Courtesy Photo Alpena High School Teacher Amy Brownridge, second from the left, talks with students in her classroom in November. Brownridge, and her colleague Bill Bright, are developing a project based learning course Perspectives of Democracy.
ALPENA — A newly proposed project based learning course — Perspectives of Democracy — will go before the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education for approval on Monday.
The board’s Curriculum and Technology Committee on Tuesday recommended the proposed course move to the board for approval after hearing from two teachers who will instruct the class as well as the administrators helping to develop the course.
Two school board members initially voiced concern about the course. Vice President Stacey Parr expressed concerns about how the new course would impact the high school’s advanced placement program.
Trustee Eric Lawson had questioned why the course title was shortened from its original title, Perspectives of Democracy or Constitutional Perspectives. Lawson has since said he spoke with one of the teachers and was comfortable the information presented to students would be thorough and appropriate.
The board in January directed APS administrators to continue developing the course, so the board could review and consider it for approval in April.
The course would be a continuation of two other project-based learning classes — “American Perspectives” offered in 9th grade and “World Perspectives” offered in 10th grade — and would integrate English and history standards required by the state. Students would earn one English credit and one-half of a history credit in the course.
Alpena High School Teacher Bill Bright, told the committee 10th grade students asked for the course both last year and this year. Bright said they are working with an instructional coach to develop the course, but are “not reinventing the wheel.”
The proposed course will have six units starting with “Foundations of American Ideals” and ending with “Governance Challenges and Current Events,” according to the course syllabus.
“I think the driving force behind the school offering these classes and our classroom design is to make these concepts seem real and relevant to kids, by taking what they learn from the curriculum, and applying it to actual projects that they can see impacting their community,” AHS Teacher Amy Brownridge said.
On Tuesday, Lawson asked about a unit where unity and diversity would be discussed, wanting teachers to clarify what they mean by diversity.
Brownridge said the unit could be approached in many different ways.
“It could change based on the project we’re doing, or the year, or the current events,” she said. “But we would always be digging in for the deeper question in terms of how do we find a balance between unity and diversity.”
For example, Brownridge said they could explore how societies are impacted when people from different ethnicities, religions, or socioeconomic backgrounds come together and how those differences can be navigated.
Meaghan Gauthier, assistant superintendent for K-12 curriculum, said about one-third of students are choosing to enroll in project based learning — or PBL — courses.
Additionally, AHS Assistant Principal Katie Lee said the project based learning courses are now aligned with other courses being offered at the high school next year. Lee said that would allow students to “pop in” if they want to try a PBL class or “pop out” if they decide a project based learning class isn’t for them.
Board President Gordon Snow said he was pleased with the proposed course.
“Having spent a little time in a PBL class at Thunder Bay (Junior High School) last year, I was very impressed with the sense that the students shared about how good the projects were and working together and relying on each other and supporting each other,” he said. “I certainly hope this course will go forward.”
If approved by the board, students will be able to take the course starting next fall.
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