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Follow on Google News | EcoRise Partners with Tomball ISD to Implement Project-Based Learning Academy District-wideProfessional development and curriculum provider, EcoRise, hosts three-year program to teach sustainability through real world project-based program.
By: EcoRise Described as "shifting traditional paradigms of academic instruction," The innovative training provides instruction to administrators as well as teachers and includes an in-depth introduction to PBL methodologies. EcoRise's PBL methods stress that learning is not about the product, but the process in which students come to a conclusion and are encouraged to solve real-world problems. EcoRise equips teachers with a framework that is perfect for cross-disciplinary integration; An important goal of the EcoRise PBL Academy is to motivate and transform teachers into facilitators of effective instruction that takes students from passive learners to active participants in an inquiry-based learning environment. With this in mind, the program provides on-going educator support through face-to-face coaching and virtual training sessions to help ensure a favorable outcome. As Salazar-Zamora confirmed, "We started to see teachers go immediately back to the classrooms and start creating their projects, getting students excited and taking ownership with the administration as well." As part of the District-wide program, teachers and administrators have access to the Learning Lab platform, bilingual K-12 Sustainable Intelligence curriculum, EcoPreneurship suite, and the Design Studio curriculum. In addition, there are connections to the community that allow for onsite and virtual guest speaking opportunities and student project assistance through EcoRise's national network of authentic audience partners. What further differentiates the EcoRise program from others is the Student Innovation Fund, which provides funding to data-driven student projects. Recently, EcoRise awarded their first Student Innovation grant of $461.74 to a class of 1st grade students lead by Rachel Grimes and Sarah Cobb. The 1st graders designed their project as part of a PBL experience and plan to use the funds to turn unused outdoor campus space into an outdoor learning space by planting a butterfly garden where all students can observe life science and ecology in action. Watch their application video at https://drive.google.com/ Both in and out of the classroom, the curriculum is designed to help students understand the concepts of sustainability through hands-on projects that focus on natural resources, the environment, and a number of other topics through the successful implementation of hundreds of standards-aligned lessons. Students are key to the program's success as it is ultimately designed to help them become part of the solutions needed for a sustainable future. "[EcoRise] is all about doing what's right for kids, and being supportive through the process," says Salazar-Zamora. To stay on track, EcoRise also provides Tomball ISD with a yearly impact report to evaluate the program's effectiveness and improve further strategic planning. About EcoRise EcoRise develops the next generation of creative problem solvers by enlivening conventional classrooms with academically- End
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