Session 3 Week 3 in Review

Elementary Studio

It’s hard to believe that we just wrapped up our third week of Session 3. Wow! Elementary learners are really starting to take ownership of their education! This week learners have exemplified self-directed learning skills such as taking screenshots of instructions so they can reference them in breakout rooms, facilitating share outs, assisting as co-host, using their resources more without guidance, and I could go on! To say the least, I am extremely proud of their growth and excited for their continued growth!During our Detectives Quest, learners developed deductive reasoning skills! On Monday, we explored logical thinking by exploring the importance of learning the "why". To practice investigating the "why", learners completed logic puzzles. On Tuesday, we learned about the history of ciphers. Next, we used different ciphers to crack secret codes! On Friday, it was time for each learner to create their own logic puzzle or secret code for their peers to solve! Their skills continue to progress week after week!During our Speechmaking Story Arts, learners gained knowledge that will help them move an audience. Our guest, Joseph Sojourner, provided four tips that would help: think about them, build a case, do your research, and call to action. After receiving the tips, we dove into four questions that would help us think through our speech. Questions such as what do we want the audience to know, why do we want them to know it, what do we want them to do, and why do we want them to do it. To brainstorm, learners folded a paper vertically and then horizontally. Giving them four squares. In each square, they wrote down one of the questions and their answers. Finally, they had the opportunity to receive feedback from numerous peers by rotating through breakout rooms and providing grow and glow feedback to improve the answers they wrote down for each question.During Civilization, their Alien scientists journeyed to West Africa, where they learned about the Songhai Empire trade system. After our discussion, it was challenge time! Their first challenge was to tell their own life story out loud. Instead of writing, they would verbally share a story that included the three most important events of their life. The second challenge was to imagine they were a West African leader preparing to send traders north across the desert. As the leader, they had to design a system that would allow them to transport enough water to keep at least 20 people and 10 camels alive for the trip!

Middle School Studio

Week 3 flew right by! As we’ve reached the middle of Session 3, we’ve started to begin shifting some of our Studio’s focus to the future. With Mid-Action Reviews coming up in just a few weeks, learners are beginning to take a step back and look at their badge plans to see what badges they want to focus on completing in preparation for the badge ceremony in the Mid-Action Reviews. Some learners have also been taking steps towards earning their Socratic Leader Badge by scheduling their 1st learner-led launch for Session 3 or 4.Our forensics Quest expanded even further this week with explorations into toxicology and autopsies. On Halloween, we evaluated a cold case involving toxicology in which learners had to give their reasoning for why they think the case was never solved. They also had some fun using math formulas to calculate how many pieces of fun-sized Halloween candy would be toxic to them based on their body weight! Learners worked to build comprehension of important terminology for using the human body as evidence in a crime scene. They completed a virtual autopsy that took them through the steps and procedures of evaluating a corpse for the purpose of forensic investigations. Lastly, learners were paired up into their Exhibition groups to begin work on solving a real-life forensics case that they will present during Exhibition!Civ this week took us into a deep dive of the Ming Dynasty during the Middle Ages. Learners sorted through a variety of resources (articles, videos, digital encyclopedias, etc.) about various facets of the dynasty, such as architecture and infrastructure, cultural practices and the arts, exploration and trade, and how the dynasty began and ended. Learners will use what they learned this week to inform and inspire their maker’s challenges on the Ming Dynasty in the next Civ challenge.Story Arts this week was all about storytelling! Learners are preparing to create videos for their YouTube channels, so this week they created a storyboard. Storyboards for YouTube are all about listing out the scenes and shots that will be recorded and later edited together to tell a story. Learners broke down the story they hope to tell in their video by planning out individual shots that they will later record. They thought about the camera angles they will use to record, who and what will be in each shot, what transitions they will use between shots, what animations and sound effects they may add to a shot, and the content they will show or talk about in each shot. Next week, learners will use their storyboard to help guide them through filming each small shot.

High School Studio

Week 3 of Session 3 flew by in the High School Studio. Our studio enjoyed two more learner-led morning launches this week, in addition to our usual Circles and Town Hall schedule. On Wednesday morning, one of our learners was the first FSO student to complete a Mastery Credit Practical, and was supported by his parents, peers, and guides. It was a great opportunity for our learners to witness what the practicals look like, and to gain a greater understanding of the Mastery Credit Transcripts and process. As a studio, we will continue to discuss this unique graduation requirement, and how to prepare for it, in the upcoming session.In our Conspiracy Theories Civilization session this week, learners discussed misinformation, and delved into the question, “Why is it so hard to admit when we were wrong about something?” We listened to a podcast episode by expert Dr. Karen Douglas, and learned about the psychology behind conspiracy theories and those who cling to them. Next, learners had a choice of maker challenges to complete, focused on preventing the spread of misinformation on social media and/or to younger populations, or focused on dissolving strongly held beliefs about a dangerous conspiracy theory. This challenge allowed learners to create a prototype idea to attack these issues, developing their critical thinking skills and creativity along the way.In Story Arts, learners shared example clips of the first 30 seconds of inspirational speeches, and the studio discussed the importance of the “hook” of a speech, as well as strong body language and tone. Then, learners had work time to organize the first draft of their speeches, and write down their ideas, before editing and delivering their speeches in the coming weeks.Continuing on in the Forensics Quest alongside the Middle School Studio, learners explored the field of toxicology through examining a case study and completing a Halloween-themed equation about the toxicity of large amounts of candy, then participated in a virtual autopsy activity on Wednesday to learn more about forensic pathology. On Friday, learners were introduced to their Exhibition project prompt, which will have teams of learners taking on the role of the Innocence Project in their efforts to use evidence to exonerate a falsely-accused man. It was another packed week, and I’m looking forward to continuing these topics and lessons next week.