SpecDesign Prep Checklist

The purpose of this checklist is to provide a list of items that should be addressed before our activity happens. We may decide that some items do not apply or do not need to be addressed, but it will benefit your group to at least consider every item on the list.

Items with titles in red have not yet been addressed by the design team as a group. Initial proposals for some items have been provided by Steve.

Abbreviations:

• SR : Steve Rodney
• BL : Bernhard Laurich
• NM : Nicholas McConnell
• LC : Lisa Chien
• MH : Mark Hoffman
• JP : John Pye
• ER : Elisabeth Reader
• JP : Jung Park
• SS : Scott Seagroves
• LL : Lani LeBron

• PF : Primary Facilitators
• SF : Secondary Facilitators

Materials we are bringing to Maui

Item	Person	Comments
Digital Camera	SR	(more are welcome.)
Directions to IfA	SR	printed e-mail from Lani
40 Printed Copies of Homework	BL
Boxes	SR, LL	Total count ~ 20
CDs & DVDs	ER	Total count ~ 50
Handouts for Introduction?	BL
Images for Design Challenges	LC
Printed Copies of Timeline, Roles List	SR	Other things to print from wiki pages?

Facilitator roles, instructor floor time, etc.

Who will play the following roles or present the following material (if applicable):

Role	Person	Comments
Lead Facilitator	SR
Primary Facilitators	BL, LC, NM
Secondary Facilitators	MH, JP, ER, JP
Timekeeper	SR
Floater	SR
Thinking Tool Presenter	--	No thinking tool
Introductory Context	SR,NM,BL,LC	see SpecDesign Activity Timeline Day 1
Context/Instructions for Transitions	SR
Context for presentations	PF	For student presentations this means : who talks, for how long, who can ask questions, what is expected of presenter.
DQ/questioner for presentations	PF
Presentation note-taker	SF	Notes should be helpful for synthesis presenter.
Synthesis Presenter	SR	SR does the mauna kea spectrograph synthesis. PFs will also do some synthesis in the group discussions
Activity wrap-up	SR	last bit of synthesis
Final floor time	MCC instructors

Learner groups, grouping mechanisms, etc.

How learners will move through the activity, how they will be grouped, where they have choice and where they are assigned, etc. Things to plan or think about:

Item	Done?	Comments
# of groups in the starters	x	(complicated)
# of groups or stations per facilitator in the starters	x
How to choose/assign starter groups	x	divided at random by SR
Rotate through all starters	x	yes.
# of groups in the investigations	x	8 groups of 3 + 1 group of 4 students
# of groups or stations per facilitator in the investigations	x	3 groups per facilitator
How to choose/assign investigation groups	x	Day 1 : pseudo-gallery walk; Day 2 : sign-up posters
Rotate through all stations, or focus on 1	x	Not applicable.
How do learners choose investigation focus?	x	Day 1 : pick questions from wall; Day 2 : sign up for a design challenge
# of groups in the presentations	x	each PF has the 3 groups that he/she worked with on Day 2.
Do all learners present?	x	PF must instruct learners that everyone should contribute when the group presents.
Does each group have one assigned facilitator?	x	yes.
Can other facilitators interact with other groups? How?	x	if the PF in charge asks for help, or SR/SS suggest it.

Materials and investigations

Item	Done?	Comments
Permission/procedures for ordering supplies?	x
How much lead time to order supplies?	x
# of supplies/setups needed for # of learners?	x
Gathered all supplies and materials?		Need shoe-boxes, dvds, box-cutters and razor blades (plastic spectrographs LC:done)
Facilitators familiar with all materials, know how to use them, etc?		need practice time on Sunday/Monday + cutting the films
Which materials for starters?		will all gratings be accessible? Multiple slits?
Additional materials for investigations?
Additional materials/phenomena in your "back pocket"?		Multi-object spectrograph? photograph a spectrum? digital photometers?
Other supplies (sentence strips,markers, posters,etc)?		Need to purchase on Maui? Can Elisabeth or Lani get in advance?

Timing and schedules

Not all inquiry activity elements (like a Gallery Walk) are applicable to every activity. Has your team planned the following:

Item	Done?	Comments
Detailed schedule for activity?	x	Finally! (pending group approval)
All facilitators know the schedule?		should print multiple copies with room for revisions.
Scheduled breaks?	x
How/when will questions be sorted?	x	During the 14 min break.
Roughly when should learners be at milestones? Rough early-, middle-, late-stage investigation times?		Need to develop some milestones. Requires practice?
Time(s) for facilitator check-in(s)?
Time(s) for thinking tool(s)? To the whole group at once or to smaller groups as needed?	x	no thinking tools

Practicing and planning

Has your team done the following:

Item	Done?	Comments
Practiced the starters?		Monday
Practiced with investigation materials?		Monday
Explored likely questions and investigation paths?		Some. Needs more.
Practiced all stations and investigations in case facilitator has to cover extra/odd groups?		Monday
Practiced thinking tool(s)?	x	No thinking tool.
Planned multiple entry and exit points for different learners/groups at each station/investigation?		Needs consideration.
Planned what evidence counts as success?		Needs attention.
Prepared the synthesis?		Not yet.
Planned for incorporating learners' work/investigations/presentations into the synthesis?

What to say

Have you decided what to say to learners for all instructions and transitions:

Item	Done?	Comments
Introduction and context-setting?
Introduction for starters?
Transition/instructions to a Gallery Walk or group formation?
Transition/instructions for investigations?
Intructions for sharing? Are the expectations for learners clear?
Inquiry closing?
Any other transitions?

Documentation and wrap-up

Do you have a plan to:

Item	Done?	Comments
Record/photograph starters/setup?		SR brings camera, takes pics. SS can help with pics and notes?
Record/photograph questions?		likewise.
Record/photograph investigations/setups?		as above
Record/photograph presentations?		and again
Record schedule?	x	on the wiki. will be printed.
Save scripts, outlines for talks, presentation files?		should be posted to wiki
Debrief among instructors afterward? Record notes? If applicable, include your teaching consultant.	x	Thursday lunch and p.m.

Activity context

Most inquiry activities occur in the context of a larger course or program. To fit into that context, do you need to address:

Item	Done?	Comments
Course instructor(s) aware of this activity's presumed prerequisites?	x
Course instructor(s) aware of this activity's learning goals?	x
Will design team members be present/participate in other course activities?	x	No.
Schedule meeting(s) with course instructor before activity? Do you need a day-before or hour-before meeting?	x	done.
Propose exam/homework questions to course instructor?		HW question is set. Exam questions?
Propose pre-inquiry curriculum for instructor to cover?	x	have requested that light and color happens before us. Any other pre-reqs?