NYSCATE 2022

In this presentation we showcased the work completed by our first cohort of learners, who currently receive credit for a STEAM elective, a French elective, and a required Equity credit. In addition to sharing our process for launching this initiative, we will use student voices and examples of student work to explain how we structure our time together, how we create a strong learning community that fosters joy and creativity, and how we ensure that student outcomes reflect NYS World Language Standards, ISTE standards, and Learning for Justice’s Social Justice Standards.

Skip the edu-jargon and celebrate the fact that #KidsCan. Both elementary and high school students are self-selecting projects and showcasing more than their talents, but also their learning. Based on empathy and design, Gig Boards are a great way to involve the entire school community in meaningful projects that build meaningful skills. Whether we are designing for peers, teachers, community, or for social change, we build a culture of learning through community, wonder, creation, and play. Join us as we showcase student work, share our process, and share ideas to start your own Gig Board at your school. 

• What is a Gig Board & how it’s used

• Role of ePortfolios

• Stories of empathetic design

  • elem 3d prints, 

  • HS Cricut & t shirts, 

  • Sports Sign, 

  • Disc Golf, 

Often when we think of assessment, we forget that it's not designed for the teacher. Ultimately, if we want students to become self-directed learners, we need an assessment/feedback method that allows students to show where they started and where they ended up. ePortfolios allow us to see a student’s learning evolution along with student-selected learning highlights and self-reflections..

Students curate their own work and share what they have learned in the journey of learning. Besides, the act of creating a portfolio becomes a transferable skill that students can use with future creative endeavors.  For this type of portfolio, we encourage students to think about the process with a lens of growth and mastery. Students also look at what they learned along the way and what future steps they want to take.

Hear how five seniors with a mild interest in the syruping process became the catalyst for what we hope becomes a K-12 experiential learning opportunity. Our first year saw students successfully engage in the grant writing process, recruit community businesses to sponsor our vision, build a reverse osmosis filter, sell the syrup on the school store and collaborate with our French program.

Listen to this story and our plans for incorporating English, History and Science into this school-wide event and use it to help build our Farm-to-School program.