Thursday, October 9, 2014

Week 4: Achieving Greatness and Your Mentor

Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, "Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life." He adds that when you live from your passion, you're on the path to greatness. When you live from your passion, you're in line with your purpose and that, says Dyer, is when things just click. Things work out for you. Magic happens. As Dyer once put it, don't go to the grave with your music still inside of you.

Before we dive into the focus of the 20% time project today, ask yourself this question: "Are you worthy of greatness?" 

The answer is yes -- of course you are -- but do YOU believe it? Or are you holding yourself back?

We, as a human species, are capable of far more than we limit ourselves to and, often times, we are the ones who hold ourselves back from greatness. The trick is a subtle shift in thinking and recognizing whenever a self-limiting thought creeps up. 

Now, onto the 20% time project. 

If there's one thing I've learned from interviewing some of the greatest movers and shakers of our time, it's that no one gets to greatness alone. You need mentors. You need help. But so many people don't open themselves to help because they see asking for help as a weakness.

It's not. Asking for help is a sign of strength. 

Your focus today:

1. Who is your mentor(s) and why?


We're full swing into the 20% project and many of you have a solid idea of what you want to achieve with your project. Last week, you took a look at creating a SMART goal and that helped many narrow down their focus.

Here are a couple projects students are working on which are truly quite awesome:
  • Creating a "Before I Die" Board for Ketcham High School
  • Forming a band
  • Gain health by losing 50 lbs
  • Creating a website to showcase photography and launch photography career
  • Visiting a therapeutic horseback riding center weekly or biweekly
A quick heads up: 

In about two weeks time, you will be pitching your project to the rest of the class. I'm still working out the details and will finalize it by next week.

Here's a helpful article about the power of failing forward. 

All right students, we be jammin'







Friday, October 3, 2014

Week 3: What to Blog About? Be SMART


Ladies and gentlemen, can you imagine that you're already on to your third blog post?

This week, you are to create a SMART Goal and pitch your project to your classmates.

1. Create a SMART goal for your project which covers the following,


S - specifically state what you are going to do.


M - how will you measure your success?


A - how will you start taking action now?


R - why is this goal realistic for you?


T - what will you finish by holiday break?





2. In your blog post, include the following:

- the audience (who you are designing for or the perfect avatar user)

- the SMART Goal

- the timeline of deliverables and the proposed tangible or digital results

- the supplies and funding needed

- why you are excited to do this

Once you have these down, it’s time to start canvassing. Share your project idea with your classmates and collect ten signatures from them. Use the handout provided. They must print/sign their name in approval of your project.

Spread some love for your fellow classmates and take a look at all the amazingness you all are creating this year. Click this link to view other students' #20time projects.

And here's the poodle picture of the week.



Friday, September 26, 2014

Week 2: Design Thinking Level 1 Empathy: The Need and The Feed

Dear Awesome Students,

Each week you are to write a blog post that reflects on your 20% project. You may write whatever you wish relating to your project as long as you fulfill the length requirements (150-750 words w/ engaging photo). I will provide you with writing prompts which you are welcome to use each week if you are struggling to come up with your weekly reflection.

What's the purpose of the blog posts? For you to share your thoughts and reflections on your 20% Project (much like a journal). This helps you learn, helps me understand your learning process, and also helps other students around the world create more epic projects.


The Future of Education. I, along with other teachers around the world, think that the future of education should be (and will be) a place for students to create meaningful projects that help students deepen what it is they are passionate about. I have no doubt that many of you will create a project that will inspire your life's purpose, receive major accolades in the world, or perhaps launch you further down your road to awesomeness.


What do you need to do well with the 20% project? You need grit, determination, and the willingness to dig deep, be real and vulnerable. Allow yourself to experiment creating something amazing.




Before you go further:

Have you entered your blog in this form? If so, continue on. If not, do that first. 

Now, on to today's blog focus: Firstly, please say hello to Design Thinking (copy this chart in your notes):




The first stage of design thinking involves getting a greater sense of the needs of a community. 

What problems do we face on a local or global scale? 

On this week's blog post, please write about the need you may be serving. The need is the hole you are filling, the purpose you are serving, the reason your project is needed. The feed  (which we'll get to later) is how you are delivering a solution to the problem being solved. Take a look at this website for examples of how other students around the world have identified a need and created a feed.

Keep in mind that the need and the feed could be simple. For instance, I identified a need (some cancer warriors need wigs) and I fed that need by donating my hair to Wigs for Kids. 




Cheers and do continue to be remarkable,

-Mark Guay 

P.S. Here is the poodle picture of the week. 


P.P.S. Here is also a long list of helpful websites to spur your creativity:

100 Happy Days - http://100happydays.com/
Animation and Stop Motion - Resources Here
Arduino (must purchase kit/parts) - http://arduino.cc/
Curiosity.com - https://curiosity.com/
Digital Photography - Challenges Here
Digital Video - Challenges Here
DIY Science & Math - http://howtosmile.org/
Snapguide DIY - http://snapguide.com/
Game Making - Tools Here
Give It 100 Challenge - https://giveit100.com/
Innovation Challenges - See them here
Jewelry Making - Tools/Ideas Here
Know More in 60 Seconds - http://www.knowmoreinsixtyseconds.com/#/
Learn Guitar - Resources Here
Podcasting - Challenges Here
Programming - Resources Here
Spoken Word/Poetry - http://www.poetrysoup.com/
The Kid Should See This - http://thekidshouldseethis.com/
The Tinkering Studio (must purchase a kit) - http://tinkering.exploratorium.edu/projects
Wonderopolis - http://wonderopolis.org/

Friday, September 19, 2014

Week 1: Let's Begin, Shall We?

To get things started, here is your mission:
  • Create a blog account and write your first post. For your first post, write about what you are thinking of creating for your #20time project. You may also write out a list of all the things you want to create in your life. From this list, you just may find one project that you could do with #20time. Feel free to also include your thoughts on what you hope to learn from this and perhaps vent some fears you have with it. 
To help you set up your #20time blog, watch this video for help (thanks to Mr. Roberto).

Before you write your blog post, you may Google around to see what other students have created with their #20time projects. 

Here are a few links you may check out, but make sure to explore the spontaneity that a Google search may bring.


Here are two student blogs from previous years to give you an idea of what you could work on, including a video from what students at York School have built:

Keep in mind:
  • Blog posts should be between 150-750 words and you will need to post a blog at least once per week. 
Once you complete your blog, please visit this form and complete it. You will need to submit your blog URL to me so that I can check it out every week.


Get ready to roar with awesomeness!




P.S. I tend to have a poodle mascot for each blog post. 

P.P.S. For teachers, here is a link to the presentation I show to the students on day one.