We’ve all been there. Stuck in a classroom with a teacher lecturing on and on with slides and projections that don’t really grab the attention of a student with a wandering mind.

Although there are various forms of learning, and individuals process information in many different ways, the move toward hands-on, project-based learning in schools is beneficial to a group of students whose learning style may have been ignored in the past.

Providing students with opportunities to bring ideas to life while learning about a topic gets students to think of how they can use the information they’re learning and turn it into a tangible finished product. Working in groups adds to this opportunity of gaining real-world experience, as with many careers, one will be exposed to and have to work with people of all different skill sets to create a finished product.

A recent example of this is the students in Ben Gnacik’s anatomy, physiology and epidemiology course at Fayetteville-Manlius High School who are getting a chance delve into the real world through creating a public relations campaign to dispel misinformation about vaccines and to promote correct information and encourage the use of vaccines for the health of the community.

The class has gotten guidance from several guest instructors, including a local pediatrician, a technology specialist and a communications design expert. Bringing in these professionals allows the students an opportunity to see how this information they’re learning can be developed on a professional level. The class hopes to present their finished products to local doctor’s offices and healthcare organizations to see if their projects made in class can be used for the greater good.

Keeping kids interested and creative during these years can be tough, but curriculum can be achieved to cater to a wide array of learning styles. It is important that our local educators continue to keep this in mind when preparing students to walk out their doors and into the real world.