Project 2 / Group Collage - Transforming a School Into a Creative Community (VISION Statement Work of Art)

Project 1 is a deep look at fostering creativity of a type that schools might consider to be valuable as student learning outcome. Such creativity is a set of skills, understandings, and acquired abilities that will serve students in school, and of course beyond, and also will serve teachers and school and  district administrators.

Project 2 is a bit of a 'dive' into how the educator, in the role of leader, can be instrumental in the transformation of a school into a 'Creative Community' a community in which individuals, in their roles as teacher and learner and community member focus their activities around Creativity and, in turn, reap the benefits of these  creativity focused activities. As I recall, East Harlem Performing Arts Schools  was such a community.

For this project I will draw some ideas from book The Edtech Advocates Guide to Leading Change in Schools. Specifically, from Chapter 5.






The Vision Statement.... More than just FLUFF (or at least potentially, so)... here are a few points (from many explained in the book)



The Vision Statement, when done as an earnest, collaborative community, self-defining activity is a very strong community building tool. It may contribute to the transformation from a school as a functional (or NOT so functional) institution to a vibrant, nourishing community.  








The Vision  Statement (a short document) my pose and answer the questions "Where is the school  going?" and "How will it get there?"





"The Vision Statement should reflect school culture, aspirations, and group understandings about how they are to be reached...

"The Vision Statement may also include:...

... - a  list of shared core beliefs concerning education and teaching and learning...

- a list of  goals and behaviors as evidence of having reached them...

What to do?

Let's create a (bit of a) Vision Statement:

Each group member will...

a) Visually - Use the same approach/technique of selecting a single prompt (in this case a UPAL Prompt) to communicate your understanding of a key dimension of education to be reflected in a school's culture and functioning.

b) Write a short passage  (phrase, sentence, or a bit longer) to accompany the UPAL Prompt  visual.

c) These new squares are to be  added to the existing Creativity work of art to form a broader statement.

Photograph the above group art work as you did the first and  turn it in by email.
Suggestions: Give your group work of art a title and perhaps a caption.

DONE!

Project / Group Collage - Meaning of Creativity Phase 2

B) 2^nd Phase
Groups are to come up with 3 (or more) different solutions to arranging the individual squares in a ‘group whole’ work of art. Use CELL Phone to Photograph each arrangement.

Groups are to select the one arrangement that they feel best satisfies the challenge.
Text Assignment:
a) Identify your ‘square’ by describing it
b) Why did you choose the creativity prompt you did?
c) thinking about your experience today , what is 1 thing you want principals to understand about Student Creativity and how to foster, nourish, develop it?
d) Through the experience of today’s session, what have you learned about creativity for which you see a connection to the work of a school principal? Explain this in a sentence or 2 (or more).

Put all of the text responses together into 1 email and send to Prof. G. Attach photos to email.

Variation: (requires a little more tech sophistication).... Open up an MS Word file... Paste the text into the doc. "Insert" the photos and arrange... Take Screen Shot of Grouping...