PBL - Iowa Conservatory

Project-Based Learning

Iowa Conservatory embraces Project-based learning (PBL) at the heart of our curricular design.

This 21st-century approach to learning is student-centered and brings real world applications to arts education. The teacher acts as a facilitator for student learning, scaffolding deep engagement in artistic content as students engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

The Teacher-Artist is Guide

The role of the teacher-artist is to guide students as they develop mastery of their art form, providing scaffolds to students as needed. Our faculty is trained to carefully design courses with intentional team-building and project outcomes in mind, with the most important content-area skills and concepts embedded in student activity. All of our teachers value the person first, and aim to build highly responsive, trusting teacher-student relationships.

The Learning Environment is real-world

Our arts program design is grounded in Project-Based Learning (PBL). At the heart of PBL is a deep understanding of content, mastery of skills, and personally satisfying, relevant student project outcomes. We strive to facilitate authentic arts experiences, growing students’ skill and expertise through hands-on, innovative projects, centered both within their own discipline and across majors. Arts-rich PBL contexts build 21st century skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Artistic Learner Outcomes

Participation in PBL leads students to engage deeply with the content and with their peers in the arts community. As they delve into the work, steps to reach personal and group goals and bring projects to fruition stimulate a deep and intrinsically satisfying learning experience. Participation in our program inevitably grows the identity of the student-as-artist.

The Student-Artist is Central

We put students in charge of their own learning. Student innovation and divergent thinking is encouraged, drawing on individuals’ interests and goals to shape project outcomes: real-world artistic experiences with other artists. Unlike more traditional educational settings, PBL asks students to bring the full force of their invaluable resources and attributes to the center of the learning experience.

What is Competency-Based Education?

Competency-based education (CBE) is a robust, learner-centered approach to designing a program of study for our students that extend beyond traditional seat time in a classroom. ICON’s goal is to become a recognized CBE school, with carefully designed project-based coursework that meets Iowa Core Standards and fulfills graduation requirements through non-traditional learning pathways. At ICON, each student has a unique path that is guided by expert teachers and artists.

“Competency-based education results in deeper learning outcomes for students as they engage in application, analysis, and evaluation of academic content to prepare for post-secondary success. Students reach proficiency of academic content while learning how to think critically and creatively, collaborate and communicate effectively, adapt to challenges and complex problems, and be accountable for quality results. A CBE system validates learning and proficiency of standards and competencies that occur both in and outside the traditional school structure and that go beyond the constraints of seat time and siloed content areas. CBE enables districts and schools to provide student-centered, personalized learning systems through which students of all ages develop ownership of their learning and connect content to their interests and goals.” – Iowa Department of Education Guidelines for PK-12 Competency-Based Education, p. 1

Principles

1. Students advance upon demonstrated proficiency.
2. Competencies are based on enduring understandings and require the transfer of knowledge, skills, and the Universal Constructs to complex situations in and/or across content areas and/or beyond the classroom.
3. Assessment is a meaningful and a positive learning experience for students.
4. Students receive rapid, personalized support based on their individual learning needs.
5. All learning is validated regardless of when, where, or how students acquired and/or demonstrated the learning.

Project-Based Learning

The Teacher-Artist is Guide

The Learning Environment is real-world

Artistic Learner Outcomes

The Student-Artist is Central

What is Competency-Based Education?

Principles

Partnered With

Become an ICON insider!

Looking to be a part of ICON's Staff?

Follow Us:

Partnered With

Become an ICON insider!

Looking to be part of ICON's STAFF?

Follow Us

Newsletter Signup