Learning through real-world problem solving

by Nancy G. Nagel

With the rapidly expanding knowledge base in this information age, today's teachers are expected to add content to their existing curricula. But what can you add to your students' already full day without leaving out something else? One answer is to integrate teaching and learning into the real world around your school and engage your students in simultaneous learning - in language arts, science, art, mathematics, social studies - while they are trying to solve real problems. Here, Nancy G. Nagel discusses the ways whereby students can participate in directing their own learning while helping to create for themselves relevant learning experiences. The author presents actual cases taken from schools in which students learned while pursuing real-life goals, such as helping to select the optimum land use for property adjacent to their school. She provides examples of successful units, including feedback from students and teachers about the learning and teaching process.