Making Real-World Connections Through Challenging Projects

La Academia is transforming to a Project-Based Learning (PBL) school. In PBL, learning in scholar-centered, hands-on, and collaborative. scholars make real-world connections through challenging projects and work to solve complex problems.They build skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and communication. scholars are assessed on more than just their content knowledge. They are also assessed on how they apply that knowledge to solving authentic problems.

WHAT DOES PROJECT-BASED LEARNING LOOK LIKE AT LA ACADEMIA?

La Academia has partnered with New Tech Network and the Lancaster County STEM Alliance to bring Project-Based Learning to our scholars. Through generous donations from the Lancaster County STEM Alliance, all scholars at La Academia are provided with a Chromebook to use. These computers are used in classes on a daily basis to further the authentic learning happening in the classroom. Our partnership with New Tech Network give us access to the ECHO platform which provides access to course resources, project plans, assignments, a gradebook, online groups, and much more.

WHY USE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING?

Project-based learning moves from a traditional teacher-centered approach to a scholar-centered approach to learning. scholars are not only able to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts but they are also able to develop important workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and work ethic. Project-based learning answers they age old “Why do I have to learn this?” that scholars are always asking and motivates many scholars that might otherwise find school boring or meaningless.