How often are you pleasantly surprised by student performance? How often are you “blown away” by student projects? In the quest to cover standards, we sometimes omit the opportunity to let students surprise us with what they can do. By offering truly open-ended projects, we give students the opportunity to practice self-directed learning, create products that excite and motivate them, and ultimately go far beyond our expectations. When students investigate and create products they find personally meaningful, it can bring...