The Power of a Project | Connecting the Real World to Classroom Instruction

 

At the high school level, the LSR7 Diploma Plus Initiative wants students to EXPERIENCE connections to the real world through the attainment of a market-value asset. Most students in our district EXPERIENCE these connections through market value asset projects: the client-connected project or the entrepreneurial experience project.

Students in the Civil Engineering classes at Lee’s Summit High School and Lee’s Summit North High School completed a client-connected project with Land3Studio throughout the school year. Students created a design for the new plaza space at the Paragon Star Soccer Complex, with expert guidance from their instructors and architects at Land3Studio. Students visited the construction site in the fall and received the parameters for the project. Teachers structured instruction around the concepts students would need to know to be successful when working on this project. Land3Studios architects regularly visited the classrooms to provide feedback to students as they created their designs. The project culminated with students pitching their designs to Land3Studios and Paragon Star. 

A 3D model for a possible plaza design at the Paragon Star Soccer Complex

Entrepreneurial experiences allow students to explore an open-ended problem to create a solution. Students in Science of Nature classes at Lee’s Summit High School complete a unit on botany as part of the course. This year, students learned the curriculum through an entrepreneurial experience project that asked them to create a plan for a sustainable garden in our community. Students visited Powell Gardens to learn about plants and sustainable practices. They also learned from a subject matter expert, Mr. Dave Burnell from Grass Pad, as they crafted their designs. At the end of the project, students pitched their designs for a sustainable garden or landscape in our community. 

LSHS Student, Alivia Owen, with her garden design

Regardless of the type of market value asset project students participate in, each allows students to develop essential skills that are useful in any career field. These projects require problem-solving, communication, time management, perseverance, and other essential skills to execute. The Diploma Plus Initiative is allowing students to EXPERIENCE the real world before leaving high school, preparing them for the world of work right now.