“Opportunity Knocks” aims to grow critical thinking skills in sixth grade students

Critical thinking. Communication. Collaboration. Community.  This week, New Albany Middle School students will have a new opportunity to integrate these skills in Project-Based Learning (PBL).  While seventh and eighth grade students are taking semester exams, sixth grade students in team 6C will participate in Opportunity Knocks.

“As educators, we have been investigating Project-Based Learning,” said Mary Grefka, sixth grade teacher science teacher.  “As a result, we are offering a unique learning experience that we hope stimulates student initiative – beyond just another letter grade.”

During the during the project, the students will be challenged to present ideas for how they would develop the vacant land on Market Street, across from CVS.  The lot has been used to sell flowers, pumpkins and Christmas trees.

Teachers will assign students to groups and each team will research development ideas, addressing economic development and feasibility.  Students will take on the roles of CEO, builder or architect, accountant, product developer, and advertising/marketing.  Real-life professionals from the community, who hold those same titles, have volunteered to share their “work stories” with the students, communicating their experiences to the students.

Special thanks goes to our expert volunteers…

• Bill Ebbing, CEO & President, The New Albany Company
• Tiffany Grinstead, AVP, Nationwide Financial
• David Hirsh, Owner & CEO, Atrium Inc.
• Todd Kuehn, Marketing Director, Wendy’s International
• Rick Lombardi, formerly with Turner Construction
• Rob Mason, Vice President, Insight Bank
• John McKenna, Executive Vice President, Bluemile Inc.
• Craig Mohre, President, New Albany Community Foundation
• Tony Ruscilli, President, Ruscilli Construction
• Joe Stefenov, Manager, City of New Albany
• Luann Stoia, Communications Counsel, The Steiner Strategy Group
• Mike Triplett, Director of Strategy Marketing, Biopharmaceuticals
• Neil Collins, President, Results Marketing
• Jay Herskowitz, Municipal and Environmental Engineer, EP Ferris and Associates
• Lance White, President of Investment Banking, UBS
• Bob White, President, Daimler Group, INC.

Each student group will prepare a presentation based on their proposed development opportunity.  A second group of community volunteers will judge the presentations based on a rubric provided by teachers.  The top two presentations will be declared the winners.  Opportunity Knocks will not provide students a letter grade but rather a formative assessment and feedback for their work.

“Often as students develop, they use skills individually or one at a time,” said Tina Wyant, sixth grade social studies teacher.  “I like this project because it encourages students to use skills all together and at the same time.”

In Project-Based Learning, teachers design units around academic content standards and key 21^st century skills, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and community.  Teachers serve as a facilitator of student learning rather than the deliverer of content.  As a result, students are constructing their knowledge based on experiential learning by creating an authentic culminating product.

“Opportunity Knocks is an excellent example of innovative learning,” said NAMS Principal Andy Culp.  “We are creatively collaborating among teachers, students and community members to help students gain critical thinking skills and see how to apply these skills to real life.”

Following the Opportunity Knocks project, Bill Ebbing, president, The New Albany Company, will announce to students the “real” plans for the currently vacant lot.  Pending the success of Opportunity Knocks, the NAMS staff hopes to use this model again in the spring, perhaps linking it to community service.