This past summer I had the opportunity to speak about Project-Based Learning (PBL) at an education conference in Napa, CA. As a student keynote speaker, I discussed how PBL prepared for me for college, work, and life. It served as a singular opportunity to reflect on my pre-GW education and consider the importance of being exposed to 21st century skills as a high school student.
What made it more rewarding was the opportunity to pay it forward. The other student speaker had just graduated from high school and will begin his undergraduate program at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. Having the chance to speak with him about what to expect in college, especially when coming from a PBL high school, was a moment in which I could help a fellow student succeed. This made me grateful that I now get to do that as a PAF with my fellow Colonials!
Another neat connection to my role as a fellow was the theme of innovation within education. In my university placement in the Office of Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration, I am helping inculcate a more robustly innovative and collaborative academic culture at GW. Being asked to speak on behalf of the success of PBL made me more excited to come back to campus and work to improve how we learn.
Feel free to check out my speech, from 14:00 to 20:00! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKxN-bYcVE4