Challenge Based Learning, an update

From an earlier post this year, I mentioned that my Anatomy classes embarked on a year of wellness. A challenge based learning activity that started with "How can we improve the health and wellness of our community?" and ended with 9 challenges to accomplish this school year, one for each month. 

One of my favorites was in December. We hosted a holiday party at our local senior center. Seeing my students interact with our elderly community was the best part of my year. The number of students participating in these events outside of school, for no grade at all is the most impressive part. They are showing up because they want to, because it was their idea, and they planned it.

Today we just completed our March challenge, improving the mental health of children in long term care at Children's Hospital Dallas. These projects are all so different, all with their challenges, but all worth every minute spent in the classroom. Today, as I dropped off over 500 toys to the Child Life department of Children's, I was reminded of how important it is for our kids to do this kind of work.

Our last big event is in May, a Mental Health Expo, where we are collaborating with a non profit organization, The Defensive Line, to promote positive mental health in our community. We have so many groups reaching out asking to participate so I can't wait to see how it goes.

If you haven't check out the Challenge Based Learning resources in the Learning Center, please do. It will be the best professional development you have done in a long time. See what kind of change your kids are capable of creating in your community.