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T.E.A.M.S Challenges » Overview

Overview

The process of creating TEAMS Challenge


The Start:


During the 2013-2014 school year Patton Jr. High participated in a challenge based learning process called the Energy Project. All students and all teachers were required to participate in this project. Students choose a form of alternate energy to learn about and create a presentation showing what they learned. The biggest lesson learn was to give more choice to students and teachers.


The Follow Up:


For the 2014-2015 school year we strove to provide more choice for students and teachers. The TEAMS Challenge was developed with the overriding theme of choice. The teachers were able to choose which challenge they wanted to work on. They could choose if they wanted to collaborate on their challenge with other teacher, or work independently. The students were also given a choice and were allowed to select which TEAMS they were interested in joining by filling out an application to join the team.  


The Process:


  1. On October 11, 2014 the staff participated in a Professional Development day to introduce teachers to the revised TEAMS Challenge. During the PD day staff was introduced to the theme of “Choice”. As a school we decided on what the student and teacher expectations would be, we provided suggestions for projects, however the teachers were free to choose their own ideas. There were break out sessions that included a barometer lab and the creation of digital stories. The day ended with the teachers filling out an interest form, letting the administration know what their TEAM would be and which teachers they would be collaborating with. If the teacher was not interested in leading a TEAM they were allowed to support a Study Hall group for students who were not interested in participating as well.

  2. Each TEAM was given a ½ of PD to work with their groups to determine their curriculum and timeline for the TEAMS challenge. They also worked on creating a promotional video for their TEAM Challenge.

  3. Promotional Videos were compiled and played for the students during their Advisory in Novemeber. After the students watched the videos, they were free to meet with the TEAM Teachers to ask questions to help them determine which TEAM they were interested in joining

  4. Students had almost a week to fill out the application which they selected their top 3 TEAMS or if they would prefer a study hall.

  5. During another Professional Development day the teachers went through the student applications and selected which students will join which teams.

  6. Starting in January the students participated in 9, one hour, TEAMS Challenge classes.

  7. At the end of the 9 classes the student work was displayed during a school wide Learning Fair.

  8. Finally, students and teachers completed an After Action Review form to help give feedback and a direction for TEAMS challenge for next year.