Most Likely to Succeed Reflections

SUMMARY:

The film Most Likely to Succeed is a documentary that focuses on a charter school called High Tech High in California, school that uses project-based learning and evaluates students on real-world tasks, rather than just standardized testing. The film follows students, teachers and parents and explores how this unconventional approach to schooling prepares students for the future and highlights project-based learning as a model for fostering creativity, collaboration, and real-world skills.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS FILM: 

I learned about the concept of charter schools from this film. Before watching this movie, I had heard of charter schools. I went to high school in a town where there was a charter school although I did not attend it. I remember hearing about it and wondering what it was all about. After watching this film I discovered that charter schools have more flexibility in learning than traditional public schools. There was a lot of student autonomy in High Tech High, the students were in control of their own learning and a lot of the subjects overlapped on their projects. 

SURPISES

I was surprised by how efficiently the students at this school collaborated with little direction from their teachers. The roles of the teachers were very different from those in traditional classrooms, they guided rather than instructed, which allowed the students to take control of their own learning. In this school, the teachers acted more as mentors than lecturers. As an aspiring teacher, I can see that this approach would be challenging for me, especially since I tend to be very routine and procedure focused.

PROBLEMS & OPPORTUNITIES

I think the education model of a charter school can be both a problem and an opportunity. Problems could arise when the students who attend a school such as High Tech High are entering university and are used to this unconventional approach to learning and suddenly, they are thrown into a university environment where there may be little autonomy, and the evaluations are more centered around tests. However, it is also an opportunity for the kids to learn real life skills such as cooperation, time management, project-based learning and problem solving that they can take with them into their adult lives. 

QUESTIONS

The biggest question I have after watching this film is how the teachers plan these types of units and projects while making sure the students are hitting the targets for the curriculum. With so little structure I think that would be worried that the students were not getting the required learning out of my teaching.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS

One of my main takeaways from the film is the importance of incorporating a project-based learning into my own teaching. I would like to design lessons that give students opportunities to make choices about their learning and allowing them to focus on topics that interest them. This can encourage creativity, teamwork, and confidence. I believe that giving students autonomy in their learning can support a more engaging and meaningful classroom experience.