Projectbased learning in Kolga school

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Project-based learningin Kolga school

• Mart Laanpere
• Centre for Educational Technology
• Tallinn University

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About Kolga school

• Small rural school (210 pupils) in Kolga village
  (popul 500), 60 km from Tallinn
• School is working since 1864, new shcoolhouse was
  built in 1986
• Experimental school for active learning
  1987-1992
• Internet 1993 (dial-up), 1997 (permanent,
  wireless)

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Project-based learning

• International projects Vikings, Bridges
• Estonian projects simulation games, Ecology,
  TigerTour
• Projects between twin schools in Finland, Sweden,
  Denmark
• All-school project day
• Media studies integrative media projects, school
  newspaper

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Project day methodology

• 1 month before teachers select the theme
• 2 weeks before project ideas are generated
• 1 week before project info sheets are published,
  students register to a project
• 1 day before those who have not registered, will
  be allocated to some project
• P-day morning joint meeting, info, rooms
• P-day ends with project presentations

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Project day methodology

• Principles
• Every teacher leads a project and assists another
• Every project has clear output (demo, show,
  poster)
• Projects for manual, music, drama, science etc
• Most of the projects have only one computer
• Project info sheet
• Title, leader(s), goals, output
• Expected participants, limitations (age, skills)
• Materials, room request, preparations needed

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Themes

• Denmark, Sweden, Finland
• Vikings
• World travelers
• Kolga our home village