The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Students try project-based learning
For the second year, more than 100 sixth-graders at Wickliffe Middle School got the opportunity to work with Avery Dennison professionals on a product-development activity.
Kyle Rhodes, who is a chemist in the Avery Dennison research and development department, spearheaded and introduced the project Dec. 4.
Divided in groups of about five, the students were required to work together on the marketing, sales, science, engineering and graphic design of a fictional product.
They were required to develop Willy Wonka’s new meal replacement gum, a three-course meal in a single piece of gum.
“Everybody has to work together in a company to create a product,” he said.
“Every day, I work with people in sales, marketing, manufacturing other R&D (research and development) people, other chemists, scientists and engineers. I also work with artists and lawyers. There are always a lot of disciplines working in a team to create something.”
Rhodes said collaboration is significant in product development.
“It’s not just about working individually, but the ability to work with a lot of different backgrounds and training,” he said. “All those disciplines have to come together to make a product and we’re introducing that concept — that it takes all kinds of people to make successful companies.” This collaborative effort also includes Willoughby-Eastlake’s School of Innovation.
On Dec. 18, sixth-graders from both Wickliffe Middle School and Willoughby-Eastlake’s School of Innovation will work together on a prototype, package and presentation.
“They will have to work with students from other schools, not just people who they are familiar with,” he said.
Also instead of peer-topeer marketing, they will have to market to four specific groups — NASA, military, moms or hikers, he said.
“I think it will be really cool to work with other students and see how we work together,” said Wickliffe sixth-grader Morgan Smith.
Her classmate, Eliza Wills, said she also looks forward to interacting with new students and working at a new school.
Sarah Dardis, who is the sixth-grade social studies and language arts teacher, said this project aligns well with the classroom lessons.
“Economics is a big part of our curriculum,” she said. “There are many benefits to project-based learning. It’s great the students learn to work together as a team, give each other feedback and present their ideas.”
“Everybody has to work together in a company to create a product.” — Kyle Rhodes, a chemist in the Avery Dennison research and development department