I have spoken to many of you and I am really excited about the ideas you have come up with! I want you to run with the idea that feels most daunting, most exciting, more impactful in making your classroom/youth space into the place you want it to be. Here are a few words of wisdom for you as you work on this...
1) You don't have to finish it by the end of this week.
I believe that teachers need time, support, and inspiration to be the innovative practitioners they want to be. I hope that this class gives you time and space to THINK about ideas that you don't have time to think about otherwise. I want to feel you vision the project you are planning and outline all of the moving parts. Create as much of it as you can (you will be glad if you get a lot of it done!) But don't be afraid if you can't have every element completed by the end of the week. Promise yourself you will finish it this summer, and do as much as you can in this course.
2) It is not about me.
Don't get wrapped up in what *I* want or am looking for. I offer you the project handout and some grading criteria to help guide you and push you. But my hope is that you can use the things you have explored in this class to create something for *you* and your students. As I explained in the video I sent out on Sunday evening, the grade is not the thing. You already have an A on this project. Now let that knowledge free you up to take risks and do something fun.
3) It is all about you.
The Pecha Kucha is a chance to share your story. I think that most of you will include information about the project you are planning and the media/technology you are using when you present your 20 slides. But the best Pecha Kucha slide decks are all about YOU. Tell the story of your journey. Include personal photos if you have them (and very little text on the slides!!) Talk about how you got to this point in your career and beliefs. And explain what inspires you to try this "new thing" when you are back with your students in the fall. Your full narrative will hit all of the academic points, so don't be afraid to use the pecha kucha in a personal, engaging and inviting way.
Hope these points are helpful!! Can't wait to hear more about what you are planning. Leave comments if you have questions that I can answer publicly!
GOOD LUCK!!
LB :)
