I-imagine+Project

= I-imagine™: Taking My Place in the World =

//We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.// ~Franklin D. Roosevelt



**Presentation Description**
Illuminate students' sense of identity and purpose grounded in new research for inspiring hope, joy and action in owning life-goals via multimedia docudramas called “I-Imagine™ ~Taking My Place in the World.” More details at Vision Videos.

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//**Mission:** We want our kids to know that at their very core is something good and uniquely special about them ~ to know they matter and have value in our world. May they live their journey with courage, zest and fortitude shining their light and gifts on a hopeful path into their best and brightest future. ~// adapted quotation from Sparks. P. Benson.=====


 * Download //I-imagine// Student Scrapbook samplett.[[file:Student i-imagine Samplett.pdf]]
 * Download I-imagine Teacher's Guide samplett. [[file:I-imagine Teacher Guide Samplette.pdf]]

Let It Begin ~ Where Do You Start?
• Keynote Presentation //(call to action)// • 1/2 day - 1 day Workshop //(awareness)// • Immersive 2-4 day Workshop //(skill development)// • Artist-in-Residence //(Working w/ students & their teachers onsite from start to finish - culminating in teachers learning in real-time PLUS a Hollywood-style showtime celebrating our kids lives matter!)//

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= //I-imagine//™ Student Vision Video Project =

Narrative story is one of the oldest and most proven tools for motivating individuals to engage in change, mobilized by inspired hope while activating positive actions NOW. Finding purpose and passion are the hallmarks of a life that matters, a life worth living. They are also the source of joy and happiness. The greatest gift parents and teachers can give their children is to help them discover, nourish and act on this truth NOW. Our inner stories exert tremendous influence on us, driving us and limiting -- or enlarging -- our sense of reality and possibility. Change the story and we change what is real, acceptable, and possible. . . much like the imaginal cells responsible for a caterpillar DNA experiences that activates transformation into butterflies. The new "DNA" story vibrating through the imaginal cells begins cortical remapping. The story we tell about ourselves shapes everything we see, think and do – often without our even being aware of it.

Because the brain does not know the difference between real and imagined, a positive future story created by individuals or communities changes the "neuroplasticity" of brains. These changes can profoundly alter the pattern of neuronal activation in response to experience. According to the theory of neuroplasticity, experience (real or imagined) can actually change both the brain's physical structure (anatomy) and functional organization (physiology) from top to bottom. Creating multimedia future stories deepens the sensory and reality experience of this experience activating passion, hope and commitment to "The-Future-of-Me" Docudrama.

In //Think Better//, author Tim Hurson suggests thinking in terms of a “target future,” an “imagined future” so “powerful and compelling” that it generates motivation to achieve it. In //Tell Me a Story//, author Roger Shanks shares how great stories that inspire changes the brain waves via the science of neuroplasticity. They allow us to imagine ourselves as the victorious protagonist - our own life hero - organizing us to proactively manifest have the life we WANT rather than take what we get by pure chance.

**Objectives**

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• To inspire educators skills and enthusiasm for " activating a generation for their own greatness. " Teacher's Guide features pre-writing activities; establishing "student-directed" learning spaces; coaching powerful narratives; managing the media-making process plus other high-yielding best teaching/learning practices that will serve beyond this project. ======

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• To create learning events and experiences to inspire students in creating and nourishing their own best future using research-based strategies that activate purpose, hope and passion for living a life that matters. ======

• To share student-produced digital products and lessons learned from classrooms that have invested in futuring with video vision docudramas.
**Research** //When kids can name and nourish their “spark” – every outcome parents and educators care about changes dramatically.// – Peter Benson, Author of Sparks and President of Search Institute

Search Institute Finding for young people who have identified their “spark” aka strengths, talents and affinities
 * have higher grades in school
 * have higher attendance in school
 * are more likely to be socially competent – less violent
 * are more likely to be physically healthy
 * are more likely to volunteer to help other people
 * are more likely to be good stewards of the earth and its resources
 * are more likely to have a sense of hope and purpose

• Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers by Peter Benson • Your Child’s Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, and Use Them by Jennifer Fox • Helping Kids Hope by Dr. Gill • Educating for Human Greatness by Lynn Stoddard • Th e Affinity Project - The Strength Approach to Educating Children • Hope Survey: Raise engagement. Raise hope. Raise achievement. Hope survey data shows that as //"hope increases so does the ability of students to improve academically in the areas of math and reading."//

• Power of Story by Tom Atlee. The Co-Intelligence Institute. • StoryFields - The Narrative Shape of Our Lives and Cultures • The Thriving Indicators Project a la Search Institute  • Thinking Our Way into the Future – The Power of Scenarios and Visioning • What Kids Need to Succeed a la Search Institute