How Oakton students are embracing the EOL
The EOL is an exciting opportunity for students to share something that they have learned whether it is academic or a hobby. Although a project isn’t something most students want to hear about, the EOL is different from any other projects in school. You have total control over what you want to share with others which isn’t always the case in school. For most assignments, we are told to follow a strict rubric and we have to learn a certain concept, and present a certain way. However,with the EOL, the student has the freedom to share whatever they want to. Learning is very important and it is necessary that schools show kids that learning isn’t just sitting a a desk for 90 minutes, it’s figuring out how to make art, or playing an instrument, or creating something with tools.
Sam Lesser (9) shared her EOL wich she made about her new golden retriever puppy, Cooper. “Cooper has taught me some valuable lessons; I’ve learned a couple things actually. First, it’s always better to plan and research before having such a huge responsibility in your life (which I failed to do). Second, putting someone else’s needs before your own is a huge sacrifice but it’s necessary to take care of another life. Third, managing your time is one of, if not, the most important thing you need to learn and that’s something I was bad at that I needed to work on. Cooper fast forwarded that but I’m learning how to fit it all in,” said Lesser. The EOL is an exciting opportunity for students to share something that they have learned whether it is academic or a hobby. Although a project isn’t something most students want to hear about, the EOL is different from any other projects in school. You have total control over what you want to share with others which isn’t always the case in school. For most assignments, we are told to follow a strict rubric and we have to learn a certain concept, and present a certain way. However,with the EOL, the student has the freedom to share whatever they want to. Learning is very important and it is necessary that schools show kids that learning isn’t just sitting a a desk for 90 minutes, it’s figuring out how to make art, or playing an instrument, or creating something with tools.
Sam Lesser (9) shared her EOL wich she made about her new golden retriever puppy, Cooper. “Cooper has taught me some valuable lessons; I’ve learned a couple things actually. First, it’s always better to plan and research before having such a huge responsibility in your life (which I failed to do). Second, putting someone else’s needs before your own is a huge sacrifice but it’s necessary to take care of another life. Third, managing your time is one of, if not, the most important thing you need to learn and that’s something I was bad at that I needed to work on. Cooper fast forwarded that but I’m learning how to fit it all in,” said Lesser. These lessons not only fit into our portrait of a graduate characteristics, but they also teach important life lessons. “ ,” said Lesser. We learn these lessons through projects in school, but it can be a lot more interesting when we learn these life lessons through hobbies or interests outside of school.
The EOL is appealing to some kids who don’t enjoy learning in school. This project shows kids that a lot of learning can be done outside of the classroom. While some kids thrive in a school environment, a lot of kids struggle with school and they are made to feel like they are stupid just because their grades don’t really reflect how smart they really are. A lot of kids are passionate about learning something they don’t necessarily learn in a classroom. “For my project I learned the names of all of the countries. It started out of boredom but I ended up learning a lot of good memorization techniques I can use to study for tests and such,” said Tommy Mika (9). “I don’t think we will have an assignment in history where we will have to memorize the names of all the countries but since geography is something I’m interested in, it wasn’t extremely difficult. Both of these students something they learned which they are proud of which is the purpose of the EOL.
