Outcomes
Designing a skateboard's cover decoration
While Alexia and Dave both agree that more time was necessary for the unit to reach its full potential, by the end of the project some very effective boards were produced – outcomes that each team could be justly proudly of.
The skills and knowledge gained through the production process were invaluable, ranging from practical woodworking and the use of specialised equipment for skateboard manufacture, through to more intangible life skills such as communication and teamwork.
The students gained an inside knowledge of skateboard production from the initial ideas stage right through to the finished product. Much of this knowledge has further implications with many of the students seeing the potential to apply many of the techniques, such as mould making and laminating, into the creation of future products in Technology.
Alexia believes teamwork, communication and perseverance an essential part of any creative process. Throughout this project, the groups developed excellent teamwork skills which proved crucial to the successful final outcome and, by the end, had learnt a lot about themselves and each other she says.
"The students had to develop a special thinking and an ability to communicate their ideas, not just into material, but to be able to communicate them with their peers, myself and Dave. There were visual communication skills as well, drawing the views of the skateboards that they wanted to do to see how it was really going to look."
"There were ups and downs with the relationships in the groups and they actually went through some pretty hard times together and many of those relationships were strained, especially when they were trying to negotiate, but you also saw the students experience this joint feeling of achievement. Even though they'd already spent time together in term one I think that having to voice their opinions, and listen to other people's, helped them learn more about themselves and each other and they are definitely closer for it."
Above: Finished skateboards at test day and awards ceremony
While the College's Technology department is relatively well established, the scope and approach to the skateboard project has pushed the boundaries of what the school has done before in Hard Materials. However, Alexia is happy to report that the response to the unit was very positive from all areas of the school, even at the initial stages when she ran her original idea past the Principal and the Technology HOD.
"They were both really happy to see the enthusiasm from me as a teacher to be putting in the effort and trying to engage the students in this way and they were excited to have something like this happening at their school. I went into this project knowing that as long as it was going to be good for the kids and would engage their interest I would have the support of the school."
Dave Green has also thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the unit, enjoying working with the students and going through the process with them. "I thought the project was really good because the students made something they were actually interested in and that they would get use out of, and it's a contemporary part of youth culture at the moment which does come and go and they were right involved at the pointy end making it themselves so it really got their attention. I think every single one of them that I talked to really enjoyed it and the good thing is there were girls and boys in there getting into it."
Most importantly, the feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive, fulfilling Alexia's initial brief of providing a unit that they would become truly engaged with.
"During the class the general atmosphere was excitement and enthusiasm and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. When I see them at school they often tell me 'I went skating on my board on the weekend, and it was choice!' It's that kind of feedback that lets me know they're still proud of what they've done and that the project was a success. "
The successful outcomes of the project have reinforced Alexia's confidence in her approach to Hard Materials, allaying initial fears that it would be too labour intensive.
"It's tempting to think this could be more difficult for a teacher than a more conventional approach where the students are given a list of instructions to follow. But I think that the results have proven that it's not so difficult and that it's enjoyable for the teacher and the students. If you can create an environment where the kids can go away, learn something that you didn't know and then teach that to you, then I think you're winning, for yourself and for the students."
Above: Finished skateboards at test day and awards ceremony
