Vision to Practice
A. Introduction: Who are we?
Morgan Gardner is the principle research of a Vision to Practice research. Her passion around youth voice and youth engagement in education as been the momentum behind our efforts. Offering her expertise but allowing the group to be independent thinkers, a powerful team was formed. Morgan has created within us all a vision and an appreciation of youth voice, and a determination to rise above and beyond what we as youth thought we were capable of.
Linda Brown is a graduating student of the Murphy Centre. She attended the Murphy Centre from January 2007 to June 2008. Her experience at the Murphy Centre opened many windows of opportunity for Linda. Joining a Vision to Practice research group enabled her to discover her love and natural talent of active research and analytical thinking. She will be attending Memorial University in September in the field of biology and will continue doing research for many years to come.
Joey Bellissimo is also a graduating student of the Murphy Centre. His year at the Murphy Centre allowed many new friendships and opportunities to blossom. Joey discovered he had a love of active research, and has been a great contribution to our discussions and activities. Joey plans to attend MUN sometime in the future, and knows that active research will always be a part of who is he.
Deanne Power
Roger Patey
Tracey Stamp
Ann McCann
Carol Myles
Denise Hatchett
B. Purpose:
To empower youth to use their voices, and to be advocates in educational change. To inspire youth voice and create strength behind youth voice. To come up with a new way, a new curriculum, a new way of thinking- which allows youth to be decision makers in their own education.
C. Process:
Start date:
February 12th, 2008
Anticipated end date:
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
Youth Participants:
Linda Brown, Joey Bellissimo, Deanne Power, Tracey Stamp, Roger Patey
Facilitator Participants:
Ann McCann, Carol Myles, Denise Hatchett, Morgan Gardner
Dates of the meetings:
1. Feb. 12, 2008 First meeting Morgan, Ann, Carol and Denise met
2. Feb. 29th, 2008 Second meeting, introducing the youth participants
3. March 4th, 2008 Why action research is important to us/ our vision
4. March 6th, 2008 Ideas for Change at the Murphy Centre
5. March 10th, 2008 Discussed details on changes that were important to us
6. March 12th, 2008 Deanne, Linda and Joey met to plan for Open Forum
7. March 13th, 2008 Cancelled due to a snow day
8. March 14th, 2008 Watched films on Youth Leadership in their own education
9. March 19th, 2008 Rich conversation about people's personal stories
10. March 20th, 2008 Various conversations; talk about why people love the centre
11. April 2nd, 2008 Joey and Linda went class to class to ask participants what changes they'd like to see.
12. April 9th, 2008 Discussed participant idea collection and impact
13. April 14th, 2008 Brought together all the information we collected from participants and put the ideas under categories we call the Wheel of Fortune
14. April 16th, 2008 Went into depth on ideas of alternative curriculums, art in the curriculum, and making the curriculum as alternative as possible.
15. May 30th, 2008 Planned an agenda for our retreat
16. June 10th, 2008 Our Retreat; Discussed upcoming plans for dissemination, final report, etc.
Places we met:
The Murphy Centre
The Presentation Sisters Retreat
D1. IDEAS OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE MURPHY CENTRE
Social Environment
quiet room for study, picnic tables, butt can, vending machines, water cooler, more food, couches, better parking, ice cube trays, change machine, quiet space, outdoor space for hanging, garbage can near where people hang out, childcare centre within school, spirit building activities
Student-Teacher Relationship
unified advisory process
Peer Relationship
lunchtime activities, hockey pool, rap sessions, promoting diversity, peer counseling, student council
Learning Content
more school books, music classes, computers, other language courses, GED, lunch time activities, book available for general interest, advanced courses, alternative curriculum alongside regular curriculum, how can we make the regular curriculum as alternative as possible, expand science curriculum, art, making curriculum relevant to student lives within regular curriculum, workshops, social curriculum, expand library curriculum
Learning Process
Programs outside of school, more classes per day, transportation, independent courses, J.C., workshops on critical reflection, recognize different learning styles, learning resource room, student voice in all aspects of learning, facilitator led academic ABE
Assessing Student Progress
Mutual Accountability
Awareness of the school system, self-advocacy, comment box to hear peoples opinions on the changes that are underway, bus passes or our own school bus, commitment to come to school, discussion of complexity around staying in school, fundraising, drug awareness, safety of ourselves and others, getting paid to attend school
Community Relationship
a float in the annual St. John's Christmas parade, day care, hikes, booth in Regatta, camping trip, senior sleepover, fundraising, peer-counselling
Health and Fitness
School nurse-medical advice, active living, healthy living, track and field, mini gym
D2. Brainstorming Most Popular/Valued Ideas
LOUNGE
-virtues project
-unity through diversity might mean alternate title
ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM
-talk to Tim
-Should we do it here or start a new broader initiative
ART IN CURRICULUM
-Finding out what participants want
-Explore which art programs would be best
- Art outside the Murphy Centre (ie Community artrs project) would get connected somehow to the academic site
-Speak with Tim and Trudy
-An art group at lunch might be an idea
_Supplies ( how to make them available, locked cabinet, sign out,designated space)
- Would it be a high school credit course or an alternative or an integration into existing course)
-Explore why youth need art
MAKING CURRENT CURRICULUM AS ALTERNATIVE AS POSSIBLE
- How do youth already make curriculum alternative
- How do facilitators already make curriculum alternative
- Cooperative learning
-Where does funding come from
-Idea that we could try to get funding to develop a program to create 10 activities for each course that would make it alternative
- theme approach
- Could we make courses alternative for each individual
- Learning outside the textbook
- different styles of learning better accomodated ( more interactive, hands on learning, feild trips etc)
OPTIONS ON LEARNING
-Independent learning centre
-In class
-At home
ACTIVE LIVING
- issue of conflict resolution
SPIRIT BUILDING
JUDICIAL COMMITTEE
INDEPENDENT LEARNING CENTRE
E. IDEAS WE ACTUALIZED/INFLUENCED:
1.Collecting Ideas from the Murphy Centre community- When our group began we discussed the changes we'd like to see within our school. Then, when asked what changes we wanted to pursue, our group decided we'd like to ask the student body what they think. We created a bulliton board asking participants at the Murphy Centre the changes they would like to see, and then went further by going class to class to give a short presentation and collect ideas.
2.Lounge Project- The lounge is in the process of being very artistically painted with dragons and wolves, etc. There were meetings with Murphy Centre participants to talk about The Virtues Project and to allow participants to decide what kinds of things they'd like to see painted on the walls.
3.Murphy Centre Clean-up- Talk arose of the outside of the Murphy Centre looking dirty. Participants and staff at the Murphy Centre spent a few hours outdoors cleaning up garbage and cigarette butts and then had hot dogs for lunch.
4.Guitar and Drum Group- People talked about wanting to be able to do more things that they were interested in during times when they don't have class. Guitar group and drum group were both held at different lunch times for participants and staff to come together and experiment with instruments and music on all different levels.
5.Personal Changes within Participants-
6.Influence on others- Influenced facilitators to think more about youth voice, alternative curriculum, and alternative ways of facilitating.
7.Outdoor Garbage Can Moved- Our group brought up the issue that the outside of the Murphy Centre looked dirty. There was a garbage can outside but our group thought that it wasn't in a good location, and people weren't using it. With the permission from the Murphy Centre, we moved the garbage can to an area where people hang out.
8.Alternative Course in Progess- Our studies and involvement with the Murphy Centre inspired a facilitator to pursue an idea that she had. She is now in the process of creating an alternative world history course (a local course) which focuses on the peaceful resolutions to world conflicts, and also includes a lot of history that is left out of the traditional world history, such as the underground railway, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, etc.
F. The Personal Impact
G. Dissemination
Video
Report
Multi media bulliton board in Murphy Centre hall
Pictures
Presentation at Murphy Centre's September orientation
Presentation to different community groups with high numbers of marginilized youth
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