Blog Archives

Week 3- Project Tunes and Work Time!

4/30/2019

REMINDER: ALL check in conferences will be on THURSDAY this week!

Project Tunes

Group 1:
1. Ava and Ella- Critique for...?
2. Andy
3. Claire
4. Faith
Group 2:
1. Lance and Owen
2. Saige- What would you like to see in this kind of film? What would you expect?
3. Luke- (Read script draft) Would this be something you would want to watch? Why/why not?
4. Josie
5. Alma
Group 3:
1. Megan- Read draft, give feedback on what's effective/gripping, what revisions would make it better.
2. Acacia
3. Nyana
4. Abby- Read poem, critique for what's memorable and true, what revisions would make it more powerful.
5. Charlie

Senior Project Work Time

Complete Project Tune Reflection if you got tuned today
Complete Weekly Reflection 2 if you didn't finish yesterday
Work through the goals we discussed in your last conference with me!

Week 3- Reflection + Conferences

4/29/2019

STARTER: For those of you going tomorrow for project tunes-- Project Tune Focusing Question or Dilemma
Come up with a GOOD focusing question or dilemma for your project tune. Write it down on a piece of paper with your name and show it to me so I can make sure it is legit.

Project Tune Scheduling

Let's make sure we know who is being critiqued in each group
EVERYONE needs to be here tomorrow
Make a plan! Writing group, you'll probably have some homework

Schedule This Week's Check-ins

No school Friday as it is a Staff PD day
That means that ALL check ins will be on Thursday.
Please come with evidence that you have reached the goals we set out in your conference! Be ready to show me.

Weekly Reflection and Goal Setting

Complete your weekly reflection for last week. This should be complete toward the bottom of your "To Do" document where the prompts are.
Once you're done with that, write down the goals/tasks you need to complete this week by filling out this week in the blue calendar on your To DO document

Work Time and Conferences with Lori

Week 2- Check Ins

4/25/2019

Today's Agenda...
1. Make sure you are caught up with basic senior project requirements as listed below.
2. If not, get caught up.
3. If yes, get to work on your senior project tasks or conference with Ashley if scheduled or needed.

Here is everything you should have accomplished thus far to be at 100% of the total Senior Project points possible to date:

Completed TO DO document, shared with Lori
TWO check-ins with Lori (including this week)
ONE weekly reflection at the bottom of your TO DO document
Ideally one project tune and project tune reflection, although some of you are scheduled for next week.
A legit amount of stuff on your actual project!

Check in Dates this Week:

Thursday- Ava and Ella, Acacia, Andy, Megan, Nyana, Abby, Alma, Charlie, Nyana
Friday- Owen and Lance, Luke, Josie, Saige, Claire, Faith, Wes, Nat

Week 2- Project Tune #1

4/23/2019

Please complete the project tune protocol for those assigned today!
Project Tune Protocol

Remember: You need to complete 2 project tunes with your critique group and complete the project tune reflection for each. Those completed project tunes count toward your total Senior Project score.

Done with Project Tune? Work Time!

Conference with Lori
Work your way through the list of tasks we discussed last week
Complete your reflection if you didn't finish this yesterday

Week 2- Weekly Reflection and Project Tune Prep

4/22/2019

STARTER: Project Tune Focusing Question or Dilemma
Come up with a GOOD focusing question or dilemma for your project tune. Write it down on a piece of paper with your name and turn it in to me so I can make sure it is legit.

Here are some examples of good ones:

How am I going to raise enough money for this event? I'm broke!
Who should come to my event? What's the best audience for this and how do I market to them?
What is the best venue to display my artwork or hold my event?
What are the best events you have been to and what made those events awesome? How could I incorporate those into my event?

Schedule This Week's Check-ins

Let me know if you need to change your check in day for this week- otherwise we'll run with what's on the board

Weekly Reflection and Goal Setting

Complete your weekly reflection for last week. This should be complete toward the bottom of your "To Do" document where the prompts are.
Once you're done with that, write down the goals/tasks you need to complete this week by filling out this week in the blue calendar on your To DO document

Work Time and Conferences with Lori
Remember those lists we developed last week? Get them done!

Cohort Groups- Setting up for Critiques

4/16/2019

Announcement about Advisory
Required attendance THIS Wednesday (10:30-1:45) and then you don't have to be here for advisory until Advisory Olympic planning (likely an off-campus lunch with your advisor).

A Note on Good Projects and Good Project Tunes

Come with a LEGIT and specific question or dilemma. You need to show me this first!
Based on your project, think about what a professional critique session would look like. Let's get some ideas out there for your various projects

What makes a BAD project tune:

You think you don't need help, or that your group won't be able to help you. (C'mon, let's show some humility here folks)
Your question is vague or half-hearted
Critiquers don't care enough to think deeply and give thoughtful feedback
Critiquers are too agreeable and don't challenge the presenter

Example Dilemmas/Focusing Questions

How am I going to raise enough money for this event? I'm broke!
Who should come to my event? What's the best audience for this and how do I market to them?
What is the best venue to display my artwork or hold my event?
What are the best events you have been to and what made those events awesome? How could I incorporate those into my event?
If all else fails: How do I make this project More DOPE and AWESOME? How can I create a project that I'll be really proud of?

Cohort Critique Groups

Let's go over the project tune protocol (Note: Don't come up with dilemmas that suck)
Get with your assigned group (See the bottom of the Cohort Groups document)
Share out your thesis research question and your project idea
Schedule the first round of project tunes: Remember, each of you need to do TWO project tunes and reflections). Two students need to go each Tuesday for the following Tuesdays: 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14.
Groups 1 & 2- you have 5 students, so you may need to either start early or hold one critique on a Monday, or do three in a day, etc...)

Individual Check-ins Schedule for This Week

Check-in Objectives: To go over your To Do document and make sure your project is legit, as well as help you with your milestones
Thursday: Ava and Ella, Acacia, Andy, Megan, Nyana, Abby, Alma
Friday: Owen and Lance, Luke, Josie, Saige, Claire

Senior Project To Do

Keep working on the above linked document. Try to get your milestones as fleshed out as possible!
Conference with Ashley as needed
Done? Set goals for yourself for this week and begin accomplishing those goals!

HOMEWORK
Finish the Senior Project To Do document by Friday!

Cohort Groups, Day 1

4/15/2019

Starter (we'll seminar on these questions in a little bit)

What is your level of motivation for school at this point in time? (0-5)
What is one ACADEMIC thing you are MOST excited about BEFORE you graduate? Perhaps it is related to senior project, or something else?
What advice would you give your little sibling, best friend, or YOURSELF to combat senioritis and to finish strong and on a note that you can feel proud about?
How do you handle unstructured time? Is it hard for you to be productive? Hard to manage your own time wisely?
When are your MOST productive times of the day?
What is one way that I (Lori) can help you this semester? Be specific!

Document Review: Review relevant documents (all of which are linked on the Senior Project Page of my DP at the very bottom).

Senior Project To Do
Cohort Groups

Review Cohort Group goals and structures:
Cohorts will meet during their assigned periods on Mondays, Tuesdays, and either Thursday or Friday.
Wednesdays are available for off-campus work. Except for Wednesdays, unless a student has made arrangements with us, they should be on-campus and working on their senior project during cohort time. Our rooms will also be available for work time during other times, and seniors are encouraged to use this time and space!

Mondays- Schedule and goals, check in, set goals for next week, reflective piece for week before, figure out who is getting critiqued on Tuesday.
Tuesdays- Project tunes/critiques in cohort subgroups (groups of 5) and exhibition planning.
Wednesdays- Free work days. As seniors do not have electives on Wednesdays, they may choose to work off campus to get project work done that requires meeting with community partners, gathering resources for events, etc...They are also welcome to work at school and/or seek guidance from senior teaching team as needed during this time. YOU NEED TO BE AT ADVISORY, HOWEVER!!!
Thursdays/Fridays- Individual check-ins with cohort advisor (Ashley, Kyle, Kurt or Lori). Half of seniors will meet on Thursday to check-in with their advisor, the other half will meet on Friday. On the day that seniors are not scheduled for their check-in, they are expected to work on their senior project at school unless they have specifically made other arrangements with their cohort advisor AND are expected to attend electives as scheduled.

A Note About Attendance
We know this is a hard time of your high school career to pull of perfect attendance AND that the unstructured nature of senior project work time can make it hard to follow structure in other places at Animas. However, that's life and will certainly be more like college life. You are ABSOLUTELY expected to fulfill your end of the bargain by seeing your classes and other AHS commitments through to the end.

Cohort Group Work Time

REMINDER--ALL seniors need to be in their cohort group during cohort tomorrow for a dilemma/project tune!
Break into cohort groups, fill out Senior Project To Do as much as possible, schedule an individual check-in.

HOMEWORK: Fill out Senior Project To Do (linked above). Start working your way down your to-do lists!

TED Prep- FINAL DAY!

4/3/2019

Final Review:

IMPORTANT TED TALK REMINDERS:

Tech (slides)- If you are running a slideshow for visuals, email or share it with me before you present. It's easier to run the tech off one computer so we don't have to swap the clicker tech back and forth.
Professional Dress- You should be going all out here! Look sharp and professional. You know what that means.
Breathe! Relax! But practice! Have faith that you know this stuff inside and out, because you do. But also, take the time to practice frequently so that your presentation is polished and impressive.

Room Setup: Finish and finalize room setup for TED Talks

Sheets/curtains hung
Lights arranged to highlight the speaker
Posters/Schedules around the school
Stage space clearly marked
Speakers/Screen/Projector/Clicker found and set up for easy use
Video Camera + Tripod
Tables and chairs set up with tableclothes for panelists (need 6 tables for this, in 3 rows)
Chairs set up for other audience members
Rest of room is clean, organized, ready for TED Talks!

TED Practice
Practice that sucker! You should aim to practice at LEAST once a day. And do it in front of other people. Good luck!

TED Talk Prep- Day 6

4/1/2019

Guidelines for RE-Submission of your Senior Thesis:
Once you have received your final grade for your paper, you will have the option to rewrite it based on my comments. Your revised paper grade will REPLACE your original grade. In order for your re-submission to be accepted, you must follow the guidelines below exactly.

Deadline: Whatever it says in the comment you received when I shared the rubric with you!
Email/share with me your revised draft
Submit your digital revised draft together with both your previous draft and the graded rubric (put your old draft and rubric in my inbox).
Your final draft must demonstrate improvement between drafts
I will not be commenting on revised drafts, and the revised grade will replace your original grade
Important: Annotations on your final draft are REQUIRED. Feel free to highlight, underline, comment, or draw arrows to specific points made, new evidence used, new phrasing etc. Your final grade depends in a large part on your ability to show growth between drafts in the categories I have outlined in the rubric. Make it easy for me to see this growth with your annotations. Even better if your comments are coded to rubric categories. Annotate as you revise to make this easier on yourself!

Senior Project Cohort Review

See the letter linked above for expectations and structure for Senior Project Cohort. Kyle will explain further in class today!
Senior Project Cohort Groups- We are trying to group you into cohort groups based on the type of project you are planning on doing. Please look at this document, and make sure your name/project are in here in the correct category. Check with someone if you are not sure where you should go!

TED Talk Publicity
Share this with your friends! Do it right now!

TED Talk Critiques
Follow the protocol linked above, which is also in your packet of TED Prep materials. You should complete two critiques today, and two tomorrow. Prioritize people going early in the presentation schedule!

Revision and Practice
When you finish your critiques for the day, work on revising your TED Talk and practicing. Seriously, PRACTICE. This is key to success!

HOMEWORK:
Practice your TED Talk! We are looking for polished and professional here. Make sure you are engaging, and that you are communicating complex ideas in an interesting way.