Innovative Teaching and Active Learning

One of the goals in our district’s Strategic Plan is Innovative Teaching and Active Learning.

That may sound like educational jargon, but the idea behind it is pretty simple. We want students to be involved in their learning, think for themselves, work with others, and understand how what they learn in school applies to everyday life.

As I spend time visiting classrooms at Laura Irwin Elementary and Riverside Middle and High Schools, I see many examples of our teachers putting this goal into practice.

At Laura Irwin Elementary, it is common to see students working together in small groups, practicing skills on their own, or writing about their experiences. Our teachers are working hard to implement our new reading program, helping students build the skills they will need throughout their education. Students also use Chromebooks for math games and other activities that give them additional opportunities to practice what they’ve learned.

One thing I appreciate is the balance I see in our classrooms. Teachers still spend time explaining lessons, demonstrating skills, and working directly with students. That is important and always will be. But students also need opportunities to take what they’ve been taught and put it to use, whether that is working through a math problem, writing a story, or solving something together. I love how many of our youngest students, learn through exploring.

At Riverside Middle and High Schools, we’re seeing more opportunities for students to learn through projects, hands-on activities, and lessons that connect different subjects. Our teachers have recently worked together to develop ways to plan and organize more of these types of lessons.

On any given day, students might be conducting science experiments, working with drones, learning computer programming or artificial intelligence, building something in a career and technical education class, or participating in activities that teach them about managing money and making everyday decisions. Others may be researching historical or current events, presenting what they’ve learned, performing a play in Spanish class, or participating in physical education activities.

We also see teachers giving students opportunities to choose topics that interest them, work through problems, and share what they’ve learned with others. Field trips, outdoor learning experiences, science labs, and demonstrations help bring lessons to life.

For our older students, college dual-credit classes and opportunities to gain work experience provide another way to connect education with life after high school.

Growing up and living in rural Wyoming, our students should understand the value of being able to figure things out, work hard, use common sense, and get along with others. Whether our students eventually attend college, enter a trade, work in agriculture, start a business, or choose another path, those are skills that will serve them well.

None of this means that every lesson needs to be a project or that traditional teaching methods are outdated. Good teaching still involves explaining, demonstrating, practicing, and sometimes simply sitting down and doing the work. 

The key is finding the right balance and giving students opportunities to use what they know.

I also want to recognize our teachers. Many of these approaches aren’t necessarily new, and our staff have been using them successfully for years. What we’re trying to do through our Strategic Plan is built on those strengths, share good ideas, and continue finding ways to make learning meaningful and engaging for our students.

A strategic plan shouldn’t be something that sits on a shelf. It should help guide what happens in our schools every day.

When I visit classrooms and see students asking questions, working together, trying something new, or taking pride in something they’ve accomplished, I see that goal coming to life.

At the end of the day, we want our students to leave our schools with more than just good grades. We want them to have the knowledge, skills, confidence, and work ethic to be successful in whatever they choose to do. That’s what we’re working toward at Big Horn County School District #4.