What happened in Digital Academy in 2023?
This is a look at what happened in Islands of Brilliance's (IOB) Digital Academy (DA) in 2023 and a peek at what's coming in 2024. I'll focus on the substantial growth experienced by both the students and the program. I tend not to focus on final products but more on how much we grow over time – DA's evolution. So, this article will share the milestones earned throughout this year. But first, let's dive into the underlying values and characteristics that serve as the bedrock of IOB's DA programming.
Learning experiences…reimagined
Eight neurodivergent Islands of Brilliance students take part in a Digital Academy CollabQuest, during which they do field research and then work on a professional design project for Serpentijn Art + Athletics.
I centered the design of educational experiences to embrace values fit for 21st-century citizens. Whether it's ensuring scalability, infusing an element of joy for an enriched learning atmosphere, or championing a variety of learning structures (self-determined, challenged-based, and project-based learning), everything I have done and will continue to do is to break down, reimagine, and rebuild learning experiences for the DA community.
These deliberate changes, influenced by my background in Creative Technologies, strive to construct environments fostering lifelong learning, autonomy, and creativity. The deeper values align with the International Society of Technology in Education's student standards: Creativity, Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Courage, and Resilience. These values serve as the bedrock, preparing DA students for the dynamic challenges of the future.
My time at IOB is marked by the continual infusion of emerging creative technologies into our organization. I used this lens while rethinking our DA programming. Why? I realized that the ever-evolving field of creative technologies holds profound implications for the DA community.
Creative technology + growth mindset = lifelong learning
But what is Creative Technology? It's an approach that combines technical skills with traditional creative approaches, transforming how we make visual experiences in the 21st century. The focus on Creative Technologies in DA benefits our students by weaving creativity with technological solutions.
I pair a growth mindset with a student's intrinsic motivation (termed SpIn, or Special Interest, at IOB) as the basis of all programs. Drawing inspiration from luminaries in teaching science, I employ activities to enhance students' recall. I am a self-professed wonk in teaching and learning, and I will continue discovering new ideas and finding ways to bring them into IOB programming.
Each DA program empowers students with knowledge and know-how for self-expression. Because this branch of creativity is constantly evolving, it requires the IOB community to foster a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability. It enhances digital literacy and allows students to express themselves in novel ways. Before I left the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for IOB, I created a curriculum called, you guessed it, Creative Technologies.
My college teaching background influences DA programming. Like in my college classrooms, I want to teach DA students that they need each other even more than they need me. To achieve this, I migrated digital whiteboards to IOB as the anchor for DA programming. Whiteboards are robust, facilitating real-time hybrid learning accessible to anyone with a link, both within the classroom and beyond. It is fundamentally focused on students sharing their growth with each other. DA students share different examples of their efforts at set intervals; the result is that the whiteboards feel like gardens where creativity grows over time.
Celebrating growth
DA Student, Garrett’s badges earned during 2023 SideQuests
I also brought over the gamification of icon-based badges from college. These badges, awarded upon the completion of an experience, serve a dual purpose. I've made a small ceremony to award the badges at the end of any DA experience. Rituals acknowledging growth are pivotal in upholding DA's cultural values while instilling confidence and pride among our students. I saw DA students strategizing to maximize their learning to get as many badges as possible in a limited time, all in the name of play.
I set a playful tone by experimenting at the beginning of every DA program. Every experience starts with an activity of the day where we explore and create with emerging technology. In these activities, we laugh and improvise with one another. These initial moments bond DA students in mutual creativity while exploring a new corner of imagination.
Looking ahead, we have a whole year of SideQuests and a new topic for 2024 - Media and Animation. Get ready for more polished digital whiteboard experiences, CollabQuest programs focusing on science and coding, and more growth in Quest. Each DA program at IOB is an invitation to an innovative learning experience, fostering collaboration and facilitating incredible growth. DA programs are crafted to evoke tenacious curiosity and an unquenchable desire to create.
Lifelong learning, autonomy, and resilience
As we close the chapter on the transformative journey of IOB's Digital Academy in 2023, the echoes of growth, innovation, and shared creativity reverberate. The milestones, rooted in values tailored for the 21st century, attest to the evolution of IOB's educational experiences. From the deliberate embrace of Creative Technologies to the gamified recognition of achievements through badges, every facet of DA programming is a testament to our commitment to lifelong learning, autonomy, and resilience.
Here's to the continuous journey of joy, discovery, and growth. Each challenge invites new learning opportunities, and every interaction sparks a new wave of creativity. The future of IOB's Digital Academy is a story waiting to unfold. The coolest part is that we embark on this adventure together, fueled by the spirit of exploration and the promise of a brighter, more innovative tomorrow.
