Benjamin Franklin

We have changed our classroom’s disposal and now work mainly with islands (instead of the so called “train” like table organization); we introduced the use of mobile phones, tablets, netbooks and all types of new technologies in our classes; we try to develop collaborative and interdisciplinary work among students (and teachers) as much as possible; and some of us are already working using PBL methodology (mostly Physics). All of this seems to have somehow changed our students perception on what school is and what they are expected to do here, in a positive way. Students that used to face more difficulties now appear to be more confident and are able to show to themselves, the teachers and their colleagues that they are good at something. 

Of course we should not forget that all of this is also done because, in fact, the skills our students need to improve are different from the ones we had to. The world is different, they will have to “survive” in a world where skills like digital literacy, problem solving and critical thinking are just some of the characteristics an employer will focus on and what will make them able to excel at almost anything.

Nowadays, I try to play a smaller part in class and make students be the ones getting to the information/knowledge I want them to learn. I have to say I still find this process very difficult when grammar is at stake, but I’m working on it and I do think it is more important for them to know how to speak and write correctly, to understand a written or oral text than to know all the grammar rules (which they end up applying anyway). I’ve had my students do some research on the local commerce in the late 19^th century, early 20^th. They had to find out what establishments used to exist and what people used to do there, in order to understand what has changed since then in what concerns consumerism. In the end, they had to make a small presentation to class using Prezi or any other support. We ended up talking about Coca-Cola and Fernando Pessoa’s Portuguese slogan for the brand, at which time they began studying the poets in the Portuguese class. 

This year I would like to experiment PBL with my three 10^th grade classes with the theme “The technological world”.

I'm Helena and I teach English as a second language to secondary level students in Almada, Portugal.

Working with younger students must be both hard and rewarding, I believe. I can't understand how a lower secondary turns into a primary school, but that has to do with the fact that there are many different aducation systems all around Europe.

I don't know if I understood correctly, but you teach both English and Maths. Is that it? Have you ever thought about developing a project where both subjects meet? I have no idea what you teach in Maths, but maybe it could be something related to your school or  your community.

PowToon, an online tool to create animated videos and presentations could be a way for your students to present their final work.

Keep on with the good work!