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**BLC 2011** **Inventing the Entrepreneurial Faculty** **Dr. James Tracy and Nancy Boyle** [|Cushing Academy]

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The PowerPoint slideshow from BLC11:

**Resources**






[|Edutopia's tips for change toward PBL] = =

Project Based Learning at Cushing Academy: Dwellings: Green Building and Design in the 21st Century in an honors geometry course. T he 21st Century is tied to outcomes in terms of proficiency in the subject knowledge and the 21st Century skills that are expected in school, work, and the community. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, electronic literacy, communications skills and other 21st Century skills as identified in the Cushing Academy 21st Century Skills Wheel are the tools people need. With these skills the students will be prepared to think, learn, work, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, and contribute effectively throughout their lives. The students will consider the following questions as they select their project: What do students need to know in architecture and geometry to process this data mine of information? Since computer technology produces an overwhelmingly increasing influence on how architecture and geometry are created and used, what interdisciplinary topics are essential to solve problems using computer methods? Since change occurs so rapidly, what is needed to challenge, interpret, and apply facts in new and unpredicted ways with the connection between architecture and geometry? What topics in architecture and geometry would best prepare students for unknown real life problems? Dwellings: Green Building and Design in the honors geometry course allows students to explore unique problem situations that are not directly traditional. Students are often asked to visualize a situation by developing a model or another form of representation. They are asked to analyze specific cases or develop a solution by considering creative solutions and designs. Students develop conceptual understanding of the tools and the language of architecture and geometry and the ability to reason with them. Heating, cooling, wind, solar, ventilation, and lighting are considered. Through architecture and geometry, Dwellings: Green Building and Design looks at a holistic view of the whole building design process and how green is different. In the fall term the students will research environmental issues and global warming issues. The students will learn and research the design of sustainable cities for the 21st Century. Students will be given problems to help solve environmental issues efficiently. They will analyze problems using a variety of intuitive architectural and geometrical tools. During this term students will begin to solve problems and examine creative alternative solutions. Since there are many situations that need to be considered students as small groups, will characterize and compare different methods to arrive at responsible conclusions. In the winter term the students will design sustainable building methods and identify resources used. Students will examine the earth, the moon, and the planets and they will investigate new interdisciplinary ideas to understand the geometry of space and time which forms the basis for some attempted explanations in architecture. Students will look at issues of growth that affect our economy and our environment by investigating possible mathematical solutions to population growth beyond their food supply. They will investigate numerous global models. In the spring term the students will form the Sustainable 21st Century City and demonstrate the Sustainable 21st Century city to the Cushing Academy Community. Since the future is filled with uncertainty, and a way to reduce the uncertainty is to gather information pertaining to a particular situation and analyze the data, the students will develop their models by gathering information pertaining to a particular situation and analyze the data. Students will also investigate technology innovations. Students will design explanations of their solutions and communicate these solutions to their peers, faculty, and the community. Project Based Learning will help students develop open-ended problems by researching and gathering information. Students will connect related topics by developing new solutions and alternative methods of displaying and processing information. The students will be learning to: 1. Develop several strategies in solving a problem and identify the optimal solution. 2. Gather information, identify patterns, listen carefully, and communicate solutions. 3. Recognize situations appropriate for architectural and geometric models and use these models for finding optimal solutions. 4. Identify a variety of settings where Dwellings Green Building and Design problems arise.