January 10th, 2022
Today was my first day at Perpich High School! I had chatted with my mentor, Cameron Browne, over the phone a few days prior to discuss what my expectations were, what I needed to get out of this experience logistically, as well as what I wanted to get out of this experience personally. It was great to have had the prior conversation before I went in. It really helped take away some of that initial nervousness and ease the transition into the classroom. I came in a few minutes earlier than normal to take a tour of Perpich, and have another quick conversation with Cameron about what they were working on and what I could expect from the day. The first block I observed was the Digital Illustration Class which was mainly Juniors and Seniors. I was able to introduce myself briefly, as well as observe how Cameron started his classes. I noticed that he spends a decent section of his time checking with students, not only about upcoming events and assignments, but about their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. The second class I stayed for was the Digital Foundations class where they were finishing up an animation project on phenomimes. I appreciated seeing the conversation between Cameron and the students who were struggling to grasp the more conceptual assignment. Although it felt uncomfortable for the student to not understand the concept, by framing questions that were more open ended, Cameron and I were able to facilitate a discussion and lead her to a deeper understanding rather than explicitly giving examples for a quick solution. It was a lovely moment.
January 13th, 2022
Today I was able to start the Digital Illustration class by taking ten minutes and giving a brief presentation on my practice, my work, and my life. Since I am coming in right at the transitions of quarters, it’s hard to get some of those student connections right away, however I felt like showing my work helped them better understand who I was and where I was coming from when I give feedback or suggestions. During this class, students were given work time with the added responsibility of taking down their previous gallery show. I think it’s fantastic that Perpich makes patching walls, and deinstalling such a big part of the gallery experience. In Digital Foundations, the class was mainly given work time for their phenomime projects. During that time I circled the room and checked in with students about progress, troubleshooting, or any other issues they might be working through. I am definitely a new entity in the classroom that some students seem wary of, so I look forward to getting to know each and every one of them a little better.