The question since March of 2020 has been how to successfully facilitate a project-based learning program in the midst of a pandemic. The answers, from PCCAPS program administrators and instructors were these: 1) mitigate as much uncertainty as possible, 2) empower students to become confident remote collaborators, 3) have fun, 4) build strong relationships while in-person, and 5) stay safe. This semester's cast of Project Partners deserve extra recognition for their willingness to provide real-world experiences for students despite the new normal. PCCAPS is grateful. Read further for a list of these Project Partners and how, together, we have risen to the occasion during COVID-19.
Fall 2020 (Rockstar) Project Partners
Business Solutions
Beautiful World Adventures - client referral program
Christian Center of Park City - corporate sponsor challenge
Counseling Department, PCHS - website development for virtual calming room
Hearth and Hill - lunch time promotional event
Miner Baseball - keynote solicitation for annual winter fundraiser
Park City Baseball Academy - digital marketing, virtual coaching launch
Park City Desserts - holiday promotional product contest
Park Silly Sunday Market - holiday bazaar promotion & vendor database promotion
Power to Shred - membership business model development
Project Embrace - corporate sponsor challenge
STRT + Sustainable Startups - PCHS entrepreneurial pitch contest development
Sustainability Office, Summit County - student led creation of 5 year sustainability plan for PCHS
Technology Solutions
Adelear - cloud technology, big data project
Career & Technical Education Department., PCSD - website development
HERE Technologies - website development
National Ability Center - emergency protocol app development
Skill Struck - HTML, CSS & Java mentor services
Digital Design
Back Door Deli - t-shirt designs
The Chicks Company - digital content expansion
Power to Shred - website refresh
The Playing For Life Foundation - branding and website refresh
Victorian Rose Botanicals - branding & website refresh
Engineering & Architecture
Columbus Pacific Development - restaurant redesign (Hyatt Centric Hotel)
Makana USA - component design and prototyping
MHTN Architects - environmental education pods
PCCAPS Alum, UV Sensor Project - phase IV: circuit housing prototype & testing
Spoil to Soil - design & prototype of compact, commercial kitchen composting receptacle
Student Powered Desk Challenge - work station with bicycle generated power
Podcast Launch
Who doesn't have a podcast? PCCAPS, that's who. A cross-collaborative team of 2 business solutions students, 2 technology solutions students and 1 digital design student is tasked with producing and launching a streamable podcast about PCCAPS.
Podcast production is a billion dollar industry that is forecasted to grow.
At the 2020 Silicon Slopes conference, iHeartMedia shared its business case for why audio is a key medium for capturing market attention.
Click here for >> iHeart's presentation!
Thank you to our podcast mentor, Chris Everett, Co-Founder of Indigo Podcast.
Remote Collaboration Skill Development
We, in the world of work, take remote collaboration technology platforms for granted. What we learned from the shut down last Spring was that PCCAPS students need to be self-sufficient and comfortable with email, running zoom calls, and calendaring meetings. This semester, our project partners are not able to visit the PCCAPS center. Additionally, the school population practices cross-contamination prevention protocols to avoid returning to full remote status. Stable, traditional conditions do not exist, and may not for the foreseeable future.
Mitigating risk to projects and student stress requires training in the following types of training for students. Students were led through these modules upon returning to school, prior to kicking off projects with their "clients."
Disruptive Thinking Games
To get those creative juices flowing, after months of quarantine, students played these games designed to challenge convention and collaborate with one another.
Disruptus
Disruptus™ asks players to look at objects and come up with an entirely different way use the object, or combine elements of objects to achieve a new purpose or use. The goal is to ‘disrupt’ conventional methods and innovate in 60 seconds.
Duct Tape Innovation Challenge
Students were tasked with conceptualizing, building and presenting a solution to a real-world problem. They were supplied with a kit of limited materials, including good old duct tape. Our favorites (pictured left to right below): 1) infrared googles worn by law enforcement to detect the presence of - or lack of - a weapon on a suspect in order to eliminate incidents of unnecessary police force; 2) an opioid medication dispenser that has a timed lock and an unfortunate, pointy, anti-tampering mechanism to reduce opioid abuse; and 3) a post-surgery knee brace that monitors healing and alerts surgeons of complications in real time.
Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower Challenge
We thought we'd dust off collaborative Problem Solving skills with a round of Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower. Check out our archives for details on this challenge. We're thrilled to announce that two teams, each containing students unfamiliar with each other, achieved 35-inch towers. That's a big deal. :)
Here's to a great Fall 2020 semester....
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