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FWISD Students Put Applied Learning into Action
Students at Fort Worth ISD’s Applied Learning Academy had a seat at the table in discussions relating to plans for a new crosswalk just outside their school.
The middle school students who engaged in an applied learning project relating to the crosswalk are discovering the power of voicing community concerns that are important to them.
On Tuesday, March 20, the Fort Worth ISD Board of Education recognized students from ALA for their work in presenting a student-produced study to officials with the City of Fort Worth, Texas Department of Transportation, Blue Zones Project and the North Texas Central Council of Governments.
The study included data on how ALA students get to and from school, why the crosswalk and school zone is vitally needed in the area and barriers students face attempting to cross Camp Bowie Boulevard and Camp Bowie Boulevard West adjacent to ALA. The survey data was included in a Safe Routes to School Plan prepared by NCTCOG. The Applied Learning Academy, which shares a campus with the International Newcomer Academy on Camp Bowie Boulevard, is one of four schools in North Texas that NCTCOG has developed a Safe Routes to School plan for.
The student study was part of an applied learning project the students took on while participating in their ancient history advisory period in 2017. Applied learning activities encourage students to take on an open-ended problem in need of solving.
Plans are underway to improve pedestrian accessibility in and around the school. The first phase of work on an adjacent crosswalk is expected to begin later this year.
Students who’ve participated in talks with city, county, region and state officials say they’re happy to have participated in a project that will make routes around ALA safe for future students and the general public.
The students were diligent in the work they presented before stakeholders and in the follow up to the progress of the project according to school officials.
“Every person in this class stretched themselves in some way,” said Alexandra Checka, seventh-grade teacher and the students’ ancient history adviser. “Everyone found their voice and found their power.”
Over the course of a school year, the students also participated in a couple additional meetings and observed project team made of up the Safe Routes to School stakeholders as it conducted a walking safety audit, examining the routes and existing barriers to and from the school.
“It was a really collaborative process. It was neat,” said Karla Weaver, senior program manager with the NCTCOG transportation department. “I think they learned something, and we learned something from their perspective, and it was just a really great experience for everybody.”
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