Class of 2032 is a crowdsourcing and documentary project that engages educators, students, and parents in a conversation about the future school experience. This education app helps facilitate a fifty-minute workshop that can serve as part of a lesson or professional development session for teachers.

Documentary

As part of the Class of 2032 Project, a series of documentary films will be produced to explore relevant topics in our conversation about the future school experience. The first installment, Schooling for a Digital Culture introduces the context for the project from the perspective of a three-year-old boy called Ray. The film examines the origins of our Digital Culture and discusses the most pressing issues that are currently challenging the traditional system of schooling.

Class of 2032: Schooling for a Digital Culture will be screening at Bethel Cinema on June 6th.

Facebook Event Page

Mobile Application

In partnership with Xennial Digital the Class of 2032 app helps facilitate a 1-hour workshop that can serve as part of a lesson or professional development session for teachers. As part of this experience, participants will be introduced to ideation strategies and encouraged to identify trends and potential issues regarding the future of schooling.

Professional Development

Additionally, as part of the Class of 2032 crowdsourcing initiative, they have developed an ideation workshop that engages students, parents, and educators in a conversation about the future school experience. They have generated over 1500 unique ideas thus far. The fifty-minute workshop fits perfectly into a lesson block or expanded for a more substantial professional development experience.

The Future Trends Forum

Bryan Alexander of The Future Trends Forum interviews Matthew Worwood on the future trends of education through the lens of The Class of 2032.

Class of 2032 Leadership

Matthew Worwood

Matthew Worwood is the co-founder and director of the Class of 2032 Project. He is also an Apple Distinguished Educator and Associate Director of Digital Media and Design, at the University of Connecticut. Formally, a Digital Media Specialist at EdAdvance, Matthew has worked on a variety of statewide education initiatives in digital media.

Matthew’s recent work includes writing and directing Class of 2032: Schooling for a Digital Culture, and working with Xennial Digital to create the Class of 2032 mobile app. Matthew also serves as an Executive Board member of the EverWonder Children’s Museum in Newtown CT, blogs at DadsforCreativity.com and is a doctoral student at John Hopkins University.

Samantha Olschan

Samantha Olschan is an artist, animator, and educator with an M.F.A. in Film, Video & New Media: Animation from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago & a B.F.A in Fine Arts: Electronic & Time-Based Media from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining the University of Connecticut Digital Media & Design Department, Samantha worked in broadcast design, animation, compositing and time-based visualization for television, films, documentaries and media agencies. She continues to research the future of storytelling through animation, design, interactivity & experiential narrative.

Teaching appointments in animation, media, and design include University of Connecticut, Pratt Institute, Wesleyan University, Quinnipiac University, Columbia College, New York Film Academy & The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Contributors

Joel Salisbury (web design)
Nathan Carr (logo design)
Kate Kormushoff (logo design)
William Battle (assistant editor)
Danielle Brown
Elizabeth Caron
Thomas Lee
Brittney Garth
Michael Rivera Jr
Erik Lindsay
Matthew Bilmes
Kevin Richetelli
Bridget Costa
Aaron Seitz
DJ Rose
Mike Carlson
Evan Field
Doreen Maclellan

Source – Class of 2032 Website

We recently had the opportunity to interview one of UConn DMD’s 2D animation & film students, Henry Stein (’18) on his experience performing with his band “Mild Monk” at the WHUS Spring Fling. Stein recalls the experience as being nothing short of “sheer euphoria. I had the most fun I’ve ever had. Thanks to my incredible band mates and a really awesome and receptive crowd!”

What started as learning to play his acoustic guitar evolved into writing his own songs after being “compelled to add [his] own flavor” using nothing more than his iPhone and a $40 iRig which may not be the most elaborate setup, but proved to be a nonetheless successful or convenient method for his song writing.

When asked about the origin and inspiration behind the name “Mild Monk,” Stein recalled it being a combination of his mellow & mild personality and pair of monk strap shoes that he owned. He also noted that name is also an ode to two of his jazz heroes: Thelonius Monk and Mild High Club.

Not only does Henry’s involvement in Mild Monk showcase his musical talent, but he also uses some of his Digital Media & Design skills throughout his marketing. From using Photoshop to designing CDs, t-shirts, and posters, to promoting himself on social media, Stein is really putting his talents to work. Stein shared, “The whole marketing aspect of the music is something I’m just learning about and having DMD skills makes these goals like making merchandise and posters really obtainable.”

Although Henry will be graduating this May and parting from both school and the band, you can always stream his music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube, and iTunes/Apple Music.

Photo credit: Carly Zaleski & Henry Stein

Fun Fact: According to Henry, his spirit animal is a Hen.

Digital Media & Design

Month: May 2018

Class of 2032 – Schooling for a Digital Culture

The Future Trends Forum

Class of 2032 Leadership

Henry Stein of “Mild Monk”