By Phil Lohmeyer
2018 is an important year for both the IB celebrating its 50th anniversary and Whitby School in Connecticut, USA, celebrating 60 years. To mark the occasion, 8th graders designed a contest to find our school’s 60th anniversary logo by piloting a new system called Design Flags to deliver the most effective logo possible.
How did the Middle Years Programme (MYP) design directives help our process? Find out from four members of Whitby’s Class of 2018, who used Design Flags to tackle specific strands in the MYP curriculum’s design criterion.
Quinn
While working on the MYP design criterion around inquiry and analysis (for MYP teachers we’re talking about MYP design criterion A), 8th grader Quinn looked at and learned from what was already ‘out there’.
“We studied existing principles of design. We looked at crest examples because many entries would be in the style of a crest. We also looked at a logo contest at Wellesley College, it included deadlines and “how to” enter the contest and helped me see that logos need to be submitted according to the dates advertised!”
Students can brainstorm in an organized way and study multiple products that can inspire potential solutions. This helped them have a sense of direction before creating, to establish exactly what they’re reaching for.
Matthew
While working on MYP design criterion B around developing ideas, 8th grader Matthew learned about the audience, and discovered what was needed to have a successful contest.
“Whitby’s marketing department wanted a 60th logo contest for the Whitby community: 1st-8th grade, parents, and alumni. For production, we need students, project managers, and designs. If we created hype with our ads, and got a lot of entries, our contest would be a success.”
Students used the criterion around specifications to get specific with their intentions. Broadcasting is out, narrowcasting is in, as 8th graders demonstrate with this video invitation. If they invest in calculated growth by establishing specs in advance, student projects will have more impact.
Seneca
While working on MYP design criterion C around creating the solution, 8th grader Seneca identified certain necessary skills, in order to recruit allies who could carry out ideas.
By pinpointing the specific skills that were needed, and recruiting people with these skills, students discovered which talents solidify the form or function of their project. Students are encouraged to notice, act, and innovate when possible. Then call in the specialists.
Simon
While working on MYP design criterion D around evaluation, 8th grader Simon reviewed incentives for participants, in order to develop the project further.
“We could improve how we informed the winner, as they didn’t know what the prize would be. The reward changed from having the logo on a “Save the Date” card to being on t-shirts. The contestant felt a little confused. We should have let the contestant know what they would be getting if they won, giving more of an incentive to participate.”
Students can provide insight into what should be fixed, in order to assist those working on future incarnations of the project. Students can change others’ lives for the better, with thoughtful changes to their project template.
On reflection
What worked well: Chunking this enormous project and taking each step individually. Using the Design Flag concepts on worksheets, whiteboards, posters, slides presentations, and anywhere the project plan lived enabled students to create consistency across classes.
What I would do differently: Scan the students’ completed Design Flags immediately, to ensure that none of our project ideas were lost or forgotten. Due to the length of the project, several students misplaced their Design Flags resulting in an occasional duplication of efforts.
For more tips on managing a project using MYP design directives, review our entire 16-week blog at www.whitbyschool.org/wave-the-flag. We found that using a language we were all familiar with, the timeless language of flag design, was a key factor in staying organized. Customize these Design Flags for your next class project, then wave them loudly, proudly, and persistently!
Phil Lohmeyer is MYP design teacher at Whitby School and creator of Mr. Lohmeyer’s Design Flags. Phil says “Special thanks to Jonathan Chein, Simone Becker, and Michelle Summers (Whitby School Administration) for their support.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
用国际文凭课程中学项目的设计去创造一个里程碑
8/20/18国际文凭课程组织五十周年纪念,中学项目(MYP)在五十周年纪念之际, 我很骄傲的把我们的社区介绍给世界
作者:Phil Lohmeyer
2018年是重要的一年,它不仅是国际文凭课程组织成立五十周年,同时也是美国康乃狄克州 Whitby 学校成立六十周年。为纪念这个特殊的日子, 八年级的学生将用先进的设计系统软件“设计旗”,最有效的进行六十年校庆标志设计比赛。中学项目(MYP)在这次比赛整个过程中又是如何帮助学生?以下是2018届 Whitby 学校的学生如何根据中学项目的课程安排要的求用“设计旗”软件来完成比赛。
中学项目是如何直接帮助我们的设计进程呢?以下是几位学生如何根据中学项目的课程安排要求用“设计旗”来完成比赛的。
Quinn
在围绕探讨和分析制定中学项目设计标准的过程中,(对于中学项目的教师,我们正在讨论中学项目设计标准A)。
八年级的Quinn 从已经掌握的设计标准开始。
“我们研究现有的设计原则。查看最流行的设计样品。我们甚至查看了威尔斯利学院的标准设计比赛,这包括比赛截止日期。根据广告的要求如何进行比赛以及教会我们如何进行标准的设计。”学生可以在有组织的头脑风暴中激发出潜在的解决方案。这在创建和确定目标之前帮助他们获得方向感。
Matthew
当八年级Mathew 在用中学项目设计标准B去创造设计灵感的时候,他从观众中学到了并且发现了比赛成功需要什么。
“Whitby 学校市场部想给他们市场部和社区举办一个六十周年纪念标志设计比赛。Whitby 社区包括一年级到八年级的学生、家长和校友。对于这个比赛,我们需要学生项目经理和设计者。假如我们用广告制作进行炒作,并且获得大量参赛作品,那我们的比赛将会取得成功。” 学生们使用围绕规范的标准来明确他们的意图。就象八年级的学生用视频邀请演示、用窄播不用广播。如果他们通过提前制定规范来投资计算增长,学生项目将会产生更大的影响。
Seneca
当八年级同学在中学项目设计规范C 中去寻求答案的时候, Seneca 同学确定了某些必要的技能。 以便招幕能够实施思想的盟友。在制定解决方案的过程中制定中学项目设计标准C时,八年级的Seneca确定了某些必要的技能,以招募能够实施创意的盟友。
通过精确定位所需的特定技能,并招募具有这些技能的人,学生们发现哪些人才巩固了他们项目的形式或功能。 鼓励学生尽可能注意,行动和创新。 然后打电话给专家。
Simon
为了推进中学设计项目,八年级的Simon回顾了在围绕中学项目设计规范D中的评价时讲述了他们是如何对参赛者进行进一步鼓励的。
“当参赛者们不知道奖品是什么的时候,我们通过改善我们的告知方法,奖品从一个印有图案的卡变成了一件印有图案的T-衫。参赛者们有了一点点的迷惑。当我们让他们知道赢者将获得什么奖品,然而,实际获得的是更具鼓励的奖品。”
学生们可以深入了解应该修改的内容,以便协助那些未来从事项目的人,可以通过对项目模板的深思熟虑的改动,能让其他人的生活得到改善。
反思
哪些做得比较好
用设计旗的理念,拿出这个巨大项目的一大部分,分别展示在工作表上,白板上,告示牌上,用幻灯片的形式,以及项目准备投放的任何地方。学生们创造出了一贯性的跨越课堂的环境。
哪些可以做的更好
立刻扫描并保存学生们完成的设计旗,确保我们的项目设想没有任何遗忘和丢失。由于项目用了很长时间,有几个学生将设计旗放错了地方,导致偶尔重复工作。
在项目管理上,为了更多的建议使用MYP的设计指令,回顾我们16周在www.whitbyschool.org/wave-the-flag上的工作,我们发现使用一种我们熟悉的语言,一种长期有效的设计旗语言,是保持井井有条的关键。
为你们的下一个课程定制这些旗帜,然后,大声地、骄傲地、永久地挥舞他们吧!
Phil Lohmeyer是Whitby学校中学项目的设计老师,也是设计旗帜的创始人。Phil 特别感谢Jonathan Chein,Simone Becker和Michelle Summers (Whitby学校管理人员)的支持。