Changes to the Educational System

S.A Summation of PBL:

Changes to the Educational System

Riannon Shanley

Arizona State University

Changes to the Educational System

My project would task the students to redesign school as they know it, curriculum,

grading, content areas, grades, class set up, etc. My driving question would be “What do you

think you would change about school system to make it better?”. I would task some students to

be the teachers, students, principals. The students would present their findings and beliefs to the

school administrators and other teachers across subject areas.

This project is needed not just in my school and or district but across all districts and

schools. I think that it can be very insightful and powerful to see what the students think about

their education and the educational system itself. This project is needed specifically in my school

because they promote that they are very student focused and teach the kids to advocate for

themselves, but I haven’t seen an opportunity for the students to express what changes they think

need to be made to the system. This project impacts students learning because they will learn

about the ins and outs of the educational system, the laws that go into education, and the

different philosophies of education. This will also impact the student’s engagement because this

directly affects every single student. Their education isn’t something that they are often asked

their own opinion about. If we give our students the abilities to voice their needs or wants

regarding their educational system, they can become more engaged in school and self-advocacy.

I would have each of a typical teachers 6 class periods involved. That is about 130

students if each class has 30 students. This project has the potential to impact the entire school if

the administrators or teachers like their ideas. The project impacts student learning because it is

something every single student deal within their lives no matter their different backgrounds.

Every student also has a ton of opinions about school that are most of the time brushed aside and

never asked about. This project can impact the student’s learning because they are free to explore

their own ideas and beliefs without someone telling them what they need to do. The engagement
Changes to the Educational System

of students much more extensive because it’s a direct impact on their life and something they are

really passionate about. If you go into any middle school classroom and ask them about their

opinions on school, you would be bombarded with answers. This gives them the opportunity to

express those opinions and gives them the power come up with solutions or different ways of

doing something.

The potential impact of this project for teachers would be extremely useful. Teachers

could use their students changes to the school system to reflect their teaching. This could be so

insightful to a teacher to hear what a student would change about the school system if they could.

There are many things that the students might address that could be changed within their own

class. I think it would impact the students in a positive way and create a bond with their teachers

if some actual change was brought about by one of the suggestions. Many times, students don’t

feel like they are being heard, but if they were given the microphone and teachers/administration

listened and made changes they would feel like they had a voice.

The community can be impacted by hearing a young people’s voice in the conversation. I

think many times young people’s opinions and suggestions are glossed over because ‘they don’t

know what they are talking about’ when they actually have good ideas. This can be an

opportunity for students to show their community they have valid opinions and are able to come

up with solutions to them. I think this would also strengthen the young people’s connection to

their community because they felt heard. On the other hand, it would give the community a

greater appreciation for the students and what they have to say.