Thomas Simpson's Outdoor Classroom
Through following people and organizations on Twitter, I have come across a wealth of new knowledge and information. However, one teacher and a school grabbed my attention so much that I felt I needed to share his story.
Thomas Simpson of Carter High School in Tennessee, succeeded in bringing two of my personal passions in life together; education and the outdoors. Thomas Simpson succeeded in doing this by a classroom learning strategy that I strongly stand by in my educational beliefs, and that is collaborative projects. Let me now share with you his accomplishment, and then I will discuss why his story means so much to me.
Thomas Simpson of Carter High School, located in Knoxville, TN, engaged his classroom of students in a classwide project of developing on paper an outdoor classroom. Thomas was extreamly pleased with the work results that his students produced, as a result he decided to take the classroom project even further. Thomas engaged the ENTIRE school to take part in making the outdoor classroom a reality. Through schoolwide effort and emense teamwork, the outdoor classroom was built in only six months. The oudoor classroom consists of trees, plants, flowers, brick paths, trails, and a stage area for classroom instruction that is equipped with seating for a full class of students. It is stated that the outdoor classroom is a point of pride for the whole school, as well as a space that celebrates both the environment and the innovation of team work. The outdoor classroom is now a place to go and learn in a healthy environment. Please visit the following link to view photographs, and gain further information in regards to Thomas Simpsons schoolwide Outdoor Classroom initiative. www.behance.net/gallery/Carter-High-School-Outdoor-Classroom/4857609
Thomas Simpson's classroom project turned schoolwide project is inspirational to me because I feel all to often educators in classrooms of all grade levels rely heavily on paper and pencil worksheets and tests in order to assess their students achievement. If we think about it, its the well known "go to" method in order to measure a students understanding of content. Yes, paper/pencil worksheets, tests and independent work may need to be utilized in classrooms. However, I feel that if educators are going to truly instill within students the desire and motivation to learn, it is imparitive that our classrooms are engaging. Students need to be activly involved with each other, their educators, and the wide world around them. In other words, educators need to think more about altering the course of their classroom assignments from paper and pencil tasks into more engaging tasks that involve group effort. Educators need to look towards classroom activities and tasks that seek to inspire and motivate students. We need to look towards ways to keep the students stimulated so they do not become bored and turned off from school. Further, with collaborative projects educators become more of a mentour and a guide to their students, rather than a lecturer. Students and teachers face the challenges they come across together, and as a result they learn together.
In an effort to remedy students bordom with school, I strongly feel that educators need to incorporate more collaborative projects within their curriculums. By working with one another on projects that produce sustainable results, everyone can be deemed successful at the projects conclusion. Everyone can feel a sence of self-worth and pride. Everyone can feel a part of the greater whole. Most important, everyone can gain a wealth of knowledge that reaches far beyond simply filling in blanks on a piece of paper. I feel this is the case because when students work together collaboratively, they feel a stronger motivation to do their part in an effort to contribute to their projects success.
I feel that what Thomas Simpson accomplished with his class of students and essentially the entire school, is truly amazing. Engaging the whole class in a project is one thing, but to bring the whole school together in an effort to produce an entierly new learning environment goes well above and beyond. Its a challenging task that he was not afraid to embark upon, nor were the students for that matter. I can imagine that if one were to talk with any one of the students at Carter High School, they would say that they gained more knowledge from helping create the outdoor classroom then they ever could sitting and filling in worksheets or listening to class lectures. I feel teachers often forget that students really need to learn how to work with one another, further they need to learn how to utilize resources that are available to them outside of school. Yes, it is imparative that students get instruction in reading, writing, math, etc. However, as educators of the individuals who are the worlds future, lets not forget to guide them and educate them on outside expierences also. Lets not forget to guide them in learning how to locate, utilize, and essentially understand resources of everyday life. Further, lets not forget to help strengthen their skills in regards to getting along and working with others for the greater whole. I feel that Thomas Simpson was successful in strenghtening these skills within every student at Carter High School. Due to his vision, students now have a serene outdoor environment to learn in. Further, they have place to take pride in, as they are the ones who helped create and bring the outdoor classroom to life.
