Matt Cantrell 2015-2016

“Design-Based Learning for the Digital Age”

Learning Innovation Grant Recipient

This project will analyze the design-based work of Matt Cantrell and Jason Wheeler’s American Seminar students. As opposed to project-based learning where the problem is already determined, design-based learning has students define the problem. Our research will focus on work. Recent developments in education have prompted leaders to find ways to effectively assess student growth without relying so heavily on standardized tests. Cantrell and Wheeler believe that they can successfully measure student growth in design-based learning with the use of digital portfolios. These portfolios will contain student essays, presentations, competitions, oral histories and instructor and student reflections. The project will collect student work from August to May and will be used to show growth in writing, public speaking and research. Moreover, the portfolios will also include teacher and student commentary on projects and assignments, so that assessment can be much more than just a letter grade or statistic. Even though this is a humanities class, students will be required to research, write and present on topics ranging from the sciences to math. To complete the project, students will need access to cameras, storage devices, and Camtasia Software.