4. Let them Pick their Project Topic

Many teachers pick topics for their students for various logistical and sometimes stereotypical reasons.  “Girls are more mature and responsible than boys so I’m going to give them the more important topics,” some rationalize.  Or, “I want to make sure every topic on the list is covered by at least one student.”  I have even witnessed teachers assigning topics to students based on the number of books available on each topic in the library.

I believe that students who get to choose their topic are more likely to take ownership of their learning and thus produce better results.

If you don’t have a VERY good reason to pick their topics, don’t do it.

For example, a social studies teachers studying the 1920s and 1930s made a list of various topics from which students got to choose.  The topics were very diverse.  They included prohibition, Al Capone, the birth of the automobile, the effects of The Great Depression, jazz, Georgia O’Keefe, and more   After briefly discussing the more obscure topics that students may not know about, each student got to choose what interested them on the list.  Now some students will try to pick what they believe to be the easiest choice rather than something that peaks their interest, but this is a good time to talk about the benefits of exploring personal interests.  Sell the students on the fact that if they pick something they are passionate about (or at least curious), they are going to have more fun researching and reporting on it.  Also, allow students the flexibility to change topics if their research leads them to conclude that they really don’t like it.

One student who studied dance outside of school chose to research the Jitterbug.  She read articles about it, studied old YouTube videos of people dancing in the style, and then choreographed her own version.  Her “report” was an iMovie of some facts about the dance and a video of her and a friend dancing her version of the Jitterbug.  The video had a vintage theme and the Jitterbug music as well.   She was so proud of her project and excited to present it to the class.  The students were engaged and inspired by her work.

It’s great to see how passion in sharing what one has learned begets more passion from the audience to do the same.

Try offering more project choices in your class and comment below to share the results (good or bad).

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Previous posts about Ways to Promote Student Autonomy:

Let Them Help – Ways to Promote Student Autonomy – 1 of 11
Let them Choose their Seats – Ways to Promote Student Autonomy – 2 of 11
Let them Pick their Problems – Ways to Promote Student Autonomy – 3 of 11