3. Matt Cauthron
Digital Arts Technology Academy,
Cathedral City High School
Tw i t t e r : i m a g e m o n k i
Email: mcauthron@psusd.us
2012 CUE / ISTE
O u t s t a n d i n g Te a c h e r
10. The Big Idea
This project was designed in the Challenge Based Learning format. I was lucky enough to be
selected as 1 of 18 educators from across the country to work w/Karen Cator and the Apple
Education team on the curriculum design side of the CBL framework.
11. To provide a collaborative learning
experience between students,
emphasizing a variety of art,
technology, and
21st Century skills.
Mentoring, creative expression, problem solving, tech, communication, presentation
and all this aligns very nicely w/the Common Core!
12. Inspiration: Wonderland
By the Korean artist
Yeondoo Jung
It is very intriguing how truly pure the creative mind’s of young children are and how
important it is to provide learning experiences that exercise their creativity.
13. The Process
It is more about the “Village” and the process vs. the product!
Around 100 Individuals!!!
-working together collaboratively with a visual arts & technology focus as the foundation
***When I pitched it to my students they were VERY excited by the possibility of working with
young students in the schools they attended.
14. Story
Pandora: By Di a sophomore with the guidance of
Ex-Buena Vista Pictures President, David Vogel
Unicorns: As part of an all grade level wide writing
contest for third graders
Tahquitz: Written from multiple perspectives by
GATE middle schoolers surrounding the legend of
Tahquitz Canyon
Each year provides a different challenge
*The story was selected by Mr. David Vogel, ex-President of Buena Vista Pictures.
I worked with Taylor for several weeks storyboarding and breaking down multiple
versions of the story to accommodate the age group. I honestly lost track of how many
versions we wrote....’
15. Collaboration
After the story is revised, Di students visit Rio Vista 3rd
graders to read the story & sketch the segments.
These are their thinking faces
16. Artwork
PSUSD VPA Specialist returns to add color to the drawings
Without the coordination & assistance of Louisa as the Visual & Performing Arts specialist,
this project may not ever have gotten of the ground.
17. Digital Artwork
Di students scan all the art, then shoot and edit their
interpretations of it
Not knowing who the models will be is half the fun. Unicorns required help from one of our
VPs and Academy math teacher
18. Presentation
After digital artwork is created, Di students return to RV
to present their work to the whole grade level.
Sometimes elementary students are the tuffest audience! I’ve had kids up speaking in public
before, but this time it was interesting to see them more nervous then when speaking to
adults.
19. Revision
Di students make further edits to their work after
presenting and in preparation for publishing
Seeing and speaking about their work (to a tuff client) provided opportunity for reflection and
revision
21. Video Intro
Created in After Effects by advanced Di students
Now this small piece becomes important as we build the iBook!
22. Media
Di students then compile the text & imagery for print,
digital books, and video
Available in PRINT and iPad on Blurb.com
and with NARRATION on issuu.com
23. The Solution(s)
1. Presenting their work at Rio Vista
2. Sharing work with a local AND global community
3. Publishing work for students and the world to see in a professional manner
24. Blurb and issuu.com
-Available in print, pdf, iBook, or online w/narration
-Wanted to make sure that it was accessible for everyone as print = $$$
25. Since the availability of iBooks Author...
Interactive and shareable iBooks for the iPad available in 51 stores World Wide!
Downloads have far surpassed our print or online viewing audience
26. Video shared on Vimeo and entered into contests...
Wait! But thats not all folks!
27. With Unicorns we also involved local Coachella Valley artists...
28. Unicorns: Exhibit @ Walter Marks Center for the Arts
all coming together as a multi-age gallery show!
29. Awards
These honors can be used by all students on their resumes for college and scholarships!
31. What’s New
I would really like to find further opportunities to establish a peer system for projects like this
to continue in Cathedral City schools or PSUSD.
32. Story: Written by 3 classes of
MS GATE English w/screen play
by DATA Senior English
In Production now!
33. Visit: MS / HS hike into Tahquitz
Canyon, reading at Tahquitz Falls
In Production now!
36. Collaboration: Media will be tied into
our Student Creative global collab,
MyThology as well as Google Lit Trips
www.StudentCreative.org
In Production now!
37. Reflections
I would really like to find further opportunities to establish a peer system for projects like this
to continue in Cathedral City schools or PSUSD.
38. Taylor Burns - Digital Thespian
"I was challenged when I offered to write Pandoras
Box my sophomore year. I helped Mr. Cauthron edit
the story. And I had the honor of my name being in
the book. Last year, when we wrote Unicorns and
Trashcans, I was challenged in a whole new way. I
mentored the children at the elementary school and I
got to see how their imagination worked. Then I
recreated their drawings with Photoshop.
This year, my story was picked to be one of the three
Legends of Tahquitz myths. I'm also recreating five
children's art works. Which again, will be a
challenge. But it gives me a sense of leadership. "
39. Mariah Wells - Lesson Learner
This experience has taught me a lot in life. I never
thought I wanted to be a teacher, but working with the
Rio Vista children showed me that at that age, you’re so
full of life and curiosity about the world. It showed me
how to collaborate well with others for the better of a
team. For this assignment, I helped write the story with
my friends Taylor and Crystal. Last year I created a page
and was also a model.
40. Sara Lopez - iBook Authorista
“Making the iBook for Unicorns and
Trashcans was definitely a learning process.
I used the general format from our previous
iBook, Pandora's Box, animated the title a
bit, organized the photos and artwork into
the chapters, and it was ready to go. I'm
looking forward to taking this iBook to the
next level with our upcoming Legends of
Tahquitz project.”