Personal growth should be something both students and teachers strive for throughout life, not just in the school setting. The lesson topics are decided by a set curriculum, but the teacher and the students can decide together the direction they want to go with the set topic. To me, letting a student determine what direction they want to take a project draws them into the curriculum personally. This will make their learning more individualized and more meaningful to them. Teaching does not necessarily mean a student is learning.
Students have to make true connections in order to truly learn.
A teacher cannot learn for the student, it is the responsibility of the students to learn. Allowing students to study what is interesting to them will enhance their desire to learn all they can and enjoy doing it. Everyone can learn. There are just different levels of learning some students can get to and others cannot. To me, if a student is challenging him or herself to expand their knowledge then they are truly working toward meaningful learning.