Projects Should Demonstrate Skills You Already Know

Want to get notified about new posts? Join the mailing list and follow on X/Twitter.

Myth:

Projects are a good way to learn fundamental mathematical skills.

Reality:

Projects should be a demonstration of skills that a student ALREADY knows.

Anyone who’s done group projects in school knows:

The kids who already know the skills carry the group.

The kids who don’t know the skills barely do anything.

Here’s a better way:

First, make sure that every student has mastered the prerequisite skills.

THEN, use a project to pull all those skills together.

Further reading:

• Some Pitfalls to Watch Out For when Learning From Projects
• True active learning means…

Want to get notified about new posts? Join the mailing list and follow on X/Twitter.