Inclusive Art & Writing atPanama-Buena Vista SD
The Challenge
In the Panama-Buena Vista School District (PBVSD), a paramount challenge emerged – the need for a program that could cultivate an inclusive learning environment where every student thrived. Additionally, PBSD sought a solution to nurture students' creative talents, particularly in the realms of art and writing.
The Solution
QUEST addressed these challenges, aligning perfectly with PBVSD's vision for their summer programming. QUEST’s Play, Connect, Create opened opportunities for all students, allowing them to collaborate, communicate, and learn together effectively. Through its immersive gameplay and development of social-emotional skills, QUEST fostered future-ready skills transferable across the school year.
With the addition of QUEST Creators, students found ample space to nurture their creative abilities in visual arts and writing. Students were empowered to express themselves through storytelling and artistic endeavors, fueling their imaginative thinking.
QUEST at PBVSD succeeded in creating an inclusive and vibrant learning environment where students not only excelled academically but also blossomed creatively. It exemplified the power of an educational program that embraces the whole child, fostering skills and talents beyond the conventional classroom setting.
The Results
of all students reported feeling pride in the artwork and writing they collaborated to produce while implementing Creators.
of students found value in the ideas and skills of all team members
of students felt their team kept trying, even when working through difficult challenges
of facilitators saw an increase in students developing friendships
of facilitators saw an increase in Collaboration and Critical Thinking skills
of students said they developed skills in cooperation & compromise while playing QUEST
Quotes
“QUEST is kind of like an adventure game...you have to think your every move, just link in real life!”
Paramdeep
4th Grade Student
“I think play is important in education because it reaches a lot of students in different ways... There's interaction, there's teamwork, collaboration, creativity...”
Jennifer Teagarden
3rd Grade Teacher
“QUEST is so fun. My team is amazing! When we all work together, the more stuff we earn.”
Cory
1st Grade Student
“QUEST really enables us to diversify what we're doing for any student in any class at any level...It really is bringing children together from all walks of life.”
Dionne Wood
Instructional Services Coordinator
“It's fun to watch everybody help. It doesn't matter if we lose it just matters that we all get to help and we all get to have fun.”
Landon
3rd Grade Student
“What surprised me as I watched students problem-solve was just seeing them be kind and gentle with their classmates, and really just hear their other classmates’ opinions on how they should really solve the problem…”
QUEST Facilitator
“It’s very fun to do with people, and it teaches you how to cooperate.”
Student
“The amount of collaboration and communication going on in the group is something we don’t always see in the classroom.”
Administrator
“I think QUEST does a good job of supporting English learners because of the collaborative element, and then the visual element within the curriculum itself and the videos provide those visual supports that students need.”
Administrator
“I really like working as a group because we get to work together to solve these problems, and everyone has these different skills they can use.”
Student
“A lot of their confidence has improved during gameplay. Those that came in thinking they couldn’t do it have gotten a lot more confident in what they’re capable of.”
QUEST Facilitator
“QUEST does a good job of including all students. The teacher supports, the visual aspects, the collaboration…it just provides a friendly and safe environment.”
Administrator
“There was more helping each other than regular school and there was lots of challenging stuff but we did not give up.”
Student
“I enjoyed watching the teams work out the challenges and cheer each other on. I liked that they didn’t give up and continued even when it was hard.”
QUEST Facilitator