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Beanian Manifesto
We're here to be creative. This is a design class or journalism class or video class, not a computer class. So don't get sidetracked by technical stuff. Computers and cameras are just tools. The more mastery of them you have, the more invisible they will become, freeing you to create, so learn them well, but know they're not the point.
You're not the center of the universe, and neither am I. Design isn't about ego, it’s about audience. You don't always get to use your favorite color, font, idea, etc. so get over it and do a good job anyway. Don't sulk.
Push yourself. The emphasis in this class is on using your eyes, brains and hearts to come up with practical and artistic solutions to creative puzzles. Listen well, think well, give it everything you've got. You'll learn more that way. Besides, your first idea is rarely your best, even though most of us get fiercely attached to it. Put it aside and keep going. Really.
Know that I'm here to help. The creative process is made up of many stages. Bean’s job is to give you the skills you need, see what stage you are in, and push, encourage and cajole you to get to the next stage. I'm not in competition with you. I love it when students teach me new ways of seeing.
Be passionate. Being in this class is voluntary. Don’t be here if your heart isn’t in it.
Serve more than yourself. If you stay, be a warrior, not a whiner. Add to the class, don’t take away from it. Help others. It's good for you.
Be a mensch. Bean tries to love all her students. Don’t make it too hard.
What letter grades mean
A student - Excellent
| Consistently goes the extra mile. Does every project wholeheartedly, giving it their very best effort, not just doing it to get it over with. Turns things in on time. Asks good questions and takes responsibility for learning, making up what they’ve missed or haven’t understood. Brings materials to class. Uses class time wisely, staying on task and in the room so the teacher can see their progress and give them input. Helps other students or does extra work if they finish early. Critiques their own work to try to make it better, even though they like it. Adds to the general atmosphere of the class. Uses new and old skills in class, including keyboard shortcuts, so they have a thorough grasp of them by the time tests come up. Scores well on tests. |
B student - Very Good
| Does every project well, giving it effort, not just doing it to get it over with. Turns things in on time. Asks questions and makes up what they’ve missed or haven’t understood. Brings materials to class. Uses class time wisely, staying on task and in the room so the teacher can see their progress and give them input. Critiques their own work to try to make it better, even though they like it. Adds to the general atmosphere of the class. Uses new and old skills in class, including keyboard shortcuts, so they have a thorough grasp of them by the time tests come up. Scores well on tests. |
C student - Average
| Does every project. Turns things in on time. Asks questions and makes up what they’ve missed or haven’t understood. Brings materials to class. Uses class time wisely, staying on task and in the room so the teacher can see their progress and give them input. Doesn’t take away from the general atmosphere of the class. Uses new and old skills in class, including keyboard shortcuts, so they have a thorough grasp of them by the time tests come up. Scores adequately on tests. |
D student - Barely Passing
| Does
most projects.
Needs
constant
prodding
to stay
on task.
Disrupts
or otherwise
takes
away from
the general
atmosphere
of the
class
by coming
in late,
making
noise,
needing
so much
help to
make up
what they’ve
missed
that they
monopolize
teacher
attention.
Scores
below
what is
adequate
on tests. |
F student - Failing
| Does some projects. Needs constant prodding to stay on task. Disrupts or otherwise takes away from the general atmosphere of the class by coming in late, making noise, needing so much help to make up what they’ve missed that they monopolize teacher attention. Scores below what is adequate on tests. |
Bean's Elements of Mastery
What’s important to have, and why you should care
Knowledge/
|
Having a sense of who and what came
before you, where your work fits into the greater scheme of things
and who influenced you gives you more confidence, helps you be articulate
and a better salesman, and makes you less likely to sound like an
idiot in public. |
Technical Fluency
|
Essential that technique becomes the
servant of the artist/craftsman to the point where it is invisible
to you instead of in your way, freeing you to create. Lack of craftsmanship
just looks sloppy and obvious to anyone worth impressing. |
Mental Flexibility/Emotional Freshness |
To be really creative, instead of
just imitating your own successes, is the way to evolve as an artist,
and this requires risk taking and openness. |
Organizational skills
|
Having good underlying structure and
routines saves time and energy, freeing you to create instead of
looking for things and playing catch-up. Ability to prioritize and
manage tasks helps you meet deadlines without creating trauma for
yourself or those around you. Discipline yourself to do the ‘have
to’ before the ‘want to.’ |
Being Articulate
|
To explain your concepts and ideas
in order to convince others of their worth. It’s called salesmanship,
even if there’s no money involved.
Being able to persuade others to your point of view will get you many things
in life. |
General Education
|
Adds to your knowledge base and general
power, increases your ability to impress and keep up with others
and not make a fool of yourself in public. It also adds depth and
erudition to your work and makes you a more interesting, less shallow
human being. |
Reliability |
Adds
or takes
away
greatly
from
other
people's
willingness
to work
with
you,
and
is a
big
part
of your
reputation. |
Focus |
It’s necessary to be able to
concentrate your efforts to get results. |
Maturity |
This makes you publicly bearable to
others and is in inverse proportion to your degree of self-involvement. |
Perseverance |
If it’s worth doing, put in
the hours and the sweat. Get knocked down? Get up, learn, go on. |
Reputation
|
This is what people say about you,
and matters unless you have a large trust fund and immunity from
prosecution. Seriously, it’s very important. Build a good one,
and it will be a constant invisible servant, build a bad one and
it will become your invisible enemy and may even harm you years after
you have changed. |
Collaboration
|
Playing
well
with
others
opens
doors
and
keeps
your
own
mental
flexibility
and
emotional
freshness
well-exercised.
It can
bring
out
new
levels
of creativity,
and
get
you
jobs.
It can
be fun and
feel
very
alive.
It’s
a good
antidote
to self-involvement. |
Connections |
A combination of who you know + your
reputation can open many doors, or shut them. Treat everyone like they're
going to be important to you someday. |
Curiosity
|
If you’re only interested in
your own little world you’re going to miss a lot. Get outside
of yourself, ask questions, look around, open your eyes and mind
much wider, get interested in the person you’re talking with
and draw them out. You might be surprised! |
Talent
|
It’s a total gift that comes
or goes without your permission or control. There are different degrees
of it at different times. It’s great, but it won’t carry
you the distance without much of the above, and it’s not yours
anyway, it’s just on loan to take good care of and nurture
so that it matures and comes to fruition. Lack of any one of the
above elements significantly diminishes the impact of your talent. |
Heart
|
If your heart’s not in it, it
shows. And why bother? Give even the small jobs your real, heart-felt
effort. |
Luck |
Absolutely a
factor, but not up to you, or is it? Funny how the more
of the above traits you have, the more often lucky breaks come
your way. |
The BIG rules
The equipment we have in our room has to last a long time, and be in good shape so that it can serve many students. Hurting one computer or camera takes away from dozens of people. Classroom computers need to be very uniform so I can manage and troubleshoot them easily. This is the reason for several of the rules.
Violating any of the following guidelines will be considered a malicious act and can result in immediate and permanent expulsion from my class:
1. |
Don’t do or say anything cruel to anyone in my classroom. Bullying and harassment will not be tolerated. Not funny, not cute, not cool. |
2. |
Don’t change any settings on any computer in this room. Not desktop pictures, not sounds, not names of files or folders. Not anything. Ever. |
3. |
Don’t download programs or files onto any computer in this room without Bean's permission. Ever. |
4. |
Don’t do anything that damages or disables any of the equipment. Ever. |
5. |
Don’t alter, rename, move or trash any files except your own. Ever. |
6. |
Don’t open the computers. Ever. |
7. |
Files left anywhere except in your own folder, inside the Student Folder will be thrown out ruthlessly. Back-up files and clean your files out often, throwing away anything you don’t want or need. |
8. |
Don’t go into any student folders except your own or your group’s. |
9. |
Don’t use other people’s images without their permission. |
10. |
Don’t use school equipment to pirate files or software, or create illegal documents. Duh. |
.