Senior Projects give Important Experience

Dear Editor,

I was disappointed to read the article "WHS Drops Senior Project Requirement" in the May 22nd edition of the The Times.While I do not speak for all WHS graduates, I enjoyed the senior project. Compared to the assignments and tests that were used to evaluate my performance, the senior project gave me the opportunity to delve into a specific topic of interest in a "real world" context. The critical thinking skills that I developed through that experience were some of the greatest assets to me as I entered college and continued on to graduate school.

My personal experience aside, I am most troubled by the reasoning cited for discontinuation of the project- if the senior project was kept as a requirement, students may leave for another district that does not require it.In the article, Superintendent Clarke even mentioned that the Waitsburg staff saw the project as a valuable tool. The justification for discontinuing the senior project should not be based on a perceived fear of declining enrollment but because it has been shown to be ineffective at achieving its desired outcomes.Is there empirical evidence that the project has failed students in this way?If so, it should be reevaluated.If not, efforts should be placed on addressing the concerns of seniors and their parents on the efficacy and value of the project.Are concerns over enrollment based on anecdotal reports or grounded in data?If the latter is true, additional steps should be taken to address retention without sacrificing academic rigor. In the research literature on teaching pedagogy, it is clear that there is no single, perfect approach to learning.However, there is evidence that project-based learning, can enhance problem-solving and communication skills and give students a sense of ownership in the learning process.

As a college professor, the students that I encounter who are the most successful are not the ones who are good at memorizing facts and regurgitate them on an exam but those who can think critically, problem solve, and look at the big picture.Those are the students that I want to see in my classroom.

Elizabeth L. Abbey, PhD, RD

Assistant Professor,

Department of Health Sciences

Whitworth University

Spokane