Learning Teams & Exhibitions

Learning Team Meetings

Whenever these three parties meet, it is considered a Learning Team Meeting. Learning team meetings can be incredibly informal, or very formal. They can be in response to a positive interaction or they can include interventions for troubling behaviors. Often learning team meetings focus on the academic and social progress of the student. There is no "usual" method or frequency for learning team meetings. Some families meet every 2 weeks, while others have a phone call each week. Some learning teams request email updates from advisors and others just wait for the Exhibition. Any member of the learning team can request a learning team meeting, for any reason.

It is good practice to document every learning team meeting. We use this google form at the Monadnock Campus.

Doc Week and Exhibitions

At the end of every trimester, studios and internships are paused, and the entire community engages in Doc Week. It is the final week, focused on documenting and wrapping up work. It is also when student exhibitions happen. Families sign up (using calendly) for an exhibition spot. The commitment is for 1 hour during each doc week. See calendly sign up video below. Doc week is an incredibly flexible week, so students often need help with goal-setting. We use the green checklists to help students prioritize their work. Additionally, the Doc Week Menu Items below has some answers to commonly asked questions about Doc Week and its purposes.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions are like student-led progress reports. Every student does an exhibition unless they have recently completed a Gateway Exhibition (or have one scheduled shortly thereafter).

The exhibitions have three main parts:

1. Student Presentation and Q&A

2. Exhibition Evaluation and Feedback

3. Goal Setting (discussing project extensions, upcoming studios, gateway goals, etc) and other talking points

Detailed descriptions of the exhibition process below, as well as some common talking points. It is important to note that the exhibition is a presentation separate from the rest of the projects during that trimester. A student could "bomb" all their work and have had many behavior challenges, but if they reflect honestly, set goals, and meet the expectations of the exhibition rubric, they can have an exemplary exhibition. Conversely, a student who earned all their studio credit, and was a leader in the community, can just as easily slack on their exhibition and earn an emerging.

Students can be incredibly creative with their exhibitions. They do NOT all have to be slideshows! Pay close attention to what the rubric actually requires, and ultimately try to help the student find their voice in the process as you coach them through their exhibition.