Learn about a cause and help make change:
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Students made things to demonstrate their learning and then they reflected on the experience. Their effort to design a project and do the work took initiative and follow through.
Other projects showing a diversity of interests and skills:
Congratulations to participants for completing their projects! Creative arts and writing:
Student blogs
Students have been sharing their summer projects. They are still coming in... Learning and sharing online
Websites with ideas and tools for students
Summer programming for younger kidsThere were two separate summer mentoring programs for younger students, where our students recruited many mentors, participants, and managed online curriculum and programming. Another project for younger students was focused on crafting and managed and run by one student alone - "Crafting with Kait". These programs took place over many weeks and helped so many children connect with each other and caring older students while learning. One program, Project Inspire, which focused on storytelling is continuing through the fall with tutoring and is recruiting young participants.
Students are sharing summer projects! Check these out:
While the deadline has passed to sign up, new students can certainly do their own passion projects and submit them for sharing.
So far we have students writing and sharing songs, blogs, websites, stories and a novel, poems, code, interviewing alumni, teaching classes and mentoring projects for younger students, doing a Ted Talk, making and editing videos, making masks, and starting a baking business. They will be learning and teaching about the Chinese Exclusion Act, food science, fogponics, how to code, gentrification, current politics, the crisis in Yemen, comparing Covid in different countries, discrimination in health care, climate change, how to reduce plastic in businesses, sharing college advice, staying organized with schoolwork, how not to raise a serial killer, photography, how to make miso and more. I am impressed with the initiative these students are taking! It is not too late to delve into an independent learning project. Projects due by Aug 25th to [email protected]. With the lack of summer jobs, internships, and other opportunities in 2020, students are looking for ways to learn and expand their experiences while at home. An independent passion project (aka 20% time project) is a great way to take advantage of this time to delve into personal interests and it also shows student initiative. Projects that involve research and learning can be shared with teachers who write recommendation letters, be incorporated into college essays, and included on applications.
The Summer Passion Project involves a student (or a group of students) developing their own project and learning about something they are passionate about, but also sharing the learning in a way that could be useful or potentially useful. Product Something that is key about a passion project is making a product and connecting with a real audience and purpose. Think about what you love doing or want to challenge yourself to do (such as public speaking). Here are some examples of projects:
Learning What do you wonder about? If you were looking for a class to take, what would it be? Be creative - it could be anything from microbes to motorcycles. Notice if there are themes to the books you want to read or podcasts you want to hear. What is something you would like to improve (eg. Equity, climate, health)? What bothers you? Who do you want to help (eg. children, seniors, English Language Learners, protesters, other Tech students)? Try a brainstorm starting with “what if…” Here are some examples of what students have done just to get an idea of the range of possible projects. Note that some would need more learning to be a Passion Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGkm5XDDagI or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xupHuEk8p7g Summer Passion Project = (Product x Learning) + sharing + reflection
Projects that demonstrate research and learning will receive a certificate of completion. Special recognition will go to projects that fit in special categories such as: arts, service, STEM learning, creativity, writing, fun, and depth of study. ***Please sign up here with your intent to join the BTHS Library Summer Passion Project Program. https://forms.gle/Bp1rFoiMNRBh92QG7 Program dates:
Questions to [email protected]. Step 1: How to choose a project that is inspiring to you: Brainstorm: combine two: What would you like to create? What would you like to learn? Who do you want to help? Consider service causes: DoSomething.org has a long list of ideas. Notice what bothers you and what inspires you. These might be areas for creative solutions or supports Make a bracket to narrow down your brainstorm: https://www.printyourbrackets.com/fillable-brackets/16-team-single-fillable.pdf Step 3. How to make the project substantial. Don’t make it too basic. How do you get the learning in so that this isn’t like a 7th grade project or takes a short amount of time? Asking for input is a great way to make your project more useful to you and others. Also, try to plan on using resources that will help you become more deeply involved, for example:
Step 3. How to make the project manageable. Don’t over-do it. Clearly state what you would like to do (I want to learn….., I want to make….I want to do…). Also, be reasonable – Aim for a summer long project. Make sure it’s something that can be worked on in a reasonable amount of time. POOR EXAMPLE I want to learn how to code. GOOD EXAMPLE I want to learn how to code using Python so that I can build an app to help me and others organize homework. POOR EXAMPLE I want to choreograph a two hour contemporary dance that will highlight the struggle for equal rights. GOOD EXAMPLE I want to choreograph an original, three minute, contemporary dance about the struggle for equal rights that I can post onto YouTube to share with the senior home nearby. from: http://www.designmakechange.com/ Other ideas for this project from https://mrblackwelder.wordpress.com/ and A.J. Guliani via cultofpedagogy.com Questions about how your project is shaping up, expectations or looking for ideas? Feel free to email Ms. Ferguson @ [email protected] Program interest: https://forms.gle/mbsBj6eo68ozNFaq7 Some questions that have been asked so far... Q. Does the project have to be related to contemporary issues? A. t can be about any topic that you find interesting! You will need to find a way to share your learning to make it useful: Potential examples (think about who would benefit from your work):
Q. Is this required to be published online or can we do it on a document or presentation? A. You need to share something with us so that we can see what you did. There will be a Google Presentation page for you to copy and add images, links, videos, sound recording - however you want to share. It will be shared with other program participants and supervisors at Tech. Here is the format for final submission. Q. Do we have to submit our project if it is personal/private info? A. You need to share something so that we can credit you with completing the project. Show us some part of it that seems ok to share. Other ways to share: Teach an online class http://www.homeschoolcoop2020.com/teach-a-class.html Work on a game for social change (due in Feb): https://g4cstudentchallenge.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/home |
AuthorMs. Ferguson is one of the librarians at Brooklyn Tech. She has a background in service learning and this is one of her passion projects. Archives
August 2020
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