Working on the Work

Navasota ISD principals and teachers "Designing Work
for Students" this spring.  

Navasota ISD teachers and principals participated in "Designing Work for Students" before spring break as part of the district's participation in the Standard Bearer School District Network. The Standard-Bearer School District Network is a national network of public school districts that use the Schlechty Center's System Capacity Standards to assess district and school-level capacity to support instructional innovation.  This week, teachers and principals studied ways to connect the curriculum to experiences that appeal to the various needs and interests of students. The goal is to increase student engagement in academic learning.

In February, a presentation was made to the Board of Trustees regarding progress on a two-year plan to upgrade the school district's technology infrastructure to support innovative instructional approaches. In the fall of 2013, a cohort of teachers at Navasota High School and Navasota Junior High School will collaborate with Engage2Learn to integrate some project-based learning (PBL) into the schools' instructional programs. There is considerable research that suggests that the protocols that characterize discovery approach learning or PBL models can help facilitate greater long-term comprehension and application, more opportunities for creativity, greater achievement motivation, enhanced bonding to school, and better scores on standardized tests. Click here to see Navasota students discuss their experiences with project-based learning in 2012.

Design & Discovery: A presentation to the NISD Board of Trustees