Learning Philosophy
Project Dragonfly is devoted to creating communities of inquiry among teachers, children, and other visionaries.
A Voice for Teachers. Without the personal commitment of teachers, there can be no meaningful educational reform. Project Dragonfly approaches professional development as a long-term process of transformation that takes place in small learning communities through inquiry, communication, and reflection.
A Voice for Children. Project Dragonfly celebrates the voice of children. We provide a space for children to share investigations and discoveries through different national media--print, web, and television. We believe that great things happen when children are allowed more self-determination, more authentic roles in their classrooms, in their communities, and in the environment.
A Voice for Experienced Researchers. Dragonfly allows classrooms to hear directly from the leading researchers of our time, such as Jane Goodall or John Glenn. By hearing directly from people like these, children experience science and investigation as an imaginative process, and they learn that investigators of all ages share a curiosity about the mysteries of life.
An Integrated Approach. Our focus on questions leads to a philosophy of integration, because questions naturally transcend the boundaries of disciplines. By presenting science, art, math and language as different forms of expression, Dragonfly supports different learning styles and welcomes the experiences and emotions of children for a more complete understanding of the world and of ourselves.
Reaching All Students. Dragonfly seeks to include all children by focusing on their questions, fostering self esteem, exploring authentic issues, encouraging cooperation, and promoting learning both at home and at school. Dragonfly was selected by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s largest organization serving disadvantaged youth, to help bring science and investigation to at-risk children across the country.