Local elementary school embraces project-based learning

AMMON — A Rimrock Elementary School classroom is making learning a creative adventure for its students.

“The learning that takes place in a classroom like this is just so rich and authentic, and kids are truly engaged,” Rimrock Elementary Principal Tina Orme said.

Instructor Jeanell Coyne’s combined second and third grade class is the first project-based course in Bonneville Joint School District 93.

The classroom offers different subjects throughout a regular school day, but the teaching approach is more interactive and more challenging than a traditional classroom.

Students learn about other cultures, coding, sewing, robotics and other hands-on subjects. Orme said students use different materials than the ones provided by the district, and the way they present their knowledge is broader than in a regular education classroom. The work is more independently driven and caters to the students and their learning level.

“The first project we did was we learned about how children access books in different countries around the world,” Coyne said.

This is the first school year of the project based classroom. Nicole Christensen, was instrumental in introducing this new learning model.

Christensen searched for alternative learning options for her son when she found becoming disinterested in school.

“It’s been a journey of figuring out what kind of a learning environment helps keep him with a drive for learning,” Christensen said. “Schools, other places are totally doing it differently.”

She found examples of hands-on, student led classrooms that inspired her to approach Rimrock’s administration and incite change. Christensen rallied with other parents to advocate for this unique learning environment, and soon the district was on board.

“If we ask the questions, we become involved, and we ask for the things from the administrators, they happen,” Christensen said. “I’m finding out in the last year and a half we have all the power we need.”

Christensen said instead of the teacher making a majority of the decisions and lecturing, the teacher is listening to what engages the students.

“They love it. They love to learn at their own speed, at their own pace,” Coyne said. “I feel like the less I talk the more they learn, as long as I guide them.”

Coyne said when the students are able to make more decisions in the classroom their desire for learning grows.

“The kids really take ownership of their learning and they push themselves to go forward and go deeper into their learning,” Orme said.

Orme said having the additional classroom has not caused the school to go over budget. She said students were invited to participate in the course based on teacher placement and parent input. Orme said interest for the project-based classroom is growing.

“I hope that it becomes very established and that some of the components of it will find its way into regular ed classrooms,” Orme said.

If you would like to discover what you can do to make changes at your school visit love2learnidaho.org, or contact Nicole Chirstensen at Nicole@idaholovestolearn.org.