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How to Reignite Love for Learning with a Project-Based Curriculum

Michigan Virtual

APR 30, 2021

Bright

For all students — but especially for those who struggle in the traditional classroom — project-based learning can offer an opportunity to rediscover the joy of learning. In this episode of BRIGHT, we talk to Dr. Sarah Pazur, the director of school leadership at FlexTech High School, who shares the why and how behind this vision for learning along with examples of some really cool projects that allowed students to explore their interests, meet core competencies, and have real-world impacts.

. . .Or listen instead on Apple, Spotify, or a different platform.

Recently, I had the great honor of interviewing Dr. Sarah Pazur for the BRIGHT podcast. She’s the director of student leadership for FlexTech High School, which has three campuses in Brighton, Oakland, and Shepherd, Michigan.

I first met Sarah when we collaborated on the Keep Michigan Learning website, which a team of innovative Michigan school leaders created to support educators through the COVID-19 pandemic.

And goodness, every time I listened to Sarah speak, I learned something new and left inspired. This trend continued when I read her piercing and persuasive article, “Myth of the ideal classroom” which totally made me rethink some of the “tensions” between face-to-face and online learning.

I knew we had to get her on the BRIGHT podcast to talk about her experiences and vision as a school leader. As one of my colleagues shared, “Sarah truly is a national treasure.”

I learned so much from talking with Sarah, and I can’t wait for you to learn from her, too.

Here’s a sneak peek of our conversation:

https://youtu.be/Y0ZkkLSKloY

One of my favorite moments during this interview was when Sarah spoke about the power of project-based learning to reignite students’ love of learning. She said:

“It's so exciting to see that shift in their personalities. They love working on projects instead of working through worksheets. We just see this kind of transformation and a love of learning that just blossoms when they come to us.”

You can listen to the full episode in the player above, or check it out on Apple, Spotify, or a different platform.

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Michigan Virtual

For more than 27 years, Michigan Virtual has partnered with K–12 school districts across Michigan to expand learning opportunities for students and educators alike. Through our high-quality online courses, taught by Michigan-certified, highly qualified teachers, we empower students to learn anytime, anywhere. We also provide affordable, impactful professional development to help educators grow in their craft. Most recently, Michigan Virtual has been at the forefront of innovation and artificial intelligence in education, offering consultation services and professional learning to guide schools in thoughtfully integrating new technologies and learning pathways.