Wesley Kaplan's Field Reports

Report 4: Various projects happening

Wesley Kaplan — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:37:27 -0700

I'm finally starting to get into the nitty gritty with the different youth teams at HSTF. For the 8th grade entrepreneurs, I put together a SpongeBob-themed PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate to them what their presentation will be once they've chosen the product or service they want to sell (the program includes a presentation phase where they present to the program directors to get funding for their product). I'll be giving the presentation this Thursday and after that I'll be working with a few of the entrepreneurs and teaching them how to use PowerPoint so they can make their own professional looking presentation.

I'm also working with some of the Youth Community Organizers (whose work I'm finding to be very inspiring). They plan to make a PSO-type video for their campaign to get civics as a required class in Boston Public Schools. They recently organized a hearing at Boston City Hall, you should check this out for highlights if you're interested. I made that page and filmed the video by the way (filming was a bit choppy, it was my first time)!

My only real complaint about work here now is that people still think I'm here for tech support, which is something I'm happy to help out with, but isn't really my main job here. It's just frustrating when people come to me with tech problems and I'm unable to help them because it makes me seem incompetent.

Still trying to think of creative ways to integrate digital media and technology into the other youth programs. Things are getting more fun around here.

Report 3: Starting to feel more comfortable

Wesley Kaplan — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:01:20 -0600

I'm beginning to feel like more of an actual part of HSTF, rather than just a guy who shows up and works for them (as opposed to with them). I've become more friendly with my coworkers and I'm starting to see how I think I'm going to fit in.

I've had a few things going since I last wrote. For one thing, I picked out a set of desktops to order for the computer lab which I actually just finished setting up yesterday. I'm also in the embryonic stages of developing a tech / software training curriculum for staff and youth - I sent out a survey last week asking everyone what they're most interested in learning, and once I get everything back I'll be figuring out how that's going to work.

Database stuff is still sort of on hold. I finally had a meeting with the Program Development Director about what he actually wants to track, but we still haven't chosen a database system we want to go with.

I just found out (hadn't totally been clear) that I'll be working directly with the Music Coordinator once he or she gets hired, which will be in a couple of weeks, so I'm super psyched for that. I really can't wait to start setting up music equipment and building the studio (and working with youth!).

Meanwhile I'm going to be taking some courses at CCTV to brush up on my software fluency so I can pass it on to my coworkers. This is something I'm looking forward to because it'll be good professional development and anyway it's stuff I'm interested in learning. That's more or less all for now. I still often feel like I don't have too much to work on, but that feeling is also fading more and more every day.

Report 2: things slowly beginning to pick up

Wesley Kaplan — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:24:07 -0600

I'm still doing a lot of the same stuff I wrote about in my last report: looking up software, meeting with program heads, installing ram, etc. But I'm starting to get a better idea of how crazy things are soon going to be. There's a lot of new software the HSTF has never used before that I think I'll be introducing (such as software for video, music, and digital portfolios). The task of choosing the right software - stuff that'll be versatile and accessible - is pretty daunting. They've had me looking into databases which has also been a serious challenge since I don't have much expertise there beyond working as a data entry grunt at Citizen Schools this past summer. I think I'll have more to write about when the after school programs start.

First real report

Wesley Kaplan — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:18:51 -0600

So far I've mainly been meeting with everyone who runs the various programs at the Hyde Square Task Force and assessing their technology/software needs. I've already starting researching stuff we can get to improve the programs (such as educational software for the after school programs). I'm also attempting to create a list of recording studios we can get in touch with to see if they'll point us towards resources to build our own music clubhouse (or practice/jam/recording space). Fun fact: the bassist of Aerosmith is one of the board members for the Music and Youth Initiative, who are providing the basic template for our clubhouse.

That's really all for now... I'm sure things will be getting much busier soon.

Just testing...

Wesley Kaplan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 11:36:12 -0600

The PSO ended up being pretty informative, despite it not being a CTC orientation. The facilitators allowed a lot of discussion/conversation which I appreciated.

Everyone at the Hyde Sq. Task Force is pretty cool so far. Official work won't be starting till this coming week , so I don't really have any definite impressions. I'm excited to be working on music with kids.