The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

August 24, 2009

Greenbrier teachers exhibit CAN-do attitude

By Tina Alvey

FAIRLEA — The practice football field at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School was the site for teams of a different kind Monday afternoon.

EGMS teachers divided into four teams for a series of problem-based learning activities and competition, part of the Classroom Assessment Network (CAN) pilot project.

In response to West Virginia state school board president Steve Paine’s endeavors to develop 21st century schools across the state, the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) selected one school from each area to design, support and implement CAN for learning practices.

EGMS was chosen for Region IV.

CAN will later be used as a model to guide counties and schools throughout West Virginia to understand the necessity of balancing 21st century assessment practices to include student-involved classroom assessment.

RESA says this project is a key component to bringing West Virginia’s classrooms up to speed with 21st century schools and school systems across the country.

EGMS Principal Doug Clemons explained that Monday’s exercises provided a way to build camaraderie and trust in each other.

“It should result in a more supportive learning community.”

Coordinated by North American River Runners, the games required teamwork to solve problems, like ushering a marble, representing radioactive cargo, from one part of the field (the “island”) to the other (the “pirate ship”). Since the cargo could not be handled directly due to its radioactivity, the teachers had to form a line from the island to the pirate ship and guide the marble through hand-held sections of pipe each person was issued.

“After we finish here, we’ll reassemble inside (the school) and revisit our mission statement and core beliefs,” Clemons noted.

The Fairlea school has 57 teachers on staff, teaching a student population of about 825, Clemons said. Classes start at EGMS on Wednesday.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

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