Designing Client-Based Projects Heather Nellis & Carisa Barnes 11 th Grade Team School of Digital Media & Design Kearny Educational Complex

Presentation Overview External Client-Based Project Considerations Students Teachers & Standards Client Project Outcomes & Design

Student Considerations Skillset & Demographic Who are your students? What experiences do they bring to the project/grade level? What are the demographics? Student buy-in Choose a project/client that students will find engaging and valuable

Teacher Considerations What teachers are working together? Value of common prep time Address student concerns regularly Integrate classes

Standards Considerations Choose a discipline to anchor the project. Where will the project culminate? What disciplines are represented? What industry standards will be met? What kind of project makes sense within the context? Is there a specific industry that work work best as a client or does it matter? What is the perfect client/project scenario?

Client Considerations Is the client able to work with class size? What is the client need for product students would create? Student buy-in How will this experience add value to their lives?

Client Considerations Cost/Benefit to client Time commitment Hinder to business? Surfrider, whether they used product or not, met their goal of students being informed and educated about initiatives

How Do We Choose the Client? Which discipline drives the project? For example, is the project history based? Science based? Phase I: Surfrider anchored in science Phase II: Local Chapters of Political Parties-anchored in US History

How Do We Choose the Client? Research industry and client Explore their website What are needs in volunteer categories How could our product/service fit that need Get administrator approval!

Bringing the Client to the Classroom Client-student interaction-establish professional standards of conduct for phone, , and face to face communication Determine milestones – arrange for students to present for client feedback various times throughout the length of project Final product presentations-decide on context of presentations-business partner panel, one on one with client, City Council

Getting Students out of the Classroom 4 Ideas that have worked for us: 1.Field Trips 2.Classroom Without Wall 3.Get Students Connected to Client & Context Beach cleanups, attend monthly meetings, Earth Day 4.Volunteer Opportunities

Designing the Project Some Important Aspects We Consider: Determine length of project Create realistic timeline and be flexible during the year Work within school year parameters, i.e., grading periods and standardized testing windows Begin with the end in mind-create essential question(s) that will drive the project-our Surfrider essential question is: How do students create industry standard products for a professional client?

Designing the Project Summer Institute Summer Institute Take advantage of time to integrate and plan Develop standards-based lessons that integrate the various disciplines and actualize industry standards Create common rubrics-less grading! More meaningful for students! Integrate FUN! How can the experience be fun and rewarding for students? One idea is field trips that educate as well as create a sense of community amongst students and staff

Contact Information Heather Nellis Carisa Barnes This PowerPoint can be downloaded at: