There has been a range of conversations this week, spanning the spectrum of our Habits of Learning from a fixed position about what does make a project (because that's what we've always done) to the fluid thinking of what could make a project (because it's never been done before). Please remember that a project "topic" (like painting the life cycles of sturgeon) needs your personal attention and affection. So what? (Why paint life cycles if you can already google them? Who cares about sturgeon anyway?) You must defend your purpose. Keep the wheels spinning for the next 24 hours...and more.
Today's focus is questions. Questions lead to discovery as well as clarity. We would like all proposals to include open and closed questions.
Please take attendance on the spreadsheet. Staff, please consider taking notes on this spreadsheet about students' project ideas and possible project advisors. (See my sheet as an example.) The more information we have about each project, the better we will be able to assemble groups.
The following agenda is to be used at staff discretion. It is important that students follow up on their work from earlier this week, sharing out progress or getting feedback/extensions, but it is also important to make time for developing questions. If you haven't already shared out initial project ideas as a group, start with a gathering. If students need more time to organize and ideate, start with studio time. Please make sure that the group gets what they need.
The plan is to write proposals from beginning to end during IDEAS Project Block time tomorrow, Thursday, September 22.
DO: Questions [Time: You decide]
Purpose: Create and capture questions to guide and clarify thinking about a project.
- All students should create a document in their Google Folders called Firstname Lastname | Questions | Fall 2016 and create a table with two columns. Label one "Open Questions" and the other "Closed Questions."
- Review the questions page on the Humanities Website.
- Try to create 20 open and 20 closed questions for your project idea.
- Begin by describing your current project idea above the table in your doc.
- Start listing questions, as many as you can.
- Ask for input using a pair share, move chairs, or conferences.
- Read questions and make sure they are in the right category of "open" or "closed"
- Highlight or bold the 5 most significant questions in each category
DO THIS, TOO: Ideation, Studio Time, & Proposals [Time: You decide]
Purpose: Get real with yourself. Commit to a project idea. Prepare to write a proposal.
- Set studio time goals. What will you do? Why? What evidence will you have?
- Share them with peer or advisor.
- Use studio time
- Reflect on studio time...what will you commit to doing/thinking/deciding between now and 10am tomorrow (Capture these intentions in a public/shared place.)
Please remember that GWT is a good opportunity to continue to develop these ideas. Students are also encouraged to discuss project ideas with their Humanities teachers, who will be helping with the writing of proposals and revisions.
