Phew. Now that I can catch my breath, it’s time to dedicate some words to this blog. Actually, there isn’t a lot to say. I’ve been busy writing new units for an art and two technology classes. However, they are pretty good units, in my opinion. I’m willing to share to throw it out to you. Good? Bad? Crazy? etc.

I revamped a grade 10 unit on creative interpretation. This unit gives grade 10 students a taste of what to expect in IB art. The primary focus is on how to develop ideas. Students look into what creativity is and select a theme to visually represent. Here is how the unit is structured:
Unit Question: Where do good ideas come from?
Significant Concept: We are influenced and inspired by the world around us.

Another new unit is grade 7 technology. This unit is based on Minecraft, where the focus is on cooperation and entitled “Fair Game.” Students will be developing a theme park, where each group is in charge of an area and each individual in charge of a structure. All groups must negotiate with each other to come to an agreement as to what the park will look like and require. It’s an MYP technology unit and broken down like this:
Area Of Interaction - Environments: How do we behave and interact with each other in offline and online communities? Is there a difference? What are our roles, responsibilities and duties when working collaboratively? What part do we play and what are the interrelationships of different environments? In this unit, students will work together to make decisions based on creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. They will consider both their immediate classroom environment and their online environment in a gaming context.
Significant Concept: How we solve problems depends on the conditions of the environment and group dynamics.
Unit Question: What does cooperation and collaboration look like?

Finally, the last is another MYP technology unit on Mashups for grade 8. The unit is broken like this:
Area Of Interaction - Human Ingenuity: Media can be constructed and consumed. Recent advances in technology have led to the increased malleability of media like text, images, music, and video. Advances in the speed and flexibility of communication are allowing people to make use of copyrighted content to build a culture of remixes and mashups, exercising reinterpretation and creativity in the process. Media can now be combined, retold and reinterpreted in many different ways.
Significant Concept: Everything is a remix.
Unit Question: Does copyright hinder or cultivate creativity?
I’m excited to teach these and will let you know the interesting things that pop up!