Finding Creativity From My Research

    My research last week, during the Genius Hour, helped clarify food security and gave me a lot to think about regarding how I will get this project running in a high school. I was inspired by the articles that I found that were active in the movement of feeding others who are in need. Getting this program up and running felt like a lot of logistics. My mind was racing with questions:

• How would I communicate with the social worker from the school and the families or individuals receiving the food? 

• Where would they pick up the food or deliver it? I don’t know all the school board rules or a single school on these ideas. 

• I also thought I would need to find some basic information about the families or people we feed regarding allergies or food preferences based on religious, environmental or ethical reasons. 

    I was at a standstill on these issues and felt that these thoughts would have to be tabled until I was closer to implementing the program and having conversations with a school about the program. So, I looked back at my research from last week and realized that part of the program's initiative was informing students about food insecurity and how the high school community members who need the service get it. 

    Last night, I was in a creative mood after completing a technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) assignment in this course, and it inspired me to connect a TPACK activity with my thought of informing students about food insecurity, I wanted a fun, engaging way to inform students about the research I found. As I thought more about this idea, I realized that a poster could be used to introduce the program to the student body, educate students on the issue and provide a way for students to reach out for help. 

Here is the poster I made using Canva. 

    It has some basic information about the program initiative, two QR codes (I learned that too, and I am learning too!!), one for students to read more about food insecurity, hoping for them to become more aware but also in the hopes that they might recognize that they are experiencing food insecurity and to reach out for help. 

    The other is for a confidential Google form to provide the social worker with the contact information of a student and their family in need. I wanted to provide an easy and somewhat discreet way for students to reach out to the social worker and feel comfortable saying, “Yes, my family needs support,”, instead of having to seek out and speak to the social worker since this could be very difficult and awkward for a person to do. 

                                                                

    The poster is visually appealing, and the food concept is very apparent. I wanted it to be minimal and loaded with info, so I used the QR codes. 

    My next steps will have to be getting into the logistics of the program:

• Talk to a school social worker and the school/school board regarding my idea and see if there is any “red tape” that might stop it.

• Find answers to all the questions at the beginning of this blog

• Create a menu utilizing ingredients already stocked in the hospitality and tourism department.

• Develop recipes for the menu.

• Research packaging 

I'm glad I now have a list of my tasks!

I would love to hear your comments on my poster. Please leave your comments below.

Well, until next time, stay well.

Cheers!