Pilot Program Brings More Art, Innovation, and Collaboration to Schools

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our survey data showed that parents and students want more art and hands-on learning in schools. Teachers want more time for planning and collaboration to bring effective and engaging instruction to students.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We heard you, and launched the Arts &amp; Innovation Collaboration pilot program this year at two schools, Blackford and Rosemary, then expanded it to some grade levels at Lynhaven. Our team of talented Innovation Specialists facilitate engaging innovation and art experiences with students, giving classroom teachers time during the school day to collaborate as professional learning communities.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>Positive Feedback</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teachers at both Blackford and Rosemary report that the ongoing collaboration time has been crucial for planning next steps for targeted instruction to support students&rsquo;&nbsp; learning. According to the survey provided to participating teachers, "It has given us time and a structure to really dig into our data so we can make strategic instructional choices that will move students forward.&rdquo;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;We are building ongoing access to innovation and the arts for and with our community,&rdquo; said Coordinator of Innovation, Teaching, and Learning Julie Goo.&nbsp;</span></p> <figure class="image align-left"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 15px 15px 0px;" class="" alt="woman works with two boys creating things with tape and cardboard" src="https://www.campbellusd.org/images/innovation%20showcase%202023-rosemary%20-%209.jpg" width="426" height="213" /> <figcaption><em>Families worked together at the Innovation Showcase.</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two Innovation Showcases in April highlighted the work at the two elementary schools. Students and parents were happily problem solving and discovering solutions to such challenges as coding mini robots to travel a path, building prototypes with raw materials,&nbsp; making freehand digital art, collaborating with Minecraft, and more. Displays of student work included their reflections about what they learned in the process.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Innovation is one of our Profile of a Graduate competencies, and we focus on tapping into students&rsquo; natural curiosity and desire to learn,&rdquo;</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">said Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. &ldquo;Their future workplaces will demand our competency skills of self direction, critical thinking, collaboration, empathy and innovation, and this is part of&nbsp; preparing&nbsp; them for success now and in their future.&rdquo;</span></p> <p><strong>Plans to Expand</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our two-school pilot this year, we are planning to expand our Innovation Specialist team to bring the program to more schools. We are building teams to provide experiences of arts, innovation and music. We are planning&nbsp; to provide these experiences for&nbsp;K - 5 students and through lunch clubs for our 6-8 grade students.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learn more about what students have been up to in the Innovation program this year on the </span><strong><a href="https://sites.google.com/campbellusd.org/innovation/home">Innovation Blog</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>

Survey data show it is what students, families and teachers want.

<p><span>Our survey data showed that parents and students want more art and hands-on learning in schools. Teachers want more time for planning and collaboration to bring effective and engaging instruction to students.</span></p> <p><span>We heard you, and launched the Arts &amp; Innovation Collaboration pilot program this year at two schools, Blackford and Rosemary, then expanded it to some grade levels at Lynhaven. Our team of talented Innovation Specialists facilitate engaging innovation and art experiences with students, giving classroom teachers time during the school day to collaborate as professional learning communities. </span></p> <p><strong>Positive Feedback</strong></p> <p><span>Teachers at both Blackford and Rosemary report that the ongoing collaboration time has been crucial for planning next steps for targeted instruction to support students’  learning. According to the survey provided to participating teachers, "It has given us time and a structure to really dig into our data so we can make strategic instructional choices that will move students forward.”</span></p> <p><span>“We are building ongoing access to innovation and the arts for and with our community,” said Coordinator of Innovation, Teaching, and Learning Julie Goo. </span></p> <p><img style="float:left" alt="woman works with two boys creating things with tape and cardboard" src="https://www.campbellusd.org/images/innovation%20showcase%202023-rosemary%20-%209.jpg" width="426" height="213"><br> <em>Families worked together at the Innovation Showcase.</em></p> <p><span>Two Innovation Showcases in April highlighted the work at the two elementary schools. Students and parents were happily problem solving and discovering solutions to such challenges as coding mini robots to travel a path, building prototypes with raw materials,  making freehand digital art, collaborating with Minecraft, and more. Displays of student work included their reflections about what they learned in the process.</span></p> <p><span>“Innovation is one of our Profile of a Graduate competencies, and we focus on tapping into students’ natural curiosity and desire to learn,”</span> <span>said Superintendent Shelly Viramontez. “Their future workplaces will demand our competency skills of self direction, critical thinking, collaboration, empathy and innovation, and this is part of  preparing  them for success now and in their future.”</span></p> <p><strong>Plans to Expand</strong></p> <p><span>With the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our two-school pilot this year, we are planning to expand our Innovation Specialist team to bring the program to more schools. We are building teams to provide experiences of arts, innovation and music. We are planning  to provide these experiences for K - 5 students and through lunch clubs for our 6-8 grade students.</span></p> <p><span>Learn more about what students have been up to in the Innovation program this year on the </span><strong><a href="https://sites.google.com/campbellusd.org/innovation/home">Innovation Blog</a>. </strong></p>

<p>Survey data show it is what students, families and teachers want.</p>

young boy drawing on paper as screen captures his art digitally