you give a young person an iPad and the freedom to use their creativity, the final product never ceases to amaze. Sure there are disagreements between group members, and technical difficulties at the eleventh hour, but these are nothing new to most adults interacting with other human beings in the larger world.

Just like an amazing meal, sometimes the final product cannot be judged by the seemingly random, chaotic, and frustrating process to make it come into being. The kitchen may be a mess, but you forget about that once you sit down to the spectacular meal awaiting you in the dining room.