Maker Bootcamp: Takeaways for Student Orientation

So I don't feel ready yet to reflect on my work today as it still feels a bit scattered and incomplete. I do however want to latch on and spend a few minutes expressing my excitement of two, small maker projects that I definitely want to make happen during the first three days of school and student orientation.

I think both ideas fit our "Community" theme very nicely and they're a small, sweet introduction to the maker movement. They both encourage creativity but also help students make connections with each other, reconnect as a school community, and even make some connections with facilitators and those outside our building.

RULES BASED ART PROJECT

I think this one is so cool and really simple to setup ahead of time. It is also something that could

potentially remain on display for a good portion of the school year. The rules are fairly simple. Pick a shape from the sheet of pre-cut vinyl shapes and connect it to an existing line. That's it. You can take the line any direction you'd like. The line can cross over itself, backtrack, go up or down, as long as you're connecting your piece with a piece someone previously connected. I think there is some great debriefing that could go on with this activity and it could be done in individual advisory houses OR as an entire school. Right now I think I'm leaning towards doing this one as an entire school with a brief reflection in advisory houses if that fits into the orientation schedule during lunch.

This project seems to stem from a style of art called "Generative Art" or "Rules-Based Art". I really think there is something to be said about the idea of choosing a piece that speaks to you, allowing some individuality and choice in color and shape, while also giving you the parameters of connecting and collaborating with others in the community in order to make something interesting, beautiful and ever changing. Can't wait to see how ours turns out at orientation. Here are a few more photos of the process of creating the one from our Pathfinders MEC Bootcamp group.

MAKING CONNECTIONS "NEURON MAP" 

So this one came up in the Advanced Assessment Session elective today. Again, I think it is a perfect fit for the "Community" theme of orientation, but this one is also something that we could keep building on throughout the school year, especially if we set it up right from the beginning. I really want to talk this one out with some other facilitators to try to figure out how we can do it on something more permanent like wood, nails, and yarn rather than something temporary like poster paper, stickers, and markers. I think either material would work, but I really like the idea of it being able to withstand the test of time throughout the year and serve as a continuous art piece that is visible to students, visitors, and community members. 

So the way I'm thinking it could work is this: 

1. In advisory houses, students are given something with their name pre-printed on it (I'm thinking labels). Each advisory house has a piece of wood, maybe 18" x 18". They find a place for their name and stick it on the board (and maybe a little decor with markers or something to personalize it). 
2. Students then pound a small picture hanging nail into a spot on top of their label. Anywhere is fine as long as it is clear that it's associated with their name
3. Then they take a colored piece of string and make a connection with someone else in the class (friendship, advisory house members, siblings, coworkers, etc.) 
4. Next, in advisory house they're encouraged to make ONE new connection or make a connection with someone who is a "twice removed" connection or a "friend of a friend". Then they add a string.
5. Once we're finished in advisory houses, I'd love to have them hung up somewhere (hallway, commons, etc) so that students can then go out and make a connection with someone outside of their advisory house
6. I would also love to give all of our community members coming in for orientation as well as our community service sites a sticker and nail on other boards. As students connect with community members though sessions and service, they can add a string. 

I really love the idea of students not only recognizing the connections they have in our building, but also recognizing the importance of making new connections and connecting with community members and organizations. I think it is also a great way for us to welcome community members who come in to work with our students and recognize that they are now intertwined as a permanent part of our community.