From Mount Vernon Institute For Innovation, Atlanta.

Call for Transdisciplinary Arts Models

The Goal: We want to build the most innovative arts program in the world.

As we meet, learn from, and research other arts programs, we are learning that there aren't many programs trying to reimagine arts education or innovate system-wide. Many arts programs have an innovative course or studio space, but most high-quality arts programs want to look like college/conservatory programs.

Mount Vernon is about connecting….
….Connecting students to real life
….Connecting disparate or related disciplines
….Connecting people from diverse networks
….Connecting new ideas with those that are tried and true.

What if we took everything we know off the table and re-imagined arts education from a trans-disciplinary/real-world perspective?

We're trying to figure out what that might look like...and we want your input.

Design Drivers:
How might we make school more reflective or REAL LIFE?
How might we empower all learners to be SEEKERS and EXPLORERS?
How might we INSPIRE one another - and the larger world - through the work we undertake together?

The Who:
Named by NAIS as one of the "10 Most Innovative Schools in America," Mount Vernon Presbyterian School has emerged as a thought-leader in K12 Education. Using design-thinking, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and Project Based Learning at every grade level (Preschool-Grade 12), we are treating students as resources of today and letting their passions/curiosities drive real-world work as we engage in design briefs for companies like Porsche and AT&T.

The Need:
Do you know of an arts program that is truly cutting-edge?
Do you know someone who is doing robust transdisciplinary arts work?
Do you have a big idea that could give us a new perspective on arts education?
Are you disenchanted with the surface-level arts integration that most STEAM programs provide?

Yes?
Good, we need you.

The Next Step:
Email us if this sparks your interest.
Connect us with someone in your network that would be great for this kind of work.
Blow our mind with your wildly ambitious goal or thought.
Be a part of the conversation as we set forth to design a better world.

Matthew Neylon, Director of Visual & Performing Arts
mneylon@mountvernonschool.org

T.J. Edwards, Director of Design & Engineering Programs
tedwards@mountvernonschool.org

Call for SEAD Research Partners

The Goal: Measure and demonstrate K12 students' ability to empathize with multiple users and points of view by acting as designers and artists.

With a strong background of leveraging design thinking in a K12 environment, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School hopes to more concretely measure efficacy of human centered design (aka Design Thinking) on building empathic behavior in young learners. We believe an entry point to this work is through students first identifying as artists and designers capable of making positive change in their world … NOW.

Design Drivers:
How might we make school more reflective or REAL LIFE?
How might we empower all learners to be SEEKERS and EXPLORERS?
How might we INSPIRE one another - and the larger world - through the work we undertake together?

Head Scratchers:
How might we use ARTS and ENGINEERING point of origin for inter- and trans- disciplinary projects?
How might we provide EVIDENCE and METRICS for the impact that arts, maker, design & engineering education have on K12 students?
How might we prepare students to be designers & artists who are IMPACT-READY?
How might we MEASURE success in SEAD skills & dispositions?

The Who:
Named by NAIS as one of the "10 Most Innovative Schools in America," Mount Vernon Presbyterian School has emerged as a thought-leader in K12 Education. Using design-thinking, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and Project Based Learning at every grade level (Preschool-Grade 12), we are treating students as resources of today and letting their passions/curiosities drive real-world work as we engage in design briefs for companies like Porsche and AT&T.

The Need:
We are looking for a researcher or practitioner who wants to help measure, track, and improve what we do. While some resources are available, it's hard to find metrics or data for work that has been done with the ages or on the scale we trying to achieve. Are you looking for a TEST KITCHEN to try new ideasor measure/evaluate the pioneering work related to SEAD? Mount Vernon Presbyterian school is moving into a High School building project designed to allow students and teachers to wander, wonder, make, ideate and collaborate in unique ways. We are building a program and culture that will help us live out our ambitious new strategic plan, MVx, and seek research partners interested in transforming education models.

The Next Step:
Email us if this sparks your interest.
Connect us with someone in your network that would be great for this kind of work.
Blow our mind with your wildly ambitious goal or thought.
Be a part of the conversation as we set forth to design a better world.

T.J. Edwards, Director of Design & Engineering Programs
tedwards@mountvernonschool.org

Bo Adams, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer
badams@mountvernonschool.org