text: One of the major gripes students have begun to have with school is undoubtedly the lack a independence as it applies to their learning experience. While student driven projects are clearly more enjoyable than their teacher-designed counterparts, they also introduce a higher order of thinking to one's summer education. It forces children not only to display their knowledge of course material, but to apply said knowledge in a creative setting that requires a "bigger picture" understanding of the given topic. It goes without saying that students will take greater pride in their own work. They'll want to show up on the first day of school with a project that they feel proud to present to their peers.