Class projects evolve with technology
New twist Seniors Chris Arzate and Royce Snethen present their project to their Biology II class during first period on Oct. 29. The project of building a cell to look like a miniature golf course inspired them to create it in the video game Mindcraft.
A new project usually came with stress and a looming deadline. Trying to follow the teacher’s instructions while still making the assignment unique and special took time and ingenuity.
Projects have come a long way. From poster boards to Prezis, ‘Smores, and Google presentations and documents, the ways projects are done have become much more user-friendly.
“I’m able to turn my projects in online now, which is efficient and easy,” sophomore Lori Wilson said. “I don’t have to worry about having different pieces of paper to keep track of. I can keep my entire project in one document.”
After the topic is revealed and explained, freedom is often given by the instructor to complete a project in the best way chosen.
“We aren’t pressured to do the project a certain way,” senior Greta Dyck said. “Teachers give us the liberty to do it how we want to and then grade us on that.”
Computers have changed the way projects are done. Instead of using posterboard and buying materials to complete it, a project can be researched and done online.
“Technology has definitely improved the way projects are done,” physics teacher Kenneth Kirk said. “It has made it easier to find details about the topic, and students don’t have to know as much first-hand.”
While it’s true that technology has made the project life much easier, there are also inevitable not-so-positive details with which to contend.
“Doing a project on the computer can cause problems too,” freshman Jennifer Penner said. “We sometimes forget to save it after we finish and have to start the whole thing all over again. Internet crashes don’t help. It’s also really easy to get distracted because there are so many other websites that we could be on instead.”
The way projects are done has come a long way and will continue to change. New and creative ways to go about them will be found all the time and projects will continue to evolve as technology and student inventiveness evolve.
