Latest / Inside the OSD / S3 E14 - OMS Urban Challenge Ft. Laura Stoller & 7th Grade Students

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S3 E14 - OMS Urban Challenge Ft. Laura Stoller & 7th Grade Students · Inside the OSD

• 0:05
  SPEAKER1: Each year, seventh grade students at Oregon Middle School from the 7-O team participate in the Urban Challenge,
• 0:12
  a hands on "Amazing Race" style event in downtown Madison.
• 0:16
  I am fortunate to have been a chaperone on this trip for many years, and it is an amazing event that harnesses teamwork,
• 0:24
  planning and organizing, among other important experiences.
• 0:28
  Today we're going to learn all about this experience from one of the challenge organizers,
• 0:33
  Laura Stoller, and some students who recently completed the challenge.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids.
• 0:43
  Here is your host, lifelong educator and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER3: We'll start with Miss Stoller. Could you start by introducing yourself to our listeners and your role at OMS?
• 0:57
  Sure. My name is Laura Stoller, and I am a seventh grade geography teacher at OMS on the 7-O Shark Tank team.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER1: So you are known as the mastermind behind the Urban Challenge.
• 1:09
  Can you explain the Urban Challenge and the goals of the experience to our listeners?
• 1:15
  SPEAKER3: As the geography teacher, I love this experience because it really gives kids a hands on opportunity to work on both mapping skills,
• 1:25
  but also exploring a place that for some of them, is new.
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  Even though Madison is close to Oregon, some of them have not spent a lot of time in Madison,
• 1:33
  so they have to use their map skills to figure out where they want to go and what they're going to see.
• 1:39
  They also use public transportation, which I love.
• 1:43
  Um, but a big part of the day is also about team building and working together and problem solving and persevering.
• 1:51
  Um, and so it has a lot of components to the day.
• 1:54
  And, um, we also then hope that they have some fun in the process.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER1: Just hearing this and then having experienced it myself, it's clear it takes a significant amount of work and coordination to put this
• 2:07
  together. So why is it important to our educators to offer this experience to our students?
• 2:13
  SPEAKER3: I think the biggest reason is that we really do want to give them real world life experiences.
• 2:18
  And aside from the -- exploring the city and riding the bus, those pieces, um, the working together part is so important.
• 2:28
  And as we're preparing, one of the things we share with them is that as adults, oftentimes we're asked to do things with groups of people that we don't know
• 2:37
  very well, and we have to figure it out and we have to keep working.
• 2:41
  And so this is a real life way to have them do that, while also, again, having some fun in the process and exploring their backyard,
• 2:50
  which is awesome.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER1: Absolutely. And from my experience with Urban Challenge, that's what I always take away from it,
• 2:56
  is how well the students are learning to work together, to negotiate, to compromise,
• 3:02
  to collaboratively plan. I mean, those are skills that will help them in every aspect of their life,
• 3:10
  and they get to do it in this relevant and engaging way.
• 3:13
  So that's really cool. As you reflect on this year's challenge, what's the highlight for you as an educator?
• 3:19
  SPEAKER3: Well, I think the things you just said, the fact that -- if I think back to, um,
• 3:26
  where they started and where they ended up watching how they grow and change over time is amazing.
• 3:31
  Um, and I think having some of them come back and say, "there were kids in my group that I didn't really know.
• 3:38
  And even though we've been on 7-O all year long, I didn't really know who they were,
• 3:43
  and I wasn't super excited about them being on my team.
• 3:46
  But I found out they're kind of cool or we became friends." Um, and so that's--that's really special.
• 3:52
  Um, I also think the weather this year was stellar.
• 3:56
  And we also ended up being downtown when it was the day before UW graduation.
• 4:01
  So watching our students interact with UW graduates and asking them questions about,
• 4:07
  you know, college and their degrees. And that was kind of an added bonus.
• 4:11
  Um, to have them--have that as part of the experience as well.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER4: Oh, that must
• 4:15
  SPEAKER1: have been -- was it a challenge? One of the challenges was it for them to talk to a graduate?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER3: It was a bonus challenge.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER1: Okay.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER3: Because last year it happened the same. We ended up scheduling it similarly without knowing.
• 4:28
  And so we made it a bonus challenge for them to talk with a graduate.
• 4:32
  Um, and sometimes they just did it, even if it wasn't a challenge.
• 4:35
  Um, they just kind of found them and started chatting.
• 4:38
  And it was awesome.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER1: That--that is an actual bonus. Yes, I love it.
• 4:43
  Um, so what growth and skill development do you see over the course of the experience?
• 4:47
  Because you said--you spoke about for some kids not knowing each other well, as an example,
• 4:52
  in the beginning. What skills do you see develop over the course of time as you prepare for this?
• 4:59
  SPEAKER3: I think one of the big ones is listening and taking a step back.
• 5:03
  So when they first start in their teams and they're doing some very simple get to know you activities,
• 5:09
  oftentimes kids are doing other things and kind of, you know, you have to rein them back in and refocus them.
• 5:14
  Um, and as time goes on, you see them more invested in each other as a person.
• 5:19
  So those get to know you activities become more engaging and more real.
• 5:25
  And then when we actually get to the planning of the day, seeing them ask each other for their opinion or,
• 5:32
  um, stop and maybe say, "oh gosh, that idea is really good, I think it's even better than mine." Um,
• 5:38
  so some of those real life group work skills about asking people for their opinions and,
• 5:46
  um, trying to come to consensus about things and deciding what's a priority and what's not a priority.
• 5:52
  Um, kind of watching that progress over time is, is really pretty awesome.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER1: Yeah, that must be a lot of fun for the teachers to see that level of growth and then see how it plays out during the challenge itself.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER3: Exactly, exactly.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER1: All right. So now we're going to talk to a few students about what this experience was like.
• 6:11
  So let's start by having each of you introduce yourself to our listeners.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER5: My name is Sarah.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER6: My name is Maeve. My name is Cortland. My name is Will.
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  I'm Jack.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER1: All right. Thank you. Um, what was it like preparing for the Urban challenge?
• 6:27
  And I'll go in that same direction again, starting with you, Sarah.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER5: Um, I think it was pretty good because we did some mock challenges for geography,
• 6:36
  and that really helped me prepare for the real Urban Challenge.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER7: Thank you.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER6: Um, it was very nice because we got to work in teams developing skills to help us with problem solving and working as a group with others.
• 6:50
  Yeah, we got put, like our mock Urban Challenge.
• 6:52
  Like, we didn't like pick. So we got to like, meet new people, which like kind of like related back to like our actual Urban
• 6:59
  Challenge group where we got to like, meet new people.
• 7:02
  So it helped us like kind of like start conversations and like learn how to like,
• 7:06
  talk and like think about their ideas as well.
• 7:09
  Great. The mock Urban Challenge, because it helped me prepare, like making a map or meeting new people and working with them.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER8: Yeah, I would agree the mock Urban Challenge, because it was like, we got to meet new people and do the Urban Challenge,
• 7:23
  but still like in a place that we knew.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER1: All right. So this is new for me. Is the mock Urban Challenge something that you do around the school in preparation for your big day?
• 7:35
  Yes. Okay. And was it this team that did it together?
• 7:39
  No. Oh, so that's how you got to know other people.
• 7:42
  You had to do it within a team that wasn't the team you had been preparing with.
• 7:47
  Oh. That's interesting. Um, what was the highlight of the Urban Challenge?
• 7:51
  Not the mock, the real. What was the highlight of the real Urban Challenge for you?
• 7:56
  SPEAKER5: It was getting closer to people that, like I knew before but were like, didn't really talk about.
• 8:01
  And I met new people too.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER6: I think the highlight for me was just working with our teammates and just walking around the sites and just kind of having fun with that.
• 8:11
  Great. Yeah, I think like getting to know new people because like, obviously like we got to know them during like the prep days.
• 8:17
  But I think like actually being there, like we still learn more about each other as like the day went on and like learned who knew stuff about certain sites that
• 8:26
  we went to and some people didn't. So then we just kind of all like shared ideas.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER1: So everybody had their own talent or interests to share, sort of?
• 8:34
  SPEAKER5: Um, meeting new people and walking around
• 8:36
  SPEAKER6: at the sites and having fun.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER8: Yeah, I would say exploring Madison because, I mean, it's where we live.
• 8:42
  So it's good to like, know where we're going next time we go there.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER1: Did anybody have a favorite site that they visited?
• 8:51
  Just share. What was it?
• 8:53
  SPEAKER9: Mine was probably the Union where we just got to see the pretty lake.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER1: Mhm.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER6: I like the Veterans museum.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER8: I like the Capitol.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER6: Yeah I like the Veterans Museum too. And like, the lake.
• 9:06
  Both.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER5: What do you think, Sarah? Um, I think it was like I forgot how it's called, but by the lake,
• 9:12
  because I just really think it was really pretty, and it was really peaceful.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER1: I think that was the Union, because that was the only lake spot, was it not?
• 9:19
  Yeah. Well, yes, the Union is always a lot of fun, but I really do like the challenge where you have to go into the Veterans Museum
• 9:27
  because you have to actually read the things in order to answer the question.
• 9:33
  That's a part of the challenge. So I always like that one.
• 9:37
  Um, what was the most important thing that you learned?
• 9:42
  SPEAKER5: Uh, I think it was riding the metro busses because I learned how, like how to use a card and how people like,
• 9:49
  like, act when they're in the Metro bus.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER9: I'd have to agree with Sarah. Trying to figure out which stop you had to get off on the Metro bus.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER6: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think Metro busses are like social skills and, like, knowing how to,
• 10:02
  like, interact. Like, not only with, like, the people in your group, but like, also like other people that were also just
• 10:07
  there. Mhm. Um, like working with people you might not know in your groups and using public transportation.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER8: Yeah. I would say exploring with your team.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER1: Yeah. How many of you was this your first time on public transportation?
• 10:23
  One. Okay. The rest of you have tried it before?
• 10:26
  All right, all right. Is there anything you do differently if you could do the whole thing over?
• 10:32
  SPEAKER9: I don't think so. I think it was very nicely well planned, and I kind of liked that it--There was some of our own--own choice that we got
• 10:40
  to put into it, but there was also some structure.
• 10:43
  Nice.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER6: Yeah. I would say like taking maybe like a little bit more time at like each place to like,
• 10:49
  really like know what it was for and just like get a better understanding of it.
• 10:53
  Um, I think we did pretty good, but we had a lot of extra time so we could have put something else or done something else.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER8: Probably visit more places.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER1: Yeah. Okay. Um, anything to add on that one, Sarah?
• 11:07
  SPEAKER5: Um, like, I agree with Maeve when she said that, like, we did pretty good with our time and everything.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER1: Yeah. Um, so you had a little bit of time left over where maybe you could have done a few more challenges or stayed longer at some of the places that you found
• 11:22
  interesting? Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense.
• 11:25
  Okay. So how do you think you'll use these things in the future?
• 11:28
  SPEAKER5: I think maybe like in the metro busses, because in the future, in case we go to Madison,
• 11:33
  or if one of us goes to UW Madison for school or college.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER1: Absolutely.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER9: Um, even using Google Maps to just find our way around the campus of figuring out which way I was telling us to go and reading the street signs.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER6: Yeah, I think like, either like knowing how to, like, use the transportation or like the social skills of like being able to,
• 11:53
  like, talk to people and like, start like actual conversation and just like, know what you're talking about.
• 12:00
  Um, using public transportation.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER8: Yeah. Using maps and the busses.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER1: Mhm. Mhm. By the way, where did you guys go for lunch?
• 12:09
  SPEAKER9: Raising Cane's.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER1: Raising cane's. Okay. Just wondered, just wondered because I know that's a big decision on these days is where are you all going to agree to for lunch.
• 12:21
  So you're about to finish up seventh grade first year at OMS.
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  What advice do you have for incoming seventh grade students, either related to this or really anything about seventh grade?
• 12:35
  SPEAKER5: Um, I would say enjoying your time in seventh grade because next year it could get harder.
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  And to actually pay attention in class so you actually know what you're doing.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER9: Oh good advice. I would say just keep a like not a plan, kind of a planner of just keeping on top of homework and schoolwork,
• 12:51
  but then also not being afraid to just talk to new people because it's everyone's first time in seventh grade.
• 12:57
  Yeah.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER6: Yeah. Like a growth mindset and, like, always like being open to meeting new people and like,
• 13:03
  obviously like, have your friends, but also like meet other people because obviously like with RCI and FES combined and plus like the new kids,
• 13:10
  you can always meet some new people. Um, meeting
• 13:13
  SPEAKER5: new
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  SPEAKER6: people and
• 13:15
  SPEAKER5: Everything is homework if you don't
• 13:17
  SPEAKER6: get it
• 13:17
  SPEAKER5: done in class.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER8: Yeah. Staying on top of your homework so you don't fall back.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER1: That--it's great advice, you guys. Thank you very much.
• 13:28
  Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website at oregonsd.org/podcast.
• 13:39
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• 13:43
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• 13:49
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