Reed visited Connie Adkinson’s Biology I class, which will be investigating whether the lifestyles of wealthy countries effect biodiversity. Students will gather information about whether biodiversity is declining in Daviess County and send the information to the state Environmental Protection Agency.

Adkinson said she determined which state standards she wanted to target in ecology, then wrote the curriculum around them. She wants to gather a group of conservation-minded community members to help judge students’ projects.

Other classrooms combine several subjects in a longer period. Reed visited a combined two-hour class taught by business teacher Amy Graber, history teacher Zack Stoll and English teacher Debbie Thomas.

Graber said she was concerned about teaching in a group setting at first, but as she began to see how all the concepts overlapped, she was excited to implement the curriculum.

Tuesday, students in the class were creating a brochure about the school culture. The next project class will be to create a new civilization for the reality TV show, “Survivor,” said Graber. They will incorporate the five characteristics of a civilization, create a map, write a document detailing the civilization and learn about work environment expectations as they complete their project, she said.

“I’m just so encouraged by these teachers that are willing to do something different,” said Reed.

Other 21st Century teachers visiting with Reed included Algebra I teacher Linda Streepy, who said her students have been learning how to use the computer programs for the class by writing a guide for parents and other students. Their next project will entail investigating the cost of T-shirts for the drama club using algebraic equations. They will present their findings to the drama club to help them get the best deal on their shirts.

Instead of showing how to solve a problem, then giving students a list of equations to solve, teachers will now give students a project assignment, and they will have to come to the teacher to find what they need to complete the assignment, explained Streepy. If several students are struggling with a concept, they or the teacher can call a workshop for more intense study of the subject.

“Students see the purpose for what they are doing,” said Streepy. “They are excited about this class. They really and truly love it.”

The new curriculum comes with a new grading system, which North Daviess 21st Century teachers created over the summer. It is based on understanding of content including test and quiz scores, work ethic, oral presentations, written presentations and collaboration, said Spanish teacher Pat Brochin. Teachers can determine which areas are most important for each project, but content will always carry the most weight, she and band director Deanne Mayfield said.

“The whole goal is to prepare (students) to step out in the workplace,” said Adkinson.