“Embrace the chaos,” social studies teacher Sarah Bidwell tells her students as they file into her room. 

Minutes later, the chaos comes to life. One group stands in front of a giant touch screen, matching phrases from the Industrial Revolution as they race the clock and hear advice shouted by their classmates.

 

 

Another group is taking timed quizzes on line. A third is engaging in some quick storyboarding and scripting. Then, they step into the hallway to record a Tik Tok video. 

Two of the students swing cardboard tubes while two others dance. The first two are pretending they are swinging axes in a mine. But, the dancing?

“We’re stomping on the ground because we’re mad we have to mine,” said sophomore Kirsten Benedict.

The final two stations couldn’t give students more of a contrast. The first is Mrs. Bidwell sitting with a handful of students.

“Good, old-fashioned note taking,” said Mrs. Bidwell. “I’m able to sit in the middle of the room for small-group conversation.”

At the other station, students are wearing virtual reality goggles, rotating their heads and swinging their arms. They are using google expeditions to immerse themselves into scenes from the Industrial Revolution.

 

 

“It really helps you see it. It changes your thinking. I learn different things in a different way,” said sophomore Ella Peterson. 

That’s why Mrs. Bidwell wanted to have varied stations blending the old and the new. 

“I know it’s different. I know it’s crazy,” said Mrs. Bidwell. “I was thinking about student engagement and the reasonable use of technology and different learning styles.”

“It can be a bit overwhelming at first but I’ve gotten used to it,” said sophomore Ashton Davies. 

Whether it’s viewing students Tik Tok videos, getting instant results from online quizzes, or having face-to-face communication with students, Mrs. Bidwell can get constant updates on how her students are learning the material. And, there’s one other benefit. 

“It’s not boring,” said Benedict.