Diary Entry of a SHSM Tech Design Student
Dear future students,
Usually I would address the diary, but today I’m talking to you. I’m not sure if anyone will ever find this or care to read it, but having just graduated from Pure Tech Secondary, I want to share some thoughts.
When the schools switched to being fully remote AI-run institutions, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. I wondered how permanently switching to remote education (not to mention fully AI instruction) would affect me, my family, my peers, everyone? Especially after hearing about what had happened during the COVID-19 lockdowns. But after having completed my entire high school education in the new system, I can say it was actually a really great experience overall.
For starters, having had the luxury to complete my high school education from literally anywhere I wanted was a plus. As someone who likes and sometimes needs to switch up their learning environment from day to day in order to be more productive, the fact that I could just take my computer anywhere was awesome. On days where I wanted to work at a cafe or a library I could, I was not confined to a set space. The same goes for studying with friends, we could meet up anywhere thanks to the online platform. Even though we were all working on different things, we were still able to socialize and use each other as a sounding board for our ideas.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the AI instruction was the personalized learning plan. Don’t get me wrong, it was cool to see all the different results that came out of everyone doing the same assignment, but having a personalized learning plan helped me learn concepts in a way that made sense to me, and I feel like the assessments incorporated aspects that were both enjoyable and posed a challenge. And yes, while we did get similar or the same projects on occasion (especially being in a SHSM program), we had many opportunities to choose what we wanted to do in the process and the guidelines weren’t super rigid.
As a result of the personalized learning plan, I feel like there was less competition. Before the switch, we were always comparing grades, and on the days we received our report cards the first thing out of people’s mouths was always, “what did you get?” and when my grades weren’t the best (especially in subjects I struggled with), I kept my mouth shut so people wouldn’t ask me about it. Sometimes it made me feel like I wasn’t smart enough or I didn’t try hard enough, even when I had given it my all, but after the switch, because I knew we were all on completely different learning paths catered to each individual student, I didn’t feel the need to compete with my peers. You can’t compare apples to oranges and I couldn’t compare my learning to theirs.
Being in the Tech Design SHSM program was one of the highlights of my high school learning experience. I had so many opportunities to do something I enjoyed, while showcasing my skillset and creating pieces I was proud of.
I have to say the ambience room was probably one of my favourite assignments I have ever done. I had watched and listened to so many in the past while I was studying: from cozy libraries and reading nooks in winter, to witchy cottages in the fall, to front porch decks and babbling brooks in the spring and summer (I’m a very seasonal person if you couldn’t already tell). So, when I got the chance to make my own I was so excited. It was a project that I easily got lost in, and in my eyes, that's when you know you're enjoying a project despite the obstacles. It was also the project that I’m most proud of; the end result turned out better than anticipated and I could not wait to play it on the TV while I studied. Overall, I very much enjoyed the project and the program; it allowed me to showcase my critical thinking and creative talents, while trying something new and having a great time in the process.
On a final note, I would like to leave you with some advice for navigating this entirely digital, AI-run learning environment. The first and most obvious suggestion would be to get yourself into one of the SHSM programs. I’m biased to tech design of course, but all of the SHSM programs have so much to offer. The second is to find new ways to study; you have the luxury of access to so many online resources including learning platforms (outside of the one Pure Tech uses), digital studying tools, and softwares that support all kinds of digital creation. Use those tools to your advantage and you can always enlist your friends if you want to work in a more social setting. Finally, just have fun with it. Yes, keeping on top of your work is crucial, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to try something new and take the opportunities that come your way because they lead to the most memorable experiences.
Wishing you all the best of luck on your future endeavors and I can’t wait to see what you will do with the chances you’re given. Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds!
Jessica ♡