Giving Compass' Take:

• Workspace Education is a Connecticut-based nonprofit that aims to provide project-based learning to help students understand science concepts. 

• How can donors support efforts to make project-based learning more accessible to students?

•  Read more about how to succeed with project-based learning. 

When supporting and sequenced within a competency-based progression model, PBL holds further promise for engaging students in relevant, authentic experiences that help them progress meaningfully and reach higher level outcomes. Students are successful when they take an active role in their learning, and CBE and PBL are able to provide the authenticity that gives students more meaningful learning experiences and a more personalized education.

Workspace Education, a non-profit learning community in Bethel, CT, which focuses on project-based learning for students of all ages, is practicing a great example of competency-based PBL in their science pathway programming.

Over the last couple of years, Cath Fraise, Founder and Executive Director of Workspace, identified that her students desired to learn relevant science. It is helpful to understand the context of how Workspace came to be in the position it’s in today, including how the idea for the space was originally born, the unique learning model they developed, and their vision for the future.

Inspiration & Development of the Program. Workspace is a learning environment for all kinds of learning experiences, but lends itself to PBL because it is essentially 32,000 square feet of experiential learning labs and a co-creation space.

Current Framework. “In the 21CI framework we integrate individualized SEL, applied practical/technical skills and academics in equal measure using PBL, and also by making sure we include the 4 C’s and compassion,” explains Fraise. They have found that this combination keeps a learner in balance and self-directed in a way that maximizes well-being and engagement.

Looking Ahead. Because of the success of this program, Fraise is working to create a microschool version/”drop off” of the program in order to expand access to the Workspace PBL experience.

Read the full article about Workspace Education by Erik Day and Michelle Berkeley at Getting Smart.