Photo Collage: Eagle Tech Presentations Share New Ideas After Learning from the Past

Compiled by Eagle News Staff

On campus, about 50 students take part in a project-based learning program called Eagle Tech, in which they learn the required subject material by using it to address real-life problems and challenges. While this may seem difficult for a history class, history teacher Ross Zabloski has found a way to prepare his students for their futures while educating them on the past.

"When I think about how to make history memorable for students, I usually center units around a word or phrase that is something we can relate to or still struggle to understand today. For Greece and Rome its 'legacy,' for Eastern and Western Empires it's 'unsung heroes or untold stories,' for the Middle Ages it's 'fear or education,'" Zabloski explained. "Then, I think about what skills need to be developed to help in understanding the idea. For the concept of legacy, the students worked on skills regarding research and providing evidence that their idea could last the test of time. They also needed to recognize bias within themselves regarding their motivation for wanting to help others and analyze bias in the sources they interviewed."

To complete their Ancient Greece and Rome unit on March 15, freshmen in Eagle Tech World History I presented projects designed to leave a legacy - specifically, through making school a better place.

"The project was about looking at the concept of legacy," Zabloski continued. "We were studying ancient Greece and Rome and how they have had an impact on the United States regarding our architecture, language, and form of government. Students were challenged to create something that would leave a legacy at the high school after they are gone. The legacy had to help people in some way."

From left to right: Freshmen Daisy Sweetwood, Kaitlyn Plunk, Shay Guilliams, and Brayden Shirley share their intent to make the "Best Buddies" program a reality on campus. (Photo by Emma Duncan)

From left to right: Freshmen Abigail Thornhill, Whyatt Howard, and Emily Gonzalez think more scheduled time for group remediation will positively benefit students. (Photo by Evan Heins)

From left to right: Freshmen Kemper Gulley, Darren Banville, Abigail Gordon, and Noah Buckner took inspiration from the Capstone and Econ/Personal Finance classes taught on campus to design a broader Life Skills class. They even made a model. (Photo by Sarah Vincent)

From left to right: Freshmen Gabe D'Heron, Roy Wainwright, and Caleb Perkin hope a Lego Club can exist at the high school, as it already does at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. (Photo by Evan Heins)

From Left to right: Freshmen Nate Orozco, Neveah Hunt, and Jaelyn Wilson believe a Wellness Club will give students a comfortable space to discuss problems many teenagers face. (Photo by Emma Duncan)