Oh What Fun We Had!!! Summer 2010 Session...

Oh What Fun We Had!!!

Summer 2010 Session

This is my second time as a Spark Apprentice Teacher and it was great!!! My first time as a Spark Apprentice Teacher, I worked with Genna and we had a great time. Typically with the spark program as a teacher, you work with a student for 8 weeks and then afterward, you say goodbye, which made no sense to me at all.

I decided to see if I could improve Spark by experimenting with bringing Genna back to be involved in the next session which was the Summer session. Genna said he wanted to participate and an administrator from Spark wrote me an email to ask if I would be participating as an Apprentice Teacher in the summer program. She said there were many kids that wanted to participate, and I thought to myself, "did she just say kids? as in plural?"

So I said, since we are mixing it up, and since there are more kids than teachers, why don't I take on 2 apprentices for the summer program? Spark agreed to allow me to conduct my crazy experiment–so not only did I get two new apprentices, at the same time, but we also had Genna!!!

Jarvis is 12 and Jeremy is 14 and they were my new apprentices for summer, and the three of us are pictured below.

It was amazing how successful our summer session was. I reasoned that be having three kids, they could work together, and as a team, we would be more successful and all have a better time–and it worked out exactly that way. I hope that this becomes a new option for other Spark Apprentice Teachers in the future because I think it is a great idea.

In the photo above we see Jarvis on the left, with Genna experimenting with the iPad, and in the photos below, we see Genna and Jeremy having fun.

By the way, the all-new iPhone 4 took all the photos and video in the post, and I am am so excited because for the first time, I no longer have to carry around a point and shoot or a camcorder with me!!! The boys also loved the new iPhone!!!

In the photo below, the four of us are playing Multi-Pong together on the iPad. I remember when the four of us were playing Multi-Pong on the iPad, I felt like I was just one of the kids, even though I am around 30 years older than them.

I would say, my experiment is going well, and in the upcoming Fall session, I am going to add 2 more students, maybe even three!!! And of course Genna, Jarvis and Jeremy are all coming back as well, so it should be really fun and productive!!!

My First Spark Experience

My First Spark Experience

My name Jeremy and I go once week with Jarvis and meet up with Jake to work on designs and the latest gadgets being used. I love coming to meet up with my apprentice teacher because it's a great way to meet new friends and bond with them. Every week, Jake would always teach us a new phrase of words or a saying that we shouldn't forget (there were so many) including:

1. Do something GREAT with your life!!!
2. Growth=Happiness
3. The greatest thing you could do with your life is to be a designer.
4. Design is thinking made visual.
5. Science is the pursuit of the truth.

If I am ever about smoke or do drugs or do something illegal, I will always think to myself, "I am declining, which is the exact opposite of growth." Growth is like taking a step foward, while declining is taking ten steps back. By declining, people are not doing something GREAT with their life and they are wasting it.

Jake taught me that everyone is a designer. We design things everyday. For example, taking a math test, playing a game, or even making coffee because we are making something that was an idea from our head.

Jake also taught us that we are all scientists because we all pursue the truth. To be a good scientist is important because it can protect yourself from lies that can harm you.

Growth equals happiness also applies to Spark. If Spark can grow, more and more people can experience this amazing program.

The experience will allow students to grow and to DO SOMETHING GREAT WITH THEIR (including mine of course) LIFE!!

It's fun to work with more people!

It's fun to work with more people !

First you build a better relationship with other people. Second you get more ideas for your project. We worked with Jake on how to make the best iPad stand.

Jake is a great person to work with. He's fun, energetic and always on top of things.

Jarvis on the other hand is shy, quiet, but if you get to know he will talk more often. He's a great kid and I wish I was more like him.

Jeremy is not quiet, but loves to talk to people. He loves every one around him and his life is going in a good direction!

Genna Hahne

My Thoughts On Working With Jake...

Hello, my name is Jarvis.

Hi Everybody!!! My name is Jarvis and I am in the photo below this post, standing on the left side.

I am in a program called SPARK and am working with my apprentice teacher, Jake, and my fellow spark apprentices, Jeremy and Genna. It is really fun working with them

As an apprentice of Jake's, I have learned many things about business, like what are the pros and cons of a design and also what it would be good for and how it would help. I also learned that it must be reasonable and be the best of the best. I mean if you make something useless and retail the item for $100, no one will buy it and you would be wasting your time and money.

What I learned that was most important from Jake was:

"Growth=Happiness"
and really important
"Do something great with your Life!"

Learning from Jake has made me more open-minded and and helped me think more clearly.

I also learned many new terms from Jake and am very excited about the project we are working on right now which is still top-secret. This will be one of the best designed products you will ever see and will be so amazing, you will want it.

In SPARK, I have developed my communication skills and ability to work with others. SPARK is a great place to learn how to be a leader and how to talk with people. I will most likely keep working on the project I am currently working on with Jake and will help SPARK be a even better place to learn.