Abstract: This book discusses the development of the Minnesota New Country School (MNCS), a 7-12 charter school that has no formal classes, but rather supports student-directed projects. The school focuses on individual responsibility and developing skills in resilience, persistence, reflection, and relationships. The book offers a series of essays about learning communities, experiential learning, and place-based learning, and examines how these initiatives are producing positive outcomes. While it can be purchased from booksellers, Education/Evolving offers an online excerpt that discusses the experience of students who attend schools with project-based learning programs. One MNCS student sums it up: "All the annoying stuff is gone: bells, seats, mind on and mind off every forty-five minutes. Nine teachers a day, lockers, all of it gone. . . [and in its place is] a different environment so that learning is relevant and interesting."
Resource Type: Book Resource Format: Print Document, PDF File Target Audience: Founders Resource Topic: Community Involvement (Family-Community Involvement & PR), Impact of Charter Schools, Effectiveness of Charter Schools
Print
This Page