I dorked out and have spent the better part of the last two days (much to my boss's annoyance) constructing an overarching power point for our presentation to the Education Center Staff. This power point (less some formatting that does not carry over well) is currently in our google docs folder if you would like to look over the content.
- Next class, Wednesday 12/1, I will want to walk you all through this presentation, confirm some assumptions and and fill in some gaps.
- Depending on when the actual presentation is scheduled, I may or may not be able to attend so I want to make sure someone else feels comfortable talking through this 10 slide power point.
Presenting December 8th?
Julianne will check with Matt & Annie, email them tomorrow.
Presenting to the department during the day:
Michelle will check with Hillary.
Second or third week in DecemberDays that work for us: Thursday, the 9th.
What will our presentation look like?
Series of recommendations, methodology, a document.
Essentially the same product, packaged differently for different audience.
TEEN LAB
Follow up on files Alex will crafting recommendation file
What is the purpose of the documentation for the students?
For the teens:
Gather everyone's projects together and offer a disk
Would like to present on the 8th
STAFF
Recommendations document
One project in-depth
Photo narrative: powerpoint: Catherine (one group-- hopefully some quotes, write about content)
Video interviews
Interview questions?
- What was your favorite aspect of the animation project?
- What's something you've learned in teen lab that you've taken home?
We will finish interview questions via email. Take a look at google docs Post 2 questions for kids Post 1 question for instructor on cyberped group discussion by Friday
So I asked Matt and Annie if there was any documentation of the teens past projects, and they directed me to the Ning. I "inventoried" what I could find on the ning, and this is pretty much it (and most of this is from Annie's ning blog):
4 photos, the only other photo documents are from Catherine
one worksheet
a post reviewing Jitish Kallat's work in the AIC
Make-Up assignment possibilities
Matt has posted a flash animation of the students called "Teen Lab Studio Ballet" from the day the students learned to create stop animations. It could be useful. So conclusion: there isn't any early documentation of the work students were doing before we entered the classroom. Also, there is no online "database" for their worksheets and assignments, other than what is already on the Ning.
As for the students blogs (which hopefully are being updated TODAY because most students have finally started shooting photos for their projects) some of the students have posted nothing, but here is the average information I could find:
a make-up assignment from last week
one update on the group project
questions they had to formulate for the Skype with Jitish Kallat
I will email Hillary about the Skype, and hopefully she will send that our way!!
Also, I believe I have chosen a group for us to focus on. This group is telling the story of a penguin who lives in a black and white world that is sad and boring. The penguin stumbles into the color world and is much happier, excited and really enjoys the world of color. But it must return to its home, and back in the black and white world the penguin starts to spread the idea of color. Suddenly everything starts changing and in the end the penguins dreary world turns colorful. Kind of like that movie, Pleasantville.
It's pretty straightforward. These students (Sophie, Alisha and Khiry) are very far along in their process, though like the other groups have not uploaded their work to the Ning yet. However, they have planned out their process, their background has been done for a few weeks now, they have a very clean layout and look to their whole piece. This was the group I was thinking about when it was brought up that we should focus on one group last class, and when I asked Matt and Annie what groups were moving along well, they immediately mentioned this group. But we can talk about this more in class Wednesday.
Here's a message form Hillary regarding those files not working when forwarded from Catherine from Lauren:
Hi Michelle,
I have attached here an example of a reflection/evaluation form we give the teens at the end of the semester (this one is from spring 2010). I also attached a blank pre-survey (given to the teens on the first day of this semester) and an excel spreadsheet with all the responses from these pre-surveys. Let me know if you still have problems with any of the files, or if you need anything else. I don't have everyone's email addresses, so can you share with the class? Not everyone has all of these documents.
Thanks!
Hillary
I uploaded all those attachments to Google docs and shared them with everyone. Lemme know if you didn't get an invite or access.
How do I get to the google docs folder? Hillary sent me some survey results in an excel document and I'm not sure how to drop those into the folder. THANKS
The lecture went ok, I feel like they were into it more than they wanted to let on. I felt the majority of them were at least intriqued by the exhibit. I was surprised nobody had questions for the curator about her position or how she got there. I was impressed that the kids linked the exhibit to pop culture and asked about the artist's opinion on Lady Gaga and Twilight. I believe the highlight of the day was when a female student pointed at a zombie head and said "I like that one because he looks like jacob from twilight". Very few questions were asked in the exhibit, but after they were in the class and Annie and Matt started facilitating discussion there was a discussion on why or why not Richard Hawkings created art. I Thought that was very interesting. It did not turn into a debate or a conversation with real depth because again the teens had shorten attention spans (to be expected after listening to a gallery lecture) but they at least started the idea of what makes art, art? very meta for anyone. Then the groups started working, and it looked like they all started shooting, which is good because Matt said that they all had to be shooting by Monday or they would be behind.
group 1- their animation is going to be based off of the ying and the yang focusing on Emmanuellla's avatar choice of coy fish.
group 2- has this neat concept on passing on anger with the color blue, so as each figure gets upset they become blue after being in contact with another blue character.
group 3- Lauren do you have notes for this group I have a ? for their presentation...
group 4- They are hoping to do something like a sequal to Pandora's box using their avatars. I know Annie was a bit worried about their transitions, but it looked like they were on a fun track.
group 5- Isaac was going to be like a diety (based off his avatar) and the opening scene was going to be him drawing out the story line as it transistions into the story. There was a few things up in the air because Hammel could no longer use Death of a Poet.
group 6- They wanted to do a 3D animation using two penguins
group 7- using their avatar they had a series of small stories planned. I know Matt was worried about commonality and finding some unity, but they appeared to be on the right track.
group 8- I did not quite understand their story line but they were going to use twin avatars and buhda somehow...
group 9- This group has quite the cast of characters... they are going to somehoe illustrate the story of a couple that has hit bad times and ends up gambling and hitting the jackpot. They want flashbacks of the hard times dispursed between the storyline. The whole backstory they originally wanted is just to long for the animation though. So their next step is cutting it down to flashback sizes of information.
-Experience what it is like to be a commissioned artist
-Work collectively in a group
-Create a final project for a portfolio
-Learn different types and styles to create animation
-Learn about art career opportunities and education
-Reflect on their artwork with each other
-Communicate with practicing artists
How Teen is a Commissioned Artist:
1.Teens are responsible to show up to Teen Lab and on time in order to get paid for the full time. Make-up work is provided outside of the classroom (paid)
2.Planning project in groups. Each teen has a role within their group (teamwork)
3.Planning timeframe objectives according to project’s due date. Calendars assist teens to mark their own group progress (deadline)
4.A journal/sketchbook enables teens to keep notes and sketches in order to reflect on the process (reflection)
5.Teens constructively critique each others’ artwork (critique)
6.At the end of the project, students will present their final product (presentation)
Format of Teen Lab Classes
Part 1
Warm-up (4-4:15 pm):
Teen Lab starts with a fifteen-minute warm-up for teens to journal in their sketchbooks. For example, teens have reflected upon their progress in the current project. Also, teens have sketched their ideas as to what their avatar would look like. Questions of art in general are also emphasized as a journaling topic. The journaling is a good method for the teens to brainstorm their ideas into one consistent place.
Part 2
Activities (4:15-6:30 pm):
Depending on the journaling warm up, Matt and Annie the Teen Lab instructors, review the teens’ responses from the journaling. Otherwise Matt and Annie will begin open discussion on the day’s agenda. They will explain to the teens the objectives of the project and examples. A break occurs usually half way through their planned activities. Examples that occur during the activities are:
-Field Trips
-Museum/gallery talks from museum staff
-Talks with artists
-Presentations from Matt and Annie
-Student presentations
-Group work
Part 3
Clean up and Wrap Up (6:30-7:00 pm):
Teens are responsible for cleaning the studio space at the end of the class. There are three teens that are leaders in the cleaning process. This changes every class. After that, Matt and Annie lead the teens in an open discussion on what they accomplished for the day. Also, Matt and Annie offer any constructive comments towards improvement in case there is a common issue amongst all groups. Lastly, Matt and Annie review what the next class’s objectives and goals will be for the groups to accomplish.
Interview/Selection Process
Teens apply through After School Matters. After School Matters recruits through different schools, state wide government agencies and their teachers. After they apply the teens go through the interview process in order to be selected for the program. During the interview students bring their portfolio, if they have one.
Sample questions the teens are asked by the Teen Lab instructors, Matt and Annie:
1.How do you work in a group?
2.How well do you take direction?
3.Do you have a skill in a certain art area? And are you willing to teach others in this skill area?
Logistics are also factored into the selection process. (Whether or not they can get to the museum)
So sorry If this is not where I am supposed to post the happenings of Teen lab on Thursdays... I have not been exactly on my A game lately. So Last Thursday was actually really interesting. The small groups presented their ideas for their animations. Based off of the presentations they decided to change up some of the groups a wee bit. Like a fool I left my lab notes at home, so hopefully tomorrow I will post the pictures I took and a quick summery or each groups idea. The main thing Lauren and I learned from the teens on Thursday is that they really do not care for the Ning, much like us they only use it if they have too, and many do not use it all. We had about 5 or 6 say they would like a facebook page, a place to socialize where they already are online... and I think it allows them to show their friends what they are doing as well. So what would you guys think about starting a facebook group for them? I wouldn't mind creating it, but obviously if we think its a decent idea we will have to ask Matt and Annie about it. So yeah. Like I said hopefully tomorrow or tonight I will post the group ideas and some pictures, and if all goes right I will have the pictures on their ning too.
My friend pointed this out to me and I thought it was dead on. The same can be said for a high school art teacher, although maybe a tad different in ways.
