Julie Ramey, teacher at North Queens Community School, says IBL is the idea of exploring multiple subjects in the area of one theme.
“In this particular round, for example, students are looking at cultural connections, so they’ve selected a particular culture to research,” says Ramey.
Through researching their chosen cultures, students are directing their learning by doing various activities, such as producing videos, writing newspapers or creating recipe books, among other things.
“The enquiry comes in of course because they’re asking their own question and seeking to find information that answers that question specific to their culture,” Ramey says.
While teachers assign the overall project, IBL allows students opportunities to look at what they’re interested in. Students take the content in the direction they want.
Responses from students, says Ramey, have been mixed.
“Very positive feedback from the bulk of the students,” she says.
Other students, she says, are adjusting to something new and challenging. Ramey says for the most part student engagement is good. Some students who aren’t as actively absorbed in their regular classes are producing “impressive work samples.”
Though North Queens adopted IBL in September, the school has been doing something similar for a long time.
“We used to call it IDUs – Interdisciplinary Units,” says Ramey.
“While it’s new to us in what we’re calling it and exactly how we’re setting it up, we’ve really been using elements of it for quite some time.”
The showcase, which is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will happen in the gym. For more information, call North Queens Regional School at 902-682-3500.
