PROJECT WHALEBOAT
A Constuctivist Model for Student Centered Learning
Using Computer Technology
- High school students built an authentic 19th century
Beetle Whaleboat - launch date was June 1997.
- The whaleboat serves as a theme for learning in other
academic areas.
- Each student is assigned a teacher coach who oversees
individual learning contracts through weekly meetings.
- Pre-service teaching interns from the University of New Hampshire assist students
with daily learning solutions.
- Students are expected to develop an essential question
about issues related to their subject area and to develop a multimedia project for presentation.
- Research in pursuit of answers is done with computer
technology as well as print materials.
- Assessment is accomplished through multimedia presentations
done before an assessment panel consisting of teachers, interns, and other
students.
- Students are expected to reach for exemplary standards that describe world class learners
in their subject areas.
- Computer technology is integral to learning and is
used as a means of helping students construct their own knowledge from their
research.
- The class is a heterogenous group of juniors and seniors.
- The class creates its own academic and building schedule
through a weekly student run meeting.
- Students share academic and boatbuilding knowledge
each Friday during our walkthrough.
The ultimate essential question:
Why build a whaleboat when you
have
no place to sail it?