I teach 6th grade social studies at a STEAM, project-based learning school in Raleigh. My students have a 1-to-1 laptop ratio. This summer Kenan experience impacted me in more ways than I realized.

My team does a bunch of collaborative projects that use the Buck Insititute and learning styles as our trademark to build these projects. Our current one was about the Aztecs, Incas and Mayas. The students were put in collaborative groups. They had to research three types of engineers, research and use the engineering design process to make a cultural artifact, and then use the engineering design process to build an insulated home for the climate where one of the cultural groups lived. The students have never done a project this big before this period of time in their educational careers. It is hard and frustrating, but very rewarding. That’s what Kenan was to me.

Being put in microbiology and immunology labs was VERY out of my league. It was like learning a new language every single day. Half the time, I felt like I had no idea what was going on. The other half of the time, I only partly understood what was going on. Building curriculum in teams can also be frustrating. Each member has prior experiences and backgrounds to bring to the table that all have different understandings, but WE MADE IT THROUGH.

My students made it through too. I learned how to collaborate with a greater impact and I am now teaching this to my students!