Showing posts with label project-based learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label project-based learning. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Project Planner for the Upcoming "What is With That Guy? Diagnosing Patient Susan" Science Project
Students will begin working on diagnosing "Patient Susan", a sick patient who came to the Room 28 clinic with some serious complaints.
Here is the project planner we will be using to guide our process for creating a differential diagnosis to cure what ails this needy patient!
Project Outline_Differential Diagnosis
Friday, October 28, 2011
Project-Based Learning Video: Melrose Math/ Science/ Technology Magnet
Check out this fabulously directed and produced video by Caren McCaleb featuring some of my colleagues and me from Melrose Elementary Math/ Science/ Technology Magnet.
Thank you for watching!
P.S. Students from the 2010-2011 school year, you are in it!!!
Melrose Elementary - Project Based Learning from Melrose Elementary on Vimeo.
Thank you for watching!
P.S. Students from the 2010-2011 school year, you are in it!!!
Melrose Elementary - Project Based Learning from Melrose Elementary on Vimeo.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Back-to-School Night Prezi Presentation
Here is my Back-to-School Night Prezi Presentation. Learn more about the goings-on of Room 28!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Reflections on My First Exhibition Night
As a fan, at least for a time, of The Apprentice, I always marveled at how people, who had no idea what they doing, could pull together an event [insert event title here]. I marveled, I suppose, because I thought of the stress that would threaten to overwhelm my racing mind in that situation. Because no one likes to fail, including me.
When I first began watching, I always felt like the answers were so obvious. "Of course, you should know how to spell Liza Minnelli's name. And yes, you SHOULD have checked!" "How could he think that those cheap golf sets would appease the ultra-rich attending the golf tournament/ charity event?" Then, along came my very own season finale "charity event".
- What is a museum?
- How can art tell a story?
- How does art define the artist?
- How is art a reflection of the artist?
- How does art bring people together?
Questions aside, this exhibition night was perhaps the best on the job training I have ever had. We wrote business letters inviting local community members. We invited superintendents. We planned art talks and food sales and art-making sessions led by student artists. We became docents and curators and artists. All for and because of this night.
First take away of the night: your students will amaze you. There is something unique and intangible that happens to students when they have the authentic audience that project-based learning requires. I watched some of my most struggling and painfully shy students become the most well-spoken docents I have ever seen. They wanted to show the work we had done. They wanted to lead. This came as a beautiful gift to them and to me.
Second big take away of the night: it all cannot be micromanaged. There were technical difficulties, scheduling conflicts, no-shows, and art falling. I learned quickly that deep breaths matter. Allowing the students to take control as much as possible also was helpful in allowing me to greet guests, put out fires, and enjoy moments of the evening that I could. Without question, it allowed them to better experience the night, too.
Third: parents will be supportive. Though the initial response left me worried, I was humbled and blown away by the support that arrived unexpectedly. The event could not have been the success that it was without them. Parent support from outside of classroom was also a sight to be seen. Parents of all grades came out to support our event, and shared how much they valued the evening and the work of my students. They want this kind of learning for their students and we should not be afraid to provide them with these kinds of experiences.
Fourth take away: have an exhibition night sooner. With the way my students blossomed during the event, I can't help but think of the impact it would have had on confidence, morale, and classroom performance. Next year will be different. Though... two a year is a good number to start with me thinks!
Fifth: TAKE PHOTOS! Can't believe that I forgot to assign someone to just capture this event. It would have made the memories that much more precious.
Finally, I learned that exhibition nights are as much a celebration of the work as they are a sharing of the work. The imperfections did not matter anymore. The struggles to plan and prepare were over. It was time to come together around a school and a group of proud learners.
So, this returns me to the driving question. Well, the revised one at least. How does art define the artist and what role does, or should, a museum play in facilitating this process? Art allows the artist to become his or her expressive self, the self that lies beneath the surface shaded by responsibility, obligation, and societal norms. Art allows the artist to become the person they wish to be: brave, confident, open, proud. As for museums? Well, their role is provide the forum in which artists can share this definition, or redefinition, of self, organizing the art in such a way as to draw out the greatest response from the audience. This is the conclusion I came to after watching the beautiful work of the students of Room 28.
Thank you, Room 28! You made me so proud!
There is much to celebrate that is going on in classrooms. Stay tuned to what we do next!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Art Exhibition Found Faces Slideshow
First, thank you to all of your who attended our first ever exhibition night.
"Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art" was a complete success! Mrs. Wynne-Davis' class put together a stunning art installation called the Tree of Life. The students of Dr. Olabuenaga's curated their own gallery with David Hockney-inspired art, created by them.
Another successful piece of the exhibition was the student-led art lessons. The 5th grade students designed and planned two separate lessons: Found Faces and Hockney Art. Students, parents, and guests came and made art akin to the work of the very artists in the show.
Below is the slideshow of the Found Faces made at the exhibition. Check it out to see if your art is there!
Friday, May 27, 2011
IT'S OFFICiAL: ART EXHIBITION FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2011
We look forward to your attendance. Please feel free to email this link or download the flyer to spread the word about our special night!!!
Gallery poster sample
View more documents from Gina Olabuenaga.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Hockney-Inspired Practice Art
We have begun our work for our gallery exhibition entitled, "Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art".
Room 28 is using David Hockney for inspiration. Take a look at his work, then view our gallery slideshow to see us practice & prepare for our own Hockney-inspired gallery pieces!
Found Faces Art
This is the first piece we created for our art project, "Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art". We are calling this "Found Faces". To create this art, we arranged common, everyday objects into faces, practicing our Habit of Mind, flexibility, and training our artist's eye.
Below is a slideshow of our "faces". Enjoy using your artist's eye!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Who Am I? Art Project Keynote Sample
Students, here the is the sample I was referring to in class. This is in no way the final product, but it is the start of what will become your digital art portfolio to share here on our classroom blog.
Happy Arting!!!
Art Keynote Sample
View more presentations from Gina Olabuenaga.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Our MOCA Trip
Families and Guests,
Some of you may have heard that Room 28 and Room 22 will be starting a new project-based learning piece. The working title is "What is Art?". During the project, students will get to create their own collection of art. Then, they will take on the role of museum curator and design their own exhibition to be shared with you and our local community at the end of May.
Here are some photos from the trip to MOCA Grand that will help us begin to think about those two ideas. As you can tell... we had a lot of fun!
If you have additional photos that you wish to add to the slideshow, email them to me and I will make sure that they are included.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
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