Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Makela encourages educational changes

By TOM STANKARD

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Wakefield - To encourage local teachers to re-imagine educational possibilities, Wakefield-Marenisco School District teacher Kathy Makela hosted a screening Wednesday of the movie "Most Likely to Succeed."

Before playing the movie, Makela said the current educational format hasn't changed enough over the past 100 years, and now is the time to make changes.

According to a release she provided, the movie aims to help schools re-imagine their purpose and help teachers create learning experiences that prepare their students for life in the 21st century through project-based education.

The movie said project-based learning is a tool, not the defining element, of learning.

"This is more 'real life' learning," Makela said. "They learn the kinds of things they'll take on into adulthood, like perseverance and consistency."

She said, "these life skills aren't always taught in a traditional classroom."

The film talked about High Tech High, a charter school corporation in San Diego County. There, teachers educate their students by teaching them knowledge that they need and want to know through work that is relevant, meaningful and hands on, according to its website.

When students aren't at school, Makela said she wants parents to become more involved in their child's education by asking questions.