A Teacher's Perspective on Project-based Learning

Real work. Real audience. Relevant to students.

A huge part of our EPiC journey this year is to deepen our understanding in designing effective project-based learning experiences that engage, challenge, and cultivate the creativity of our students. We want to grow, learn, reflect, and share.

We sat down with our fourth grade team to hear their reflections and musings on project-based learning, technology integration, and collaboration.

#EPiCback2school

This week the doors opened to 300 eager students, ready for their new adventure to be EPiC everyday. The school buzzed of discoveries, collaboration, creation, and inquiry. 


Second graders embarked on a digital scavenger hunt, exploring their school and documenting the adventure through photos and pic collages. Third graders explored their personalized learning platforms and downloaded their first learning app.


Fourth graders identified character traits of change makers (their overarching theme for the year) by conducting experiments, and the fifth grade learning studio "cooked up a little learning", listened to an expert chef demonstrate creativity, and spent time getting to know one another.


In the halls, in the common spaces, in cubbies, together, individual. Conversations, quiet moments, focused learning.

As one of our fourth grade teachers reflected at the end of the day:

"50 kids, 2 teachers, 50 ipads, 25 explosions, hundreds of pictures, 50 bags of goop, one stellar parent helper, flexibility - creativity - innovation, 4 very full trash cans, buckets of safety goggles, lots of hugs, and a VERY supportive community = an EPiC first day of school.”

Be EPiC Everyday

Google. Dropbox. Netflix. Twitter. Innovative companies that have transformed our culture. Creativity will drive the economics of the future, but where in our current educational system do we actually allow the time and space for creativity? When you walk into a classroom can you see a difference between the 1980’s and today’s classroom?  Are students “dialing down” when they enter school? And if creativity really is the driver of the economy, what skills do our students need to be successful? In the spring of 2013, Liberty Public Schools began exploring these questions and more, resulting in a 20/20 Vision Innovations Team, comprised of administrators, teachers, parents, and board members. 

As we started to seek answers to these questions, we crossed the country and visited highly successful, innovative schools. We tapped into experts, read research and investigated different school models, ultimately discovering effective environments that empowered students to learn. Real tools. Authentic audiences. Projects with meaning. Personalized learning. As our team began to assimilate what we had learned, we posed the questions, “How could we reimagine education for our students in Liberty? How could we step outside the box and incorporate our new learning to create a different kind of school?

"Every Person Inspired to Create, hence the acronym EPiC, was born. EPiC is not just a school, but rather an idea, a philosophy, a journey for every person. So what does that look like in a school? How will we infuse this idea into each and every day? We believe that children learn in different ways and at different paces. Moreover, we also believe it is essential that all our students are engaged at a deep level of learning. And we know that learning becomes real when students are able to take their learning beyond the classroom walls and engage with parents and community experts. 

So then how do we empower and equip students for the evolving, global economy and design a program that is Every Person Inspired to Create? How are we going to make sure students learn the necessary skills to prepare them for life beyond school? 

Curiosity sparks passion and creativity. EPiC re-imagines education by encouraging the in-depth exploration of topics as students participate in the adventures of learning. Our students will apply their new knowledge by creating and exhibiting their own learning to multiple audiences. Daily personalized learning will be the key--students learning at their own level, leveraging the power of quality adaptive technology platforms. Through project-based learning and dynamic teacher instruction, EPiC students will explore real challenges and create solutions and share in front of authentic audiences.  


We are excited to bring to life our vision. 

Come along with us on the journey to Be EPiC Everyday.