With Taylor’s increased focus on project-based learning, students are more engaged in their assignments. And more engaged students are more likely to do their homework, the principal said.

Eastern Elementary School is using its new iPads to engage students and get them more excited about homework, Principal Randy Maurer said.

“There’s so many distractions for kids after school,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure they’re interested.”

Students in a science class at Eastern had to record themselves giving a weather forecast.

Instead of writing or memorizing definitions for weather terms, students had to be able to use those terms correctly during their forecast.

“It gives it more meaning, helps them remember,” Maurer said.

Even the traditional assignments that involve practice and repetition are done in a new way, he said. Children can practice adding and subtracting or reading using iPad applications that are set up like a game.

“Because it’s a game, they want to do it,” Maurer said.

Hartman said he thinks Taylor is ahead of the game.

He said there are new national assessments being developed that focus less on regurgitation and more on application.

His students have a head start, because their assignments already target those critical-thinking skills, Hartman said.

“I think you’re going to see a move to that all over the country,” he said.

(c) 2012, the Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Ind.). Visit the Kokomo Tribune online at www.kokomotribune.com. Distributed by MCT Information Services.