Creative Ways to Engage Your Students and Families

Presenters: Kris Bumpus and Heather Hendrickx

https://tinyurl.com/guccengage
Goals
● Share a Framework for Designing Curriculum
● Gather Ideas and Obtain Resources
● Have Fun!
 Overview
● Background
● Structure: The Design Thinking Process
● Share Activities
● Feedback and Results
● Share Ideas
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
273 Students in High School

56% of students from the class of 2018

applied to more than one country

88 minute Advisory every other day

Monthly Coffee Mornings

Predominantly ESL parent community

Grade-level days for university prep

2 holistic counselors by alpha split

Design Thinking:
A design
methodology that
provides a
solution-based
approach to
solving problems.
 DEFINE
● Limited Understanding of
University Research and
Application Process
● Lack of Ownership
● Academic Pressure
● Misconceptions
 IDENTIFY
● Predominantly ESL Parent Community
● Societal Norms of Outside Advisors
● Parental Expectations
● Contact Time
● Space
● Money
 BRAINSTORM
● Translation Technology
● Community Resource Presentations
● Educational Materials/Forms in
Multiple Languages
● Improve University Visit Marketing
● Deepen Data Gathering and Reporting
● Increase University Alumni
Connections
● Grade Level Parent Events
SELECT and
PROTOTYPE
● Increased Contact Time
● Incorporated Mindfulness
● Diversify Parent Meetings
● Modify University Visits and
Fair Format
● Gamify “Tasks”
● Student-Led Learning
Parent Outreach
Connect, Educate and Empower
● Personalized Media
○ 360 Photos
● Student Voice Videos
● Table Prompts
● Gamification
● PSAT Mock Exam
● Zone of Comfort
 How Did You Do?
Reading Test
1. A 4. C 7. B

2. B 5. C 8. D

3. B 6. B 9. B

Writing and Language Test Math Test-No Calculator

1. C 4. D 7. B 1. A 4. D 7. A

2. D 5. C 2. B 5. B

3. C 6. A 3. A 6. B
 https://tinyurl.com/guccengage
● Open the Experiential Activity
Planning Worksheet

● Define the Problem

○ What problem(s) do you see
in your school community
within the context of
Guidance?

● Identify the constraints

○ What limitations are present?

● Share one problem and one

constraint.
Setting the Tone for Holistic
University Preparation

● Sense of Self
○ Student Led Conferences
○ Guided Meditation
● Sense of Community
○ The Arm Exercise
○ Web of Connection
● Open the Experiential
Activity Planning
Worksheet

● Brainstorm possible
solutions

● Share one possible solution.

Engaging University Fair Ideas
■ Fun Facts
■ Scavenger Hunt

https://kahoot.it/
University Representatives: Informal feedback for
preference of more engaging fair format
Parents: 95% parent participation of junior student led
meetings versus approximately 60% in “College Night”
event
Students:
● End of year survey showed an increase in the
students’ assessment of advisory curriculum.
● 30% increase in EA/ED applications

Test and Evaluate

 Next Steps
1) Define
a) Problem
i) Priorities and Objectives
b) Target Participants
i) Students
ii) Families
iii) Staff
2) Identify Constraints
3) Brainstorm Activity Ideas
4) Plan
5) Share
Questions?
Kris Bumpus Heather Hendrickx
Head of Academic and Guidance High School Counselor
American International School American International School
kbumpus@ais.edu.hk hhendrickx@ais.edu.hk