Learning+Lab+Memories+August+2012

The Flip is Mightier than the Sword Rand Whipple, Teaching Artist Diana Hotchkiss, 6th Grade Teacher

After demonstrating the use of video in the classroom to help students understand point of view, Rand Whipple and Diana Hotchkiss helped the educators and artists in the room to create their own video snippets illustrating a point of view from the novel //Bud Not Buddy//.

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 * PARTICIPANT INSIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS from the Learning Lab**

I am somewhat surprised to learn that PSSA tests will be used to determine the success of the artist residency.
 * Insights: Sharing the Impact**
 * Sunday evening August 12, 2012**

Stream of change…infuse change and positive energy into daily opportunities to exchange ideas and creativity into the lives of all colleagues and students.

It matters because…it makes a difference in the life of a child! Making a difference cand and will change our future! There’s a roomful of people working to make arts in education happen. It means we are not along. It matters because together we are brilliant!

What new insight is available to me: 1) received wonderful ideas for how art actually gets infused in a classroom and how students/teachers/parents are affected! 2) That I can begin to develop a successful program for students to improve learning. 3) Students who will become successful in the community.

It matters that the parents stay involved in the education of their community by getting involved.

What are the learning outcomes rather than test scores.

It takes a village. This is why it is so crucial to convince those “nay-sayers”. How? With success and positive outcomes.

Insight: it takes a village after all means teachers can’t do it all alone. What matters is there is a way!

I discovered how much I love my children. It is important because it inspires me to be creative! That matters because I desire nothing but to create a beautiful world for my children and all children in the world!

Creating community dissolves differences, we need to strive to create strong communities. It matters, it is vital to our health and our survival.

I learned the importance of being a leader who enables faculty to have the “permission” to integrate arts.

The importance of the role of the parents in education. We can’t loose sight of this.

I’m glad we have efficient and valid research to justify the validity of arts infused curriculum: that’s what the public (and school boards) want.

You are preaching to the choir? How do you communicate this to non-believers?


 * Reflections – Morning 8-14-12**
 * Envisioning the Possibilities**

This again has been a great experience and I say “I don’t want to stop now I’m just getting warmed up” –everyone has just started to let go of inhibitions.

Cory’s way of teaching us about assessing through the clapping improv was brilliant.

Many different assessments depending on what you are assessing; taking time to reflect on an activity; taking time to set up the activity; to be more meaningful during the activity.

Strengthened connections and new ones found

Artistic expression is key when discussing communication and community and vice versa

Today’s experience is like the light and fluffy whipped cream on top of our strawberry shortcake at lunch

The first steps for change is acceptance.

I enjoyed watching adults embrace the movement exercise with being inhibited.

A beautiful result can emerge from quietness. Sometimes we talk too much. We can trust our selves individually and as a group. I’m envisioning the possibility of presenting a demo-session of story-dancing in a classroom – collaborating with the teacher.

I will remember when I plan lessons to give students time to reflect and see the big picture, rather than cramming the whole time full of planned activity and clean up. Not to avail unfilled moments that students can share in.

It matters because knowing that a different technique is ok because it starts everyone at square ‘O’ and there is no wrong way.

I like the sense of cooperation in the group activities, and how it relates to learning. Also, the new light shone on the importance of documentation.

What did I discover? The power of partnerships! This is an amazing team of artists, teachers and professionals. Thank you for joining us and __building the conversation.__

I learned that art allows students as well as adults to tell their own stories without fear. My next step is to encourage my students to tell stories their own way by providing them with appropriate time and tools.

The smallest movements can be utilized as teaching tools. My next step is to take these tools, the knowledge, and utilize my art form to create a new way of learning.

Assessment takes many forms and should drive the intention of each lesson. It means taking time to start with a big picture and refine with what is dynamically happening. Brings clarity and success to all.

A very informative group discussion on the importance of assessment made me better understand its importance. I had my ideas and definitions of documentation expanded—love it! Now I can be more aware of all the possibilities.

An educational idea is not complete until it is reflected upon.

Insight: Freedom of expression within a group connection and communicating, documenting, sharing, making expectations clear. Freedom within boundaries. Action: become involved in helping it happen. It matters because we need more connections and freedom, positive, creative communities

What is growth? Assumptions are necessary to get started, but not necessarily needed to fulfill the task. The task may be much improved if the assumption is eventually dropped and exchanged for something new.

My AHAH was seeing that a story could be interpreted differently by different groups and still totally accurate.

The importance of the role of reflection thru the eyes of the child as well as the artist and teacher.

Cannot wait to apply all the new insights from the LAB in my next residency! I feel like I am a new teaching artist.