0:00:25.751,0:00:27.710 Mikela Tarlow: So how do we prepare kids 0:00:27.711,0:00:29.939 for the future[br]that they are going to face? 0:00:29.940,0:00:31.141 Because I believe 0:00:31.142,0:00:35.470 when these kids graduate high school,[br]college, get their first jobs, 0:00:35.472,0:00:38.393 I think their future[br]is going to look radically different. 0:00:38.394,0:00:39.951 It's going to change so fast, 0:00:39.952,0:00:42.684 I don't think we can even predict[br]what's going to happen. 0:00:42.685,0:00:45.420 So how do we prepare them[br]for that kind of world? 0:00:45.421,0:00:50.395 So, that question has obsessed me[br]for the last six or seven years. 0:00:50.396,0:00:54.294 And I feel like we are slowly stumbling[br]on some solutions 0:00:54.295,0:00:58.350 where we are working with portfolios[br]that allow kids to find their voice. 0:00:58.351,0:01:00.222 We have developed a way for kids 0:01:00.223,0:01:02.674 to customize and approach[br]to an assignment. 0:01:02.675,0:01:04.931 So 20 kids can have the same assignment, 0:01:04.932,0:01:09.003 but each find their own way[br]into approaching that same assignment. 0:01:09.004,0:01:12.400 But a large part of what we're doing[br]is project-based learning 0:01:12.401,0:01:17.379 where we are asking kids to apply[br]what they know and make something happen. 0:01:17.380,0:01:19.150 We call it action-based learning, 0:01:19.151,0:01:21.933 because we're asking them[br]to go even further than that 0:01:21.934,0:01:24.583 and to make a real difference[br]in the world. 0:01:24.584,0:01:29.602 So one of our partners in this has been[br]Stone Creek Middle School here in Edwards. 0:01:29.603,0:01:31.905 I'd like to introduce[br]three of the students 0:01:31.906,0:01:34.275 who have been working with us[br]for quite a while. 0:01:34.276,0:01:37.519 This is Conrad, Troy, and Nicole. 0:01:37.520,0:01:40.080 So my first question is to you, Conrad. 0:01:41.110,0:01:45.069 You have just started working[br]with project-based learning. 0:01:45.070,0:01:47.508 I am wondering[br]what the impact has been for you. 0:01:47.509,0:01:49.849 Conrad: I definitely become[br]a better researcher. 0:01:49.850,0:01:54.541 Because with my project[br]there wasn't too much about the topic 0:01:54.542,0:01:56.503 that I was doing, net zero energy. 0:01:56.504,0:02:01.917 So I had to go to some sites[br]that I wouldn't normally go to. 0:02:01.918,0:02:04.085 M.T.: So you start to think[br]outside the box? 0:02:04.086,0:02:05.612 Conrad: Yeah.[br]M.T: OK. 0:02:05.613,0:02:07.968 Troy: It has taught me[br]how to be a better leader, 0:02:07.969,0:02:11.170 and that a leader is not someone[br]who is mean to their employees 0:02:11.171,0:02:13.191 or bosses their group members around. 0:02:13.192,0:02:14.987 They find everybody's strengths 0:02:14.988,0:02:17.987 and help them work together[br]as a good group 0:02:17.988,0:02:20.421 and make them feel empowered, 0:02:20.422,0:02:25.021 and that way, your project will get done[br]in a much more efficient and fast way. 0:02:25.022,0:02:27.639 Nicole: It has taught me[br]not to feel scared. 0:02:27.640,0:02:30.849 Because deep inside of me,[br]I want ideas to be expressed, 0:02:30.850,0:02:34.308 but I am always scared about being judged[br]or being called different. 0:02:34.309,0:02:37.021 And now I know[br]that I don't have to worry about that. 0:02:37.022,0:02:39.057 MT: So let me ask you another question. 0:02:39.058,0:02:41.951 You've been watching[br]a lot of your friends go through this. 0:02:41.952,0:02:44.519 You have been watching[br]the whole class go through it. 0:02:44.520,0:02:45.956 I will start with you, Nicole. 0:02:45.957,0:02:47.630 What kind of changes have you seen 0:02:47.631,0:02:49.778 in your friends and others[br]you have watched? 0:02:49.779,0:02:51.853 Nicole: Well, I have two personal friends. 0:02:51.854,0:02:54.842 They are like anti-social.[br]They really don't talk with anyone. 0:02:54.843,0:02:58.611 But when the problem-based learning day[br]comes, they are jumping off the walls, 0:02:58.612,0:03:00.975 they are talking,[br]and interacting with everyone. 0:03:00.976,0:03:02.651 They are totally different persons. 0:03:02.652,0:03:05.188 Troy: My friends have[br]so much more self-confidence, 0:03:05.189,0:03:07.742 because they feel[br]that they can create an idea. 0:03:07.743,0:03:10.916 No matter how crazy it may seem,[br]no one will judge them. 0:03:11.480,0:03:15.234 They can make it into a great project[br]that everyone will be very proud of. 0:03:15.866,0:03:18.824 Conrad: My friends-- we did[br]a couple of projects last year. 0:03:18.825,0:03:21.739 When it came to the day to do it,[br]they are all just blah, 0:03:21.740,0:03:25.884 and now when it comes to[br]the project-based learning day, 0:03:25.885,0:03:28.244 they are all just bouncing off the walls 0:03:28.244,0:03:30.723 and are really happy[br]kind of like Nicole's friends. 0:03:30.724,0:03:32.587 MT: Let me ask you one more thing. 0:03:32.588,0:03:36.750 So the whole intention of this[br]is to prepare you for the future, 0:03:36.751,0:03:40.132 for what you are going to face[br]in the future. 0:03:40.133,0:03:41.413 So how do you feel, 0:03:41.414,0:03:44.803 do you think it has prepared you[br]for the road ahead? 0:03:44.804,0:03:46.348 Troy: I really feel it has, 0:03:46.349,0:03:50.044 because in our future jobs we are not[br]going to be doing huge algebra problems. 0:03:50.044,0:03:52.364 We are going to be working[br]on practical problems, 0:03:52.364,0:03:55.192 and we are going to have to know[br]how to put a plan together, 0:03:55.192,0:03:56.964 and how to put that plan in action. 0:03:56.965,0:03:58.876 Nicole: I agree with what Troy said. 0:03:58.877,0:04:00.839 You can't just sit at that table and say, 0:04:00.840,0:04:03.775 I am going work on[br]my personal problems for 30 minutes. 0:04:03.776,0:04:05.532 You can't do that. 0:04:05.533,0:04:08.502 You have to think about[br]what you are going to do in that moment 0:04:08.503,0:04:12.140 you have to think everything effectively,[br]and everything will turn out right. 0:04:12.141,0:04:17.348 Conrad: People should include more[br]problem-based learning in their curricula 0:04:17.349,0:04:21.091 because it definitely prepares kids[br]more for the world ahead of them. 0:04:21.093,0:04:24.508 MT: So thank you.[br]I hope you enjoyed our dialogue. 0:04:24.509,0:04:26.413 Students: Thank you. 0:04:26.414,0:04:27.904 (Applause)