Week of November 7-11 | Creation Phase & Responding to Professional Models

Research papers and revisions are still rolling back and forth between students and Language Arts teachers. This is a friendly reminder to look at Jupiter for communication about this evidence of learning.

This week, we look forward to seeing project plans, sketches, drafts, and prototypes come together. Please keep all evidence of your process. All the ideas and possibilities generated. All of the versions. Successes. Failures. All of it shows your thinking and will reveal to you (and others) how you make choices in your creative process.

The other days this week should be dedicated to moving project forward according to group norms and agreements. Please see last week's post for recommendations and reminders.

Tim and Molly will be following up on Exhibitions of Learning Vision Forms and Stuart would like Art Supply Requests.

Please check Skyward for Missing Assignments in IDEAS Block. Proposals are being graded by your Research Phase Advisors.  If you have questions about IDEAS Block grades, please contact your advisors for IDEAS Block, not Molly or Tim.

Before leaving for break at the end of the week, create a plan for what you need to read, sketch, make in the next week. Your project should be part of you, not part of school, meaning it should continue despite taking a break from school.

Attendance Sheet

MONDAY

• (Ritualized week Model) Professional Models
  A ritualized week will be modeled for new IDEAS Block Advisors starting with professional models on Monday.
  

TUESDAY

• (Ritualized week Model) Work-shopping and Extended Studio Time
  Workshop someone’s project as a project block
  Fill out studio time journals, breaking up studio time into halves.
  

WEDNESDAY - Sophomores at MSOE/MIAD.

• (Ritualized week Model) Extended Studio Time
  Fill out studio time journals, breaking up studio time into halves.

THURSDAY

• (Ritualized week Model) Work-shopping and Extended Studio Time
  Workshop someone’s project as a project block
  Fill out studio time journals, breaking up studio time into halves.
  

FRIDAY

• (Ritualized week Model) Feedback Friday
  Gain valuable feedback on your project from someone else in the room.
• Evidence Check #1 Occurs Today - IDEAS Block Advisors will look over your current evidence of creation and give you feedback based on where you are in your process.

Thursday, Sept 15th | Organizing & Questioning

Who are we as a community of thinkers, innovators?
What do I need to know about myself and my community, in order to develop a project?
How can I document and share my thinking through effective routines and organization?
Thank you all for engaging conversations about professional models yesterday.
Please remember to take Attendance.

So far this week, we have had the opportunity to brainstorm different topics and survey different art forms. It is valuable, at this point, to have more than one topic to take deeper into ideation. Please keep in mind that many considerations go into a successful proposal, and project advisors will only approve viable proposals.

Today we will set up an organizational system used to capture thinking as well as communicate thinking to project advisors. We will also generate questions and consult different advisors to test our topics.

DO NOW: (10:00-10:10)
As a group, walk through the process of creating and curating a Google Drive folder for the semester.

Google Drive >> New > Folder

• Name this folder : Firstname Lastname | Project Block | Fall 2016
• Example : Jacob Bartz | Project Block | Fall 2016
• Share this folder with your current project advisor.

Inside the folder, please place any documents already created and name them clearly with your name and a title for what the document is/says/does

• Example : Jacob Bartz | Ideation Lists | Fall 2016
• Example : Jacob Bartz | Ideation Mind Map | Fall 2016

DO NEXT: (10:10-10:30)
Use Question Starters to begin generating questions about a topic.

• Click on the link above.
• Rename the document: Firstname Lastname | Question Starts : Topic | Fall 2016
• Move the document into your new folder for Project Block.
• Use the document to generate questions - keeping in mind that we are still seeking possibilities, ways of framing the topic that will lead to a project. Driving questions will emerge after some initial research and conferences with advisors.
• Repeat this process for each topic you are considering (more than one)

Q&A: (10:30-11:00). Students should check the list of advisors on the Ideation Page. They should prepare specific questions for certain advisors, based on content area.  Communicate with a purpose.  In a professional email, students should contact at least two different advisors with specific questions.  Students need to understand that a reply will not be immediate, and that the conversation may continue over the next few days, either in person or through email.  Students considering Year Long Projects need to email Erin NOW about proposal expectations. Students working with collaborators need to email those partners right now.

Sharing: (11:00-11:15) Students share out their progress - What questions were answered? How did that stimulate your thinking? What questions remain unanswered? What are your next steps?


Tomorrow, we will set up structures for initial research and begin working toward driving questions. .

Week of May 16th - 19th | Rehearsals & Preparations

Exhibitions of Learning Rehearsal Week

• Schedule & Audience
  There are 5 minutes built in to the beginning of the schedule to check in with Project Block Advisors and for those presenting first to get set up. Please note that students are to choose one place to be an audience member for the whole day and should not be moving between rooms. Use a planning form to stay organized - a few hard copies are available in the office. Even if a room finishes early, please stay and use the time to plan, revise, practice your own EoLs. NOTE: On some days, project groups are assigned to be audience in a specific space. (Staff should see Molly's email for further clarification.)
• Room Facilitation
  There is a staff member or two responsible for each rehearsal space, who will help with time management and facilitating professional feedback. Students may take on these responsibilities as well. There are hard copies of Exhibition rubrics in the southeast corner of the office, if you would like to offer written feedback during rehearsals. Please ask each student presenting to show you their outline and enter a Habit of Work grade in Jupiter for completing their Rehearsal and their Outline. This is an indication to our professional community of how prepared people are for next week. 

Reminders [STUDENTS]

• Materials Request Form
  In order to make sure that every student has the materials they need at the right places and times, it is important to have it documented. Please contact Madison O'Brien if you have questions. This must be complete by Wednesday, May 18th.
• Sign Up to attend Paradigm Gallery Walks & Jake's Round Tables
  Keep in mind that if you are presenting at school on Wednesday, you are not able to be an audience member at the gallery walks. Along with this, if you are not signed up for the gallery walk, you will be expected to be an audience member at school at the same time. If you are not signed up for round tables at Jake's, you will be expected to be an audience member at the Arts Center. Audience sign up will be finalized by Wednesday, May 18th, and anyone not signed up at these locations will not be permitted to attend. 
• Volunteers Needed
  - Stage Manager  2 - 4 in the Theater on Tuesday, May 24th
  - Stage Manager 5 - 6 in the Matrix on Tuesday, May 24th
  - Stage Manager 6 - 8 in the Matrix on Tuesday, May 24th
  - Greeter 6 - 8 in the Matrix on Tuesday, May 24th
  - Curators for Monday night, Wednesday morning, and Wednesday night at Paradigm
• Gallery Installation
  You, your project, and your matted artist statement are cordially requires to meet Stuart at 8:00am at the Paradigm Annex on Monday, May 23rd. This is all students scheduled for a Gallery Walk Exhibition of Learning on Wednesday, May 25th.
• Énthologie Submissions
  Please contribute your great works to our school's literary magazine. This publication opportunity means that your voice, as it is in this time and space and form, will endure. Send your submissions to Autumn Willard 16willarda@etudegroup.org by Wednesday, May 25th.

Reminders [STAFF]

• Complete Exhibitions of Learning Supervision Details
  We are in need of staff commitments (or regrets) for the alternative EoL times and spaces. Please enter your information into the spreadsheet on Monday, May 16th, so that we can ensure communication and materials are going in the right direction. Thank you!
• Jupiter Reporting
  Please make sure that students have reporting on ALL their evidence for elements of project block dated up to this point. The only exception is those labeled LA, which Addie and Kimberly will update. Some students do not have grades for their revised proposals; at this point, Project Block Advisors know the most about projects and have the best access to progress.
• Lunch Meeting - Tuesday, May 17thMolly's got updates galore. Please meet us during IDEAS lunch on Tuesday in the Drama Room. If you need coverage, let's make that happen; it is important that we are all on the same page(s).

Week of December 21st - 23rd | Exhibition Planning

This week's primary focus is on preparing for Exhibitions of Learning by examining our own process and organizing ideas toward an engaging, thought-provoking experience for our audience. 

RESOURCES

• Exhibitions of Learning Components and Examples
  (A detailed outline due to be shared with Project Block Advisors on Tuesday, December 22nd. Project Block Advisors will provide feedback using Jupiter as well as notes or conferencing.)  
• Exhibition Rehearsals - January 6th - 9th
  (All students will participate in rehearsals by presenting and providing feedback. In the past, these experiences have been essential to revising Exhibition Outlines and dramatically improving the formal EoLs.)
• Exhibition Schedule - January 12th & 14th 
  (Please note that attending Exhibitions of Learning from 12:00-8:00pm is required. Students are responsible for requesting off of work and rescheduling other conflicts.)
• Exhibition Volunteer Responsibilities
  (Exhibitions are a collective responsibility and collective accomplishment, volunteers are needed and there is a place for all interests and skills. Contact Madison O'Brien to sign up.)

MONDAY >>

Groups should begin their time together with at Compass Points about Exhibitions of Learning. Students should draw from Friday's workshops and past experiences. Keep the conversation focused on planning ad presenting (not schedules, feedback forms, or other logistics) : E - Excitements, W - Worries,  N - Need to Know, S - Suggestions. Project Advisors are encouraged to bring these Compass Points to the meeting after school on Monday. Use studio time to create outlines. Remember that the components of an EoL do not need to appear in order. Ticket Out: What do you want your audience to think and feel when your Exhibition is over? (Document this as a point of reference for rehearsals. Notecards are a good medium - Tape them to the board until January 6th.) 

TUESDAY>>

The focus of today is the Audience Interaction component. Create a list of the best Thinking Routines for Exhibitions of Learning. Brainstorm the purposes for each. Share ideas for how to best incorporate them into an Exhibition of Learning, including how to set an audience up for successful engagement. 

(Example: A Hear. Think. Wonder. would be introduced before the music is played, giving the audience some direction for what you will be asking of them after they listen. Because time is important, you might choose to take 5 things people heard, 4 things people think, and 3 wonders. Are you going to capture these? How will you transition from the audiences ideas back to your own ideas and the rest of the EoL?)

It is important that Thinking Routines are not directed at getting feedback on the Exhibition of Learning, but are focused on the ideas and creation. We will reinforce this again at rehearsals.

All students should share a complete and detailed outline with their Project Block Advisor before leaving today.

WEDNESDAY

As a group, determine who might be most prepared to try out their Exhibition of Learning in front of the group. Spend the remaining time in smaller groups reading through outlines as practice. At this point, add stage directions and reminders about what to do and what resources you'll need. (i.e. How will you use the space? When is it most important to memorize so that you are fully engaged with the audience and not looking at notes? Do you need someone to help you with technology or materials?) Everyone should read through once. 

WINTER BREAK HOME LEARNING : Practice your Exhibition of Learning in front of a mirror and a human. That means at least to rehearsals before returning to school!

 

 

 

 

 

Week of November 9th - 13th | Creation Phase: EoL Visioning & Professional Models

What will 6 or 10 hours of creation look like for your project this week? Yes, 6 hours of your school week is reserved just for you to crawl into your project and grapple with the constraints and possibilities of creating whatever it is you have envisioned. Progress toward fulfilling that vision, so that your project communicates your thinking and understanding to others in the most memorable ways. If you can commit to the 6 hours we provide, you'll see how 4 more of your own will be valuable.

Part of this process is engaging in your disciplinary groups. Please enact previously designed ritualized weeks and, as the Creation Phase progresses, discuss, evaluate, and tweak routines. The Ritualized Weeks document should reflect changes. Please use the same document to support students with multi-disciplinary projects, who may need to participate in the professional models, feedback, or other aspects of another discipline.

Items to incorporate into Ritualized Weeks: 

MONDAY>>

IDEAS Exhibitions of Learning Vision Form This form is necessary for formalizing a plan for Exhibitions of Learning, both on the part of the individual creating the project as well as for creating the schedule of events. Please complete this form (ONE PER PROJECT) with attention to detail and professionalism. If you have already completed the form, but have questions or tweaks, please contact Madison O'Brien. Students who have underdeveloped projects at this point, will conference with Molly, Kimberly, or Madison to identify Exhibition constraints.

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY>>

We will have a regular hour of Project Block in the morning on Wednesday and go to JMKAC in the afternoon for Footlights :  AXIS Dance. We will prepare for this experience in Advisory and reflect together as a school, however students should also document connections, extensions, and challenges as the professional model relates to their projects on Thursday. A studio journal would be a good place for this to land. More information here.

FRIDAY>>

Evidence of Learning Jupiter Reporting This week, Project Advisors will look at evidence of Habits of Work, Self-Discipline, and Communication. Groups are encouraged to generate examples of evidence collaboratively at the beginning of the week. Next week, disciplinary rubrics will be introduced and an initial critique will also be entered into Jupiter as Evidence of Learning. 

Also: 

IDEAS Project Art Supplies Request Form
If you are in need of supplies for your project, please check with Stuart first. He may have what you are looking for. If he doesn't, then you are to complete the request form.

Young Chicago Authors will be back in Sheboygan on November 18th and 20th, with culminating performances starting at 7:00pm each night! 

Week of Sept 8th - 11th | "Community" & Creative Process

How can we improve our community?
Who are we as a community of thinkers, innovators?

This week we launch into mini-projects and the beautiful chaos of collaborative project-management and interpreting ideas in creative disciplines. These projects serve as a common experience in the creative process and continued exploration of the theme "community" as a way of provoking and informing divergent thinking. I have already heard students say "I know what my project is." This is great, however please encourage them to remain open to revisions, redirections, and transformations. Project proposals will be due next week...not now.

MINI PROJECT "Community" &  CREATIVE PROCESS

TUESDAY>>

Reconnect with the day-long project reflection as well as the ideas that emerged from ideation last week. We will establish expectations for quality research, then students can work independently or in teams to research different aspects of the group's focus or question. It will be essential to document resources and capture notes.

WEDNESDAY>>

Advisors will prepare model projects in the discipline that intersects with the group's ideation, so far. The group will then envision the details and intentions of their "final product," articulating a clear plan. There will then be studio time to collaboratively create, assuring that each person has a role. 

THURSDAY>>

A reflection on progress, groups will look at the quality of their work (so far) as a way to identify next steps and plan for the exhibition. Consideration will be given to how the research is communicated to the audience through the project and exhibition.

FRIDAY>>

Exhibitions of Learning will take place! 

PLACES & PEOPLE
(Attendance Spreadsheet)

Engineering/Design/Math (Tim & Erin)

Music (Drew)

Visual Art (Stuart)

Drama (Mike)

Dance (Molly)

Creative Writing (Kimberly)
Science/Social Science (Timi & Dan)

Beckah & Addie are floating!!

Becky & Erica may make guest appearances!!!

 

Week of Sept 1st - 4th | "Community" & Creative Process

Welcome to IDEAS Project Block! We are excited to begin the school year with several creative explorations that will encourage new and divergent thinking about the world...these will provoke and inform the directions of our project proposals. Allow all of these experiences to transform current thinking! 


MICRO PROJECT "Community" & CREATIVE PROCESS

How can we improve our community?

Who are we as a community of thinkers, innovators?

TUESDAY>>

While we do not formally meet as IDEAS Project Block today (and we will meet with advisors this week), we will be growing as a community at IDEAS Academy. The time reflecting on these experiences will inform the upcoming projects.

[NOTE: Advisors please check medical information of advisees today. We will be leaving the building on Wednesday and Thursday.] 

WEDNESDAY >>

Today is all about exploring our local community, practicing Thinking Routines with the Language of Thinking, and dialoguing about the broader concept of "community" for interpretive projects-in-a-day on Thursday.  Each advisory group will be adventuring to part of Sheboygan to look closely, make their thinking visible, and learn more about one another. By the end of the day, each group will have a list of possible driving questions.

THURSDAY>>

We will devote the entire day to exploring our relevant, driving questions about "Community" through the phases of the creative process, the same process we will use throughout this semester in IDEAS Project Block. We will end the day at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

FRIDAY>>

We will engage in some creative play to further explore the theme of "community" but also as a way of arranging ourselves into groups by art forms for next week's mini-project. In our new groups, we will discuss the spaces and norms necessary for week-long project success. 

Week of May 29th - June 5th | Project Reflection

Congratulations IDEAS community! This spring's Exhibitions of Learning have featured some of the most thought-provoking, innovative projects that we have seen. There are few places on earth where young people get to shape their learning and making in the ways you do, and we are encouraged by your deep thinking about your work and your personal growth. Thank you for telling those stories through your exhibitions. We know that this is challenging, and we want you to be able to take those challenges and successes with you as you move on to new projects and new thinking. For this reason, we will spend the next week focused on reflection. 

COMMUNITY REFLECTION
On Friday, May 29th we will return to our disciplinary project groups and reflect on the Exhibitions of Learning experience as a whole.

Gathering: Please begin with the following prompts and plenty of think time prior to sharing.

• THINK > Describe a project exhibition that you think embodies what IDEAS Block is all about. Explain your choice.
• PUZZLE > Describe a project exhibition that raised important academic, creative, or other questions for you personally. Explain your choice.
• EXPLORE > Describe a project exhibition that makes you want to explore something new about an idea, an art form, or something else. Explain your choice. 

Compass Points: Please capture and share this with Molly and Kim when your group is finished.

• EXCITED > What excited or energized you throughout Exhibitions of Learning? What do you appreciate about the process?
• NEW > What was new about this semester's Exhibitions of Learning? How did these new things affect Exhibitions of Learning as a whole?
• WORRIES > What worried or concerned you about planning, preparation, execution of Exhibitions of Learning this semester? 
• SUGGESTIONS > What suggestions do you have for next semester/year's Exhibitions of Learning?

PERSONAL REFLECTION
Each individual student will engage in a formal reflection about their own project and habits this semester. This process has three distinct parts:

• Review the feedback sheets completed by your peers and the rubrics completed by staff members. In doing this, use three colors to highlight what you see: Use one color to highlight areas that you CONNECT with or agree with. Use another color to highlight areas that EXTEND your thinking about your project or yourself. Use a third color to high light areas that CHALLENGE your thinking about your project.  Write your own notes on these feedback forms, so that you can keep track of your thinking. (NOTE: While not required, it is recommended that you do this prior to the other steps.)
• Write the formal reflection essay for this semester. Please take time to review the assignment on the language arts website, organize your thinking, be honest with yourself, and write the essay. Outline. (NOTE: This is due June 5th.)
• Conference with your advisor to review the details and annotations on your rubrics, to discuss opportunities for and experiences of growth, to expose and distill all that you accomplished through your project and exhibition. 

DON'T FORGET!
Support your creative colleagues.

• Friday, May 29th - 4:00pm & 6:00pm - Theater Production Club and "Last Sunday" Exhibition at Paradigm Annex. Tickets are $2.00
• Friday, June 5th - 4:00pm - Film exhibitions in the Drama Room at IDEAS Academy

Week of April 27th - May 1st | Professional Model and Exhibition Prep

The focus for this week is to begin shaping exhibitions through reflection on a professional model and creating an outline. On Wednesday morning, Colleen Machut's theater troupe will be performing and exhibiting their work in the cafeteria from 8:00 - 9:30am. In preparation for this, disciplinary groups should incorporate the following documents into Do Nows on Monday and Tuesday:

• Core Principals : What would the core principals of your project be?
• Program : Connect. Extend. Envision. Based on the program, what can we anticipate for the model Exhibition we will see on Wednesday?

It is time to start thinking about how to exhibit projects. We will host mini-workshops for outlining, presenting, and more. Please start preparation by reviewing the Exhibitions Language Arts page.


Please review last week's post for details regarding Evidence Check and Exhibitions Planning. 

Evidence Check: 

You can report progress in Jupiter using the most recent "assignments" entered for Feedback, Habits, and Art Form. Please use the comment portion of Jupiter to clarify progress for students, parents, and advisors.

Exhibitions:

Molly has send an email referencing students who have not completed the Exhibition Form. Please check the email for names, conference with these students, and complete the form. 

Peter is organizing panels and roundtables using this spreadsheet. Please review and reach out to experts you know might be interested in supporting these projects.