Although CAST students spend months on their respective PBLs, just as much dedication and research falls on the teachers’ shoulders as well. On Thursday, leaders from CAST Tech, CAST STEM, CAST Lead, and CAST Med High School met together at the DoSeum for an update on their students’ PBL. The purpose of the meeting was to collaboratively learn, share, envision and design PBL processes and practices by integrating campuses’ experiences, PBL leaders’ expertise, and student impact examples that inform and enhance the PBL process across the network.
Project Based Learning, or PBL, is a semester-long (or even year-long) project assigned to students with a common theme, although the themes can differ among CAST schools. Students can form groups of their own for their projects, and they dedicate months researching and developing data and solutions to the problems they aim to combat. CAST Tech’s PBL theme this year was “Legacy” and some students decided to leave their legacy by starting the school’s first ever newspaper, CAST Ink.
The scope aims to deepen and celebrate the CAST PBL Collaborative’s vision of the CAST PBL process, “From Launch to Legacy” theme and focus through sharing and creating powerful and engaging launches and legacy experiences that truly impact our students and communities.
During the meeting, teachers and leaders reflected on and summarized their own launches for their schools. Through interactive games and team-building exercises, the teachers were able to bond and with leaders from the other CAST schools, and after a presentation from CAST Tech, the group debriefed using success analysis (variation) protocol.
About CAST Schools
The Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST Schools) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a network of 5 tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools in San Antonio and one pre-k through 12th Academy. CAST’s innovative school model allows students to learn by doing and gain real world experience through internship, job shadowing and mentorship opportunities, and is among the first of its kind in the state of Texas.
About The DoSeum
The DoSeum is a place where interactive fun and hands-on learning come together—a place where minds are always at play. The DoSeum offers exhibits, programs, camps, classes, and field trips designed for all learners, encouraging young minds to explore the joy of learning through connections to STEM, the arts, and literacy. Originally founded in 1995 as San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum has grown to become a premier leader in informal education, while still staying true to the mission of connecting families and transforming communities.
