Layers of Content-Rich 21ST CCLC Programming

Learning should be purposeful and intentional, connect to learning standards and be driven by the needs and interests of the students. A content rich program also provides opportunities for civic engagement, leadership development, mentoring and collaboration.

The following approaches to teaching and learning are layers that comprise a Content-Rich Program:

• Inquiry Based Learning: Asking questions are at the heart of inquiry-based learning. The goal is to ask questions that students care about or are interested in pursuing. The instructor guides the students in the process of finding the answers themselves and encourages them to ask new questions along the way. An inquiry-based approach is best when working on interdisciplinary projects that reinforce multiple skills or knowledge areas in different facets of the same project.

• Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom.

• Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Through service-learning, young people-from kindergarteners to college students-use what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. They not only learn the practical applications of their studies, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.

• Media Technology: Awareness of media to develop students into healthy consumers, innovative producers, and critical thinkers.

Last Updated: March 3, 2013