Design Ignites Change - Projects - Change is Central: A Documentary

This project is one of six from the "stART now: change is central" mentoring program that unites Central High students and the University of Tennessee Design students in Knoxville, TN. This project was developed by Team Education. Most people would agree that education is at a crossroads in this country. The world has changed and the way we learn should shift accordingly. Like in most American public schools, communication between teachers, students and the administration is wrought with misunderstandings. Students from the University of Tennessee and Central High set out to discover what could be done to open up the lines of communication.

Deborah Shmerler
The School of Art
dshmerle@utk.edu
865 974 3203

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May 30, 2013

Opening page to 16-minute film • students and faculty talk about Education at Central.

Students responded to questions about their education.

Some teachers advocate the importance of self-motivation.

One way to increase the voice of the student would be to push for a stronger student government.

Central Confidential gave students an opportunity to write and draw their secrets in an anonymous and supportive way. By sharing these secrets, they can find compassion with each other.

Creating a more open, collaborative environment requires individuals to be honest, open and respectful of each others opinion. This is not an easy attitude to foster. But, the students started at ground zero, by asking straightforward questions such as: Are there any voices at Central that should be heard but aren’t? Are students involved in making decisions about what and how they learn? What aspects of Central should be changed? What is good about Central? What do students need to understand? Teachers?

We had two solutions: One, was to make a short documentary film called Change is Central, featuring varying perspectives from the students and faculty at the High School. The other, called Central Confidential, was a series of anonymous postcards on which students could write their secrets and fears.

Change is Central: A Documentary

University of Tennessee

Central High School

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