Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Piterson: The Legs Emerge

The Skeleton's LegsAfter focusing exclusively on aquarium management for a time, Piterson realized that he had inadvertently abandoned his wooden skeleton.  He spoke with the IP faculty, who in turn suggested that he bring his work into "The Makers' Space":  the upstairs, art-meets-IP studio in the IP building. If Piterson positioned himself in a workspace, we explained, perhaps he might see new routes for his project.

Since this move, Piterson has admirably regained momentum.  He began to gather sticks in earnest from the woods surrounding Kildonan.  He also received the support of the entire community in acquiring a saw table; the cleanness of his creations immediately improved due to the clamps and equipment that came with this tool.  He blew up pictures of the leg and projected them upon a giant flatscreen TV in the studio, rotating 3D models  of bones using software on his computer.  Ultimately, he moved forward using a combination of the visual and kinesthetic:  adding to his skeleton using the saw table, studying an image, spinning it, finding another, studying that, and continuing to build.

All of this diligent work allowed Piterson to present a surprise to the IP team:  two finished legs (upper, lower, feet, and toes).  He should feel proud of his creations, for they are not only beautiful works of art but also the products of an emerging understanding of the human body.  And...where will he go next? He is already traveling up the body to consider the construction of the pelvis.

Have a thought to share? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of the image:  Piterson holding his skeleton's legs.  Photo taken by IP faculty.

Monday, April 27, 2015

College, Here We Come!

CollegeWith only twenty-eight school days remaining in Kildonan's academic year, all graduating students (seniors and PG's) have their minds on college.  As they continue to announce their final decisions, we would like to celebrate with two statistics:

(1) Our 10 students have successfully been accepted to 30 institutions of higher education.  Please consult the full list below (and check out the sites and Twitter profiles to boot!).

(2) Thus far, our students have earned $1,121,000 in possible scholarship moneys.

Thank you, Kildonan, for encouraging these students in their educational pursuits.  A big thanks goes out to Joy Klvana (our indomitable college advisor) as well as the tutors of senior students; your guidance, organization, and support have proven invaluable.  Finally, we would like to thank the future graduates themselves.  You have won over interesting and exciting schools, and we look forward to seeing how you apply your intellectual and personal prowess in the future.
  1. Berry College
    1. Twitter:  @berrycollege
  2. Brevard College
  3. Cazenovia College
    1. Twitter:  @CazCollege
  4. College of St Rose
    1. Twitter: @CollegeofStRose
  5. Columbia College Chicago
    1. Twitter: @ColumbiaChi
  6. Curry College
    1. Twitter:  @CurryEdu
  7. Duthchess Community College
  8. Flagler College
    1. Twitter:  @FlaglerCollege
  9. Florida Southern College
    1. Twitter:  @FSCadmissions
  10. Full Sail University
    1. Twitter:  @FullSail
  11. Goucher College
    1. Twitter:  @gouchercollege
  12. Johnson and Wales University
  13. Long Island University (LIU):  Post
    1. Twitter:  @LIUPost
  14. Lynn University
    1. Twitter:  @LynnUniversity
  15. Marist College
    1. Twitter:  @Marist
  16. Marlboro College
    1. Twitter:  @MarlboroCollege
  17. MECA(Maine College of Art)
    1. Twitter:  @mecaart
  18. MICA(Maryland Institute College of Art)
    1. Twitter:  @mica_news
  19. Mitchell College
    1. Twitter: @MitchellCollege
  20. Naugatuck Valley Community College
  21. Pace University
    1. Twitter:  @PaceUniversity
  22. Quest University (Canada)
    1. Twitter:  @QuestUniCanada
  23. Sarah Lawrence College
    1. Twitter:  @SarahLawrence
  24. SCAD(Savannah College of Art and Design)
    1. Twitter:  @SCADdotedu
  25. Sewanee:  The University of the South
    1. Twitter:  @univofthesouth
  26. St Thomas Aquinas
    1. Twitter: @STAC_edu
  27. Suffolk Community College
    1. Twitter:  @SUNYSFLK
  28. Western Connecticut University
  29. University of Connecticut:  Waterbury
    1. Twitter: @UConn
  30. University of North Carolina:  Asheville
    1. Twitter:  @UncAvl
Have a thought to share? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of image:  Students at Reed College.  Photo located at http://www.reed.edu/.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the picture above.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

IP Meets the Board of Trustees

On Friday, April 17th, the IP community celebrated an unprecedented event.  Four students - Tim, Trey, Khaled, and Bull - organized a presentation for Kildonan's Board of Trustees.  Led by Tim, this panel sought to share their projects and request funding for the program.  Their primary reason for the presentation, however, was to educate.  They wished to discuss schooling more generally and to tout the powerful self-directed learning that occurs within IP.

The presentation was a hit for both students and trustees alike.  Equipped with talking points as well as images of students at-work, the IPians spoke eloquently about IP.  They each shared their stories in the program and disclosed the particular benefits that they continue to reap from the IP community.  The Board, in turn, provided inquiries that launched an engaging Q&​A session.  During this time, the students were able to speak more specifically to the logistics of the program, sharpen their pedagogical comments, and meditate on IP's structure for the 2015-2016 academic year.  Once the meeting broke up, too, the board members convened with individual students to engage in one-on-one discussions that proved enthusiastic and supportive.

Thank you, fellow IPians, for supporting these four students as they designed and executed this presentation.  Thank you, Tim, Trey, Khaled, and Bull, for representing your community members and for facilitating a thought-provoking, professional discussion.  Thank you, Mr. Pendergast, for scheduling IP into the Board's agenda.  Last but not least, thank you, Trustees, for proving a receptive audience and for supporting the program as it looks to the future.

Have something to share? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of images:  IP student panel, top right.  Board members listening to presentation, bottom left.  Photos taken by IP faculty.

Monday, April 20, 2015

IP Luncheon & Moving Forward

The Luncheon Underway (2)On Friday, April 10th, the IP community shifted part of its focus to the future.  Early in the afternoon, current IPians organized a luncheon for prospective students.  Over pizza and soda, they considered expert questions concerning a number of issues (e.g., the program's structure and requirements, collaboration between IPians, "product"- vs. "process"-based learning).  Current IP students also shared stories of their own experiences within IP, explaining the tribulations early on as well as the conventions, internships, concerts, and other opportunities that they celebrate in the present.  The meal disbanded with a sense of hope, with the promise that other students might soon enter the fold of the IP community.

Indeed, this feeling has borne fruit.  Since the initial luncheon three weeks ago, the IP faculty have been speaking with prospective students every few days.  Current sophomores and juniors alike have requested meetings, and they bring a host of possible topics to buoy the program for the 2015-2016 academic year:  fashion, environmental science, physical therapy, outdoor adventure education, etc.  Despite some differences, they share fundamental attributes with one another.  They approach these meetings seriously; faces earnest, they are concerned how they can best prepare themselves for a college - and life - after Kildonan.

The Luncheon Underway (1)No matter the changes the program undergoes - including projected increases in its enrollment - we look forward to the challenges and joys of meeting the needs of another IP community in the future.

Description of images:  Current IPians facilitating the discussion with prospective students, top right and bottom left.  All photos taken by IP faculty.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Misha Tours 56 Leonard St.

It all started with an image.  One day, knowing Misha's interest in land development and real estate, Micki brought him a brochure.  It depicted 56 Leonard Street, a 60 story skyscraper under construction in Tribeca, NY.  As Misha intuited, 56 Leonard is not just any building.  Designed by Pritzker Prize (@PritzkerPrize)-winning Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meruon (@HerzogdeMeuron), the structure boasts 145 "spatially innovative" homes ranging from 3,000 to 17,000 square feet stacked one upon the other in jutting, irregular arrangements (as described by the firm, the building consists of "houses stacked in the sky.").  When finished, 56 Leonard will also house a specially-commissioned work by Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor.  Soaking in all of these details, Misha felt spellbound.  He was captivated by that one image.

Misha, pictured within 56 Leonard56 Leonard, pictured in-developmentSince this initial hypnosis, Misha infused 56 Leonard into his work, even crafting a paper model of the building in his art class.  Recently, too, a break arrived.  Returning from Killington, Misha was traveling with a Kildonan parent who happens to be wedded to one of the building's developers.  Misha detailed his interest in the building, and not soon after, an agreement was met:  he would tour the building with the developer.

If Misha felt inspired looking at the pictures of 56 Leonard, he felt even more so while touring the space.  The materials are hand-picked; only the finest elements (such as Turkish marble) compose the living spaces.  The view from the 40th floor too, he stated, was amazing; notably, it sells for $17 million.  The clientele do not find this price a stumbling block either, for at least 92% of the living spaces have already been purchased.  For the visual impressions of Misha's trip, please consult the photos placed throughout the post.

View from 56 LeonardMisha's experience does not quite end there either.  After submitting a resume to the developer in search of an internship, Misha has secured an internship with Alexico Group (@AlexicoGroup)'s The Mark Hotel (@TheMarkHotelNY), is speaking to a NYC real estate agent, and will perhaps explore the Silo Ridge development in Amenia, NY.

These opportunities evince, first, the power of IP:  the real, meaningful work that can come from independent time, compassionate contacts, and passion-based learning.  More specifically, of course, they speak to Misha's talents and to his budding professional skills.

What do you think of Misha's work? Have you seen the building, and are you familiar with Anish Kapoor's work? Please post in the comments section below on Misha, 56 Leonard, Anish Kapoor, The Mark Hotel, etc.

Description of 1st image:  Concept art of 56 Leonard Street, top right.  Photo located at therealdeal.com.  Kildonan and its IP program claim no ownership over the picture above.

Description of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th images:  Misha pictured in 56 Leonard, left.  A shot of the building from the street, at right.  The view from the 40th floor of 56 Leonard, bottom right.  All photos taken by Misha.

Monday, April 13, 2015

"This Is Genius," by Ryan Lotocki

What follows is a spoken word poem by student Ryan Lotocki (filmed by: Nick Stroczkowski and Kurt Schlewitt).  Rather than provide an introduction for this video, we will remain silent and allow it to speak for itself.


What did you think? Please post in the comments section.  * If you would like to consult a transcript, please see below: *

---
School Sucks. Now don’t get me wrong I believe everyone should have a general education. But when I know how to solve quadratic equations with imaginary roots graphically and am not sure how that applies to life… Or better yet, learned Cleopatra slept around, but never heard the history of my own city- you've failed. Now I’m not trying to sound cruel, but we live in a generation that would much rather smoke a joint then show up to school and to be honest, I’m tired of placing all the blame on them. I mean are we just pawns in a chess game waiting to accept their fate? Could the whole point of High School simply be just to graduate? You tell us to follow our dreams but have a plan B and don’t you see? The more you try to protect the children in this way, the more you reject the gifts they are trying to portray. See, school is a project in which students never get the chance to project their abilities. Having to follow a curriculum and take required classes, while stereo-typically the kid with high grades and glasses will make it into college and is more intelligent. Well, how about the student whose “Ingenious”, “In ordinary”, “Innovative”, “Intellectual”, “Incalculable”, “Inquisitive”, and has good intentions to change the world with his passion. I believe educating him would be something along the lines of ineluctable.

Take a musician for example: See to him, a score on a math exam will never mean as much as the score in front of him. Why waste his time trying to count and measure when he can already count each measure with just the tap of his foot- See this is genius; watch as the bow grazes against the instrument and his fingers pluck and pull at each string appropriately that creates a sound that just makes his body sway. But if he is controlled by a bell that just rings I guess you could say the school’s pulling his strings.

Or how about the cook with only a seventh grade reading level. If his ingredient list is not written in MLA format I think he’ll do just fine. Does his grammar matter when where you choose to dine is on the line and I’m not talking about margin. But when it comes to margarine and butter he actually knows the difference. He couldn't care less about the sophisticated words coming out of his mouth and more about the food going into yours- See this is genius. And if that doesn't fill the Hunger Games appetite you couldn't even think the Grapes of Wrath might.

Some Brilliance is as simplistic as hitting a ball. It doesn't matter if her science grade is an atrocity because I've never seen anyone spike a ball with so much strength, precision, and velocity, and the only elements she need know are those of speed and surprise, but to her parents’ eyes sports are just a waste of time- See this is genius. Practicing for so long she has little time to study for chemistry the only question remaining is, why can’t you be more like your sister Emily? What’s the matter? Kind of ironic though because like life, when it comes to school versus education every things the matter.

Putting children on an assembly line that has checkpoints. Where there only goal is to get us from point A to point Z but if we only get to F then we've failed. Plus our values and gifts are locked up and jailed. And why do we take tests? To tell us we’re wrong? It’s a number, not my wife. There is so much more to life than a grade in a book and what even of the SAT I just took. Because we all receive a number or a grade if you will, but our answers are locked up in vaults. Was the point to learn, or the thrill? And Common Core won’t solve anything so take a chill pill. We are not here to memorize facts but figure our future; and if the future holds taking a test to see who’s the best I want no part in that, there’s a fact. Now while I’m speaking to adults, I’m relating to the youth. I’m not pointing out your faults, but showing you the truth. Stop labeling us by standards and put us all on an even playing field. But let us choose our positions based on our passions, values, and where we can be proactive. Make schooling less multiple choice and more... Interactive. Because maybe your exponential at math, but that’s not how he functions because we all don’t have the same mechanics. Or possibly, you rock at science but in her opinion she’d rather not fill her head with space.

We are all sculpted in a different way. All made with different values, ideas, and clay; and if during my day, the only offered opportunity is continuity I could never get the chance to say: I am genius.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Brandon Busteed: "What can schools do?"

 
Speaker, author, social entrepreneur, and executive director of Gallup Education (@GallupEducation), Brandon Busteed (@brandonbusteed) possesses vision.  He has set his eyes on creating "a national movement to measure the educational outcomes that matter most, connect education to jobs and job creation, and to promote a paradigm shift from knowledge mastery to emotional engagement in education" (for the source of this passage, click here).  This is no short order, especially concerning the resistance so often seen by educators in the classroom as well as the turbulent "emotions" surrounding Common Core.  So where does a concerned student, parent, or educator start?

Busteed begins to answer this question in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (@NAISNetwork) video above.  Although he offers several cogent points, one in particular proves particularly striking:
There's a lot of things that schools can do. There's a lot of things that adults in any kind of mentoring or coaching role can do.  I mean, one is we need to change what we value. ... If we really care about people being engaged in what they're doing and thriving in their well-being, we would refocus our priorities on things like spending more time allowing students to explore what they're good at.
What do you think of Busteed's talk? Please post in the comments section below.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Important Update: Name Change

The IP community would like to announce that we will be instituting a name change.  Details on the "why" and "what" are soon to follow.

?

"Why Curriculum Constrains Learning," by Harold Jarche

Educating Modern Learners (EML)We in IP believe strongly not only in championing the conditions that allow authentic student-driven learning but also in connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations.  One of these is Educating Modern Learners (EML), an educator's portal created by longtime educator and technological expert Will Richardson (@willrich45) and Bruce Dixon (@bruceadixon), respectively.  This site offers insights into the new learning contexts that teachers, administrators, parents, and students themselves must confront in the 21st century.

International consultant, speaker, and educational "subversive" Harold Jarche (@hjarche) published an article on EML entitled "Why Curriculum Constrains Learning" (April 2, 2015).  Within, he questions one of education's benchmarks.  He posits that "Curriculum is a type of confinement: a confinement of learning experiences. Defined content, isolated classrooms, and fragmented schedules of time, coupled with impersonal testing, are institutional bullying."  Though some may consider Jarche too strident, he encourages all of us - the IP community, Kildonan, parents, students, administrators, and others - to evaluate educational practice using the questions, "Do our students need to know anything? If so, what?" Once we begin to posit answers, we must consider various factors - organic learning environments, educational trajectories (their content, their presence), and others - in order to achieve the results we seek.

For Jarche's article, please click here.  Please post in the comments section to share your views.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Micki's Growing Installation


??Since securing her installation space, Michaela has spent little time in the IP building.  Instead, she has frequented her studio.  She has repurposed existing pieces, explored artists such as Henri Matisse, Joan Mitchell, Cy Twombly, and Judy Pfaff, and experimented with motifs and styles.

Michaela has produced truly thoughtful work, and it is to protect her process and build suspense that we refrain from saying more.  Kildonan community members - and otherwise interesed readers - may view her exhibition during its May unveiling.  In the meantime, please enjoy the indistinct snapshots and the "cryptic" updates that follow this post.  We hope that we have whet your appetite.

Description of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd images:  ?.  Photos taken by Michaela.

P.S. For more on Henri Matisse, check out his Artsy page here!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Adam Leipzig: "How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes" @ TEDxMalibu


As the academic year trickles away, our seniors are beginning to adopt moony faces.  Their heads fill with longings for the future, and they begin the arduous process of bidding Kildonan farewell...with not a small amount of sadness and loss.  For months they have concerned themselves with administrative tasks concerning post-Kildonan life:  filling out applications for colleges, internships, and scholarships, writing essays, securing financial aid packages and living conditions, etc.  But now, as the spring renders us daft, once more they embrace the stirrings that led them to this process in the first place.

To help them center themselves, we would like to offer the preceding TED Talk (@TED Talk).  Author, educator, CEO of Entertainment Media Partners, former senior executive at Walt Disney Pictures (@DisneyPictures), and supervisor of some 25 films, Adam Leipzig (@adamleipzig) reminds us that we should not wait to we actualize our passions.  Through a sequence resembling a guided meditation, he encourages us to cement our dreams by considering five questions:  (1) Who are you?, (2) What do you do?, (3) Who do you do it for?, (4) What do those people want or need?, and (5) How do those people transform as a result?
One of the most difficult things that happens when you meet people for the first time is they ask you this question:  'So what do you do?' And, if you're like some of us, that's a really challenging question sometimes.  Particularly if you're in these moments where you're between things, or you're feeling vulnerable, or it isn't defined.  Or what you seem to do isn't what you really do, or what you're paid to do isn't how you define yourself.  So when people ask you this question, 'So what do you do?,' ... here's what you do:  you just say the very last thing you called out.  How what you do changes the people you do it for.  For example, you might say, 'I give kids awesome dreams.' ... Or you might say, 'I help people look and feel their best.' ... Or you might say, 'I help people get great work into the world.' ... And then, that little snippet that you just said becomes your personal elevator pitch.
What did you think of Leipzig's presentation? Please post in the comments section below.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Max D. Travels to NEMCON

Max and Roger Dreyer of FantasmaWe in IP pride ourselves on our efforts to break down the physical walls of the classroom, to encourage one another to seek our passions well beyond the boundaries of the IP building (and Kildonan, more generally).  In keeping with this philosophy, Max D. approached the IP team one day with an exciting request.  Inspired by Trey's visit to NAMM, he explained that he wanted to attend a convention himself.  He was not sure when or to where he would depart, but he knew that he wished to connect with individuals who were just as passionate about magic and illusion as he is.

The IP team worked closely with Max on the research process.  Together, we discussed a myriad of possible conventions, travel plans, ticket prices, and the professional magicians in attendance.  After weeks of careful consideration, Max decided that he wished to attend the New England Magicians Conference, Inc. (NEMCON), held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell, CT from March 6th-7th.  These dates happened to coincide with the beginning of Kildonan's spring break, so after a quick performance with his chapter of the Society of Young Magicians (SYM), Max was off.

NEMCON PerformersDuring his time at NEMCON, Max was able to explode his understanding of magic and illusion.  He noted fondly that Tom Mullica was a skilled emcee for his deft handling of humor and his ability to play up to diverse audiences.  He also explored the wares of a variety of vendors, and all told, he brought back many interesting "magic" samples to begin integrating into his routine.  Perhaps the central highlight of his experience, however, was his ability to interview the professional magicians in attendance:  Mullica, Jon Armstrong, and 17-year-old Ryan Lally.  In conducting these conversations, Max was not only able to practice his verbal conversations but also learn tips and seek inspiration from the greats in his field.  * For an example of his budding interview skills, please click here. *

Back in the IP building after spring break, Max described the experience as "mind-boggling."  When asked why, he had this to say:  "I feel like everything is coming together.  I know what I want to do now."

Any thoughts on NEMCON? Have you ever attended yourself, or would you recommend another magic convention to Max? Please post in the comments section below.

Description of 1st image:  Max at NEMCON with Roger Dreyer of NYC magic retailer Fantasma Magic (@FantasmaNYC).  Photo taken by Max's father.

Description of 2nd image:  The performers of NEMCON.  From left:  Stephen Bargatze, Rick Merrill, Ryan Lally, Jon Armstrong, and Tom Mullica.  Photo taken by Max's father.