For this week’s blog post, I was inspired by the podcasting Writer’s Workshop the learners in Discovery Studio have been working on this session. You can listen to the podcast and read the transcript below.
1, 2, 3. Testing, testing, testing.
If you were to walk through the halls of Discovery Studio, you would hear a lot of sounds. You might hear the voices of learners with their project groups, heads bent toward each other, collaborating and exchanging ideas. Or maybe you’d hear the sounds of feet padding through the hallway as learners find their focus area to work in the studio. You might hear learners engaging in thought provoking discussion while they sit in a circle, providing their input and listening to others’ perspectives in launch. You’ll likely hear a little laughter, or the tapping of computer keys as a learner focuses on morning work.
Lately, you might hear something like what you heard earlier, or the sound of learners talking into their computer microphones as they have begun recording their own podcasts in this session’s writer’s workshop, which inspired me to create a podcast for this blog post. With these podcasts, learners are given an opportunity to share their thoughts, stories, and experiences with their peers and with our greater community. All while honing their communication skills.
It’s amazing to see how they dive into the editing process, carefully crafting their message and adding personal flair to each episode. From hard hitting debates to a deep dive into their town, to informative podcasts about things like Mount Rushmore, learners explore and share their own interests and passions in a new, creative way.
Through this podcasting project, learners not only develop new skills in interviewing experts, recording and editing, but they also build a deeper sense of confidence and self awareness. They learn to share their voice. It’s truly incredible to witness how the learners can come together to create something that reflects their individual creativity and uses their voice to share their stories.
The podcasting Writer’s Workshop is just one of many avenues a learner can use to express themselves at The Village School. I asked one learner to tell me if he feels he has opportunities to showcase his individuality at school.
Yeah. I do because we get to choose our own work, and, like, we get to hold each other accountable. And, yeah, it’s it’s nice to be able to choose what you work on. And I feel like also we can express ourselves when we’re working together or doing creative projects.
Beyond Project and Writer’s Workshop, there are endless options for learners to use their voice and express their individuality. I asked two learners about some of the ways they get to be creative at The Village School.
Oh, Art! Art! Art and the Makerspace!
Yeah. Makerspace!
Yeah. They’re always, like, places that, like, that, like, you can express your creativity. They’re something fun. You don’t have to do them, but they’re fun.
I like expressing my creativity in, like, art, and I like sewing. And I also, like building stuff.
Fridays provide dedicated time for learners to engage in creative expression.On Fridays, the sounds of expression in Discovery Studio really come to life. You may hear music coming from the project room, or even maybe my voice asking learners about what they are creating in art. During this time, learners create open ended art projects that give them space to express their emotions, ideas, and creativity without constraints. As one learner describes.
I really like art because like whenever you do it… There’s no rules to do art!
On Fridays, you might also hear the sound of sewing machines, 3D printers, or tinkering with tools coming from the Makerspace. A dedicated space created by learners for learners to let their creativity run wild and learn about engineering and design.
Like, that’s just, like, all your own choice. Like, you well, other than, like because we have, like, a project and then you can kinda, like, go wild, make, like, what kinda resembles you. And during the Makerspace, you have, like, a lot of of resources that you can use and a lot of, like, ideas, and you can just really do anything.
I asked a few learners about being creative and how they display their individuality at school. Several expressed to me that their different projects they’ve worked on here at the village school, they have been able to grow in their ability to express themselves creatively and confidently.
But, I never knew that I like really talking to people because I used to be a shy kid… And now I really like talking to people.
This learner described her experience before coming to The Village School.
I learned, but I didn’t learn about my passions. And I wasn’t like a leader. I wasn’t a trailblazer.
But this learner would now describe herself as a trailblazer and a leader. And has found creative passions. And would even now say this.
I really I like talking to people. Like, talking to people.
You were the main talker! Whenever I was in your group and you were the main talker!
Yeah. I really like talking to people!
I asked this learner why she thinks The Village School has helped foster this ability to confidently express herself.
Here, they think of you as a learner who has passions that they want to let you go and to pursue, and yeah.
Another learner told me about some nervousness she had around public speaking. But she described the practice she’s gotten throughout projects and the confidence she’s gained in self expression during her time at The Village School.
I still – I still felt like I got over that fear because I’m not as scared anymore.
Another sound you might hear on a Friday is learners working on their passion projects, which will each sound vastly different from one learner to another. This session, there have been some exceptionally creative passion projects, as one learner describes.
Passion projects, always, you can go creative. You can go all out on them.
The same learner who described how she used to be shy and the learner who said she was previously nervous around public speaking have been working on a passion project this session where they’re directing their own play. They’ve been holding auditions where their fellow learners perform monologues. They’re choreographing dances, and will soon begin rehearsals and are considering costume design.
Other learners were inspired by using the software we use to record podcasts and have begun creating their own music and beats. Where even when lyrics are not included, they get to showcase a part of themselves.
Well, I feel like during making the song, when we, like, add different parts, it kinda maybe shows our personality. Yeah. Through what kind like, what it is.
It became clear to me in my interviews that the learners here deeply value the opportunities for creative expression and their ability to showcase their individual interests and talents or even to try a new creative endeavor.
I think I love it because expressing myself is a thing that needs to, like, be happen because you need to learn about yourself a lot. Because then you can, like, really know what’s your hobbies and what you like. Yeah.
That idea of learning about themselves was echoed by other learners.
TVS also lets us, like, do things that normal school wouldn’t let us do and let us express ourselves and our passions in different ways. In the makerspace, you can use a sewing machine, and maybe you find a new passion doing that. Maybe you want to sew more. Maybe that’s how you end up being a tailor or something like that.
Fashionista!
Or something like that.
That learner, who once described herself as shy, explained what it means to her to be able to express herself and learn to use her voice.
You have to be brave. You have to, like, put yourself out there. You have to, like, you know, let them hear your voice or else no one will ever hear your voice.
The sounds of Discovery Studio are more than just background noise. They represent the diverse ways in which our learners are exploring and expressing their creativity. From podcasts to art, from passion projects to tinkering in the Makerspace, learners at The Village School are developing not only new skills, but also the confidence to use their voices in meaningful ways. Whether they’re sharing a story, building something from scratch, or creating art, each sound is a testament to their growth, their individuality, and their endless potential. Here, every voice is valued and every learner has the opportunity to let their creativity soar.
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