For discussing material related to an exhibit or documentary in a small group:
First, explore the exhibit website, and read through the review, or watch the full documentary and take notes. These notes should consider questions like: What is the curator, author or film director trying to say? Do I agree with what they seem to be saying? Are there any words or references I don’t know? Are there any parts of the text or commentary I don’t understand? What sources or examples are being referenced by the curator, author or film director?
Each small group will have an assigned Discussion Leader, Note Taker and Spokesperson. After everyone in the group is done processing the material, the Discussion Leader will ask each question to their peers. As people in the group are responding, the Note Taker will write down some key observations from the group in response to each question. At the end of the activity time, the Spokesperson will use these notes to reflect back to the whole class what came up in their small group conversation. The Discussion Leader, Note Taker and Spokesperson are all expected to contribute their thoughts and observations during the discussion.
If reflecting on the material related to an exhibit or documentary as a journal entry:
First, explore the exhibit website, and read through the review, or watch the full documentary and take notes. These notes should consider questions like: What is the curator, author or film director trying to say? Do I agree with what they seem to be saying? Are there any words or references I don’t know? Are there any parts of the text or commentary I don’t understand? What sources or examples are being referenced by the curator, author or film director?
Then, begin to think through the questions on the page. You can answer each question directly, or use the questions as a jumping off point for additional reflection or a consideration of related issues. You can quote the exhibit text, article or film directly, or paraphrase elements that you think should be referenced in your journal entry. Your final journal entry should be one to two paragraphs in length.
When working on a design activity in a small group:
First, review the reference material and share your observations on the design with your peers. In each group, there will be an assigned Note Taker, Visualizers and Spokesperson. Begin the steps of the design process, starting with ideation. Everyone in the group should share at least one original idea for the design concept, and the group note taker will write down each person’s contribution. Then, discuss how these ideas will take visual shape. Your group may want to choose one idea to focus on materializing, or you may want to experiment with multiple ideas. The Visualizers, along with other group members, will sketch these concepts either with pen or pencil and paper or digitally with a program like Draw, Sketchbook or Whiteboard. The Spokesperson will present the groups ideas to the class, and will outline the ideation process and why the group made the design decisions that they did. Each design should be saved and shared among the group members.
When developing a design activity individually:
First, analyze the reference material and make notes of your observations. How would you describe the designs? What do you notice about the forms? Then, begin the ideation process. Try to come up with 2-3 different concepts that you could visualize, and write them down. Sketch at least one of these concepts visually, either with pen or pencil and paper, or digitally, with a program like Draw, Sketchbook or Whiteboard. You may want to make multiple versions of a single design, refining elements along the way, or you may choose to pursue rougher sketches of multiple ideas. Be sure to save and document your work.
