Book art by Guy Laramée.
Note: This post isolates and updates the daily calibration form introduced here: Objects in Space. Here is the “start of class” handout shared with students and posted on the walls, on the tables, and online:
Direct link: https://tinyurl.com/makerspace-start
Daily Calibration for Students
The daily calibration form is the key to your in-class focus, at least to some extent. Links for each class period can be found on Google Classroom, at the top of the “Classwork” tab. Put that link somewhere you can access quickly — the home screen of your phone, the bookmarks bar of your browser, etc.
Here is a pre-filled copy to consider:
(The joke, such as it is, comes from this writing by Albert Camus, which inspired the name of this site, the philosophy of this course, and a few other existentially important elements of what we do.)
This form requires you to set a goal for the 24 hours that fall after the class period. What will you accomplish during that time? What do you hope to learn, to create, to explore, etc? Think of this as another inflection point: a moment when the trajectory of your day changes.
You are also invited to reflect on your physical and mental state, with an optional space for any other thoughts you want to share. This part is highly encouraged; self-awareness and self-efficacy begin with that kind of mindfulness.
All told, it takes only a few moments at the start of each class period. Those moments build powerful habits and generate a stronger connection between you and the work of a course like this. A larger picture of you also emerges over time. Consider this screenshot of student feedback:
The first two columns’ data come from what we’d call the mindfulness section of the form, which is drawn from the excellent educator resources at Stop, Breathe & Think. That section looks like this:
While these sections are optional, they can center you physically and mentally, giving you a greater chance of shifting cognitively from whatever came before — an exhilarating gym class, a relaxed lunch period — into the work of a Humanities makerspace.
The next columns of data are goals and miscellaneous feedback or updates. (The exact order has been changed since this screenshot.) This is incredibly powerful information to have at the start of the class period, and not just for teachers. For you students, this is a way to orient yourselves in the middle of a day that pulls you in a dozen different directions.
Completing this form is, therefore, incredibly important. This is a habit that will help you navigate academics, relationships, and the equally Sisyphean grind of many jobs. You can and often should pause momentarily to take stock of your physical and mental wellbeing. You can and often should set an immediate, achievable goal.
Ask questions about this below.