Final Reflection

Michelle Holder

Final Reflection

CML 2017

August 14, 2017

For me, this project is truly a culmination of the summer of deeper learning about design thinking and making. I set out to learn more about making and the meaning of the maker movement. When the maker movement started to rise, I was a bit skeptical. OK, we can make things light up, we can make cool paper crafts. But I always made things in school. How is this different? I thought the maker movement was just a new name for something-- another trend. I realized through working with my students and with my daughter, that this movement was more than that, and I knew that I needed to learn more.

The week at Champlain and RETN was transformative. By experiencing making and design thinking, I experienced what it was like to be a maker, and to have the tools to make something good. I got to tinker and explore tools in a more in-depth way that I just don’t have time to do during the school year. I got to really get to know WeVideo a bit better, and I got to explore some new tools and techniques, such as using the green screens, using SeeSaw to share ideas, and even try out the new Google Sites. I also got to experience a variety of teaching styles and compare them with my own. I was able to collaborate with other educators and share ideas over lunch. And while I can often tell the kids to just go and figure it out, it is good to walk in their shoes and learn, too. I want to give that back to my students.

By creating some screencasts, my own video, and a handout, and some resources on line, I feel ready to start the year with some resources. I feel I have the tools I need to begin the transformation of the media center. As we go into our first year of one to one chromebooks, I am excited to bring more media into the students’ learning. Students love filming and creating. I can see many ways to bring this to our school. Making videos allows students the possibility to be very creative and to try new techniques. It can also help them become more confident with the tools that they have, and could inspire them to learn and explore more. The number of online tools out there is always changing. But students love them, and will need to learn to be flexible and adapt.

Through the past few weeks of work, I also feel like I have a better understanding of the design thinking model. My final project allows students to create while following this model. While it encourages more of a personal creation, it still allows them to have empathy (by considering their audience), to define the challenge and what is needed in the film, to ideate, create a prototype, and test it. I think the framework also allows for flexibility and will allow for students to move back and forth within the process as needed. While I would like to come up with some more resources, I feel it is a good start.

As I sit here, with protests happening and conflict rising around us in the political sphere, I can think of no better way to encourage our students to do something positive than to create. Not just repeat, not just act, but to also create. Film can be a way to do this. Alfred Hitchcock apparently said, “A clear horizon… only things that are creative and not destructive…I think hatred is wasted energy, and it’s all non-productive.” Everyone at the week we spent together was there out of love and passion for the power of creation and education. It is very important for our students to know that they can make and create and that this, too, is more important than ever right now in this world.