Experiential Learning

How great would it be to do a job that you absolutely LOVE?  Bruce Beck loves what he does, and he’s eager to share his passion for this exciting and challenging profession with GSB students. 

With the explosion of cable TV, the internet, live webcasts, mobile TV and social media, there is more opportunity than ever to find a career in sports broadcasting. Whether being in front of the camera or working behind the scenes on the production side, this experience will give students a fascinating insight into the world of television and radio.  

This on-campus program allows students to get hands-on experience and to learn the fundamentals of broadcasting from one of New Jersey’s own, WNBC-TV Lead Sports Anchor BRUCE BECK. The former Livingston resident has won eight New York Emmy Awards and has been named New York State Sports Broadcaster of the Year eight times. Mr. Beck and his team of professionals have developed an exciting program that will enable students to meet some of the best announcers in the New York Metropolitan area and gain valuable insight into every facet of the field.

Students will learn how to write for television and radio broadcasts, read off a teleprompter, co-host a sports talk radio segment, be a public address announcer, do field reports – and even interview a professional athlete. Plus, Bruce has a few exciting virtual road trips up his sleeve. In the past, some of these trips included a behind the scenes visit to the broadcasting locations at MetLife Stadium and a tour of NBC Studios in New York City.

This incredible opportunity for students turns the classroom into a studio.  You will meet professional athletes and famous broadcasters. This experience has been a home run whenever it was offered in the past. It promises to be the experience of a lifetime! 

Do you think you think you are brave enough to Escape Gill? You have been locked up all year, and by this time, you should be a professional introvertish. If you choose to accept this mission (and we really think you should!), you will use your newfound skills to develop and execute your very own Escape Room on Gill’s campus. This Unit will employ engineering and designing principles to create a fun year-end experience. Students will join one of three teams to compete for the most challenging escape room encounter. Students will need to work together to create the most perplexing and immersive Escape Room experience right here on campus. You will work within your teams to come up with a theme, unique puzzles, and a full-room renovation to make the complete escape room experience. This Unit is not for the faint of heart, and you must have the ability to work with your team to create a maddening experience for your classmates. The team with the best Escape Times will be crowned Gill’s Escape Champions. Do you have what it takes? 

Details:

This Unit will be divided into four days. The first day will be dedicated to research and design of your room. You must determine a theme, come up with a shopping list and design unique puzzles and quandaries for your theme. The next two and a half days will consist of you and your team constructing your rooms and testing your puzzles and activities. The second half of the final day will be spent proving your sleuthing skills and Escaping your competitor’s rooms. 

Approximate number of students: 3 groups of 10 (30 in total)

Television, we all fall victim to its trappings. From the endless binge-watching of that new Netflix series to live sporting events, people LOVE television. But the question is why? What makes a program so addicting? Why do we invest so much time in the news and events that are on our screens every day? It’s the work that goes into what is being shown to you. From the script of a comedy show to the directing and producing special broadcasts to the people we see on camera; everyone has a role in successful television programming. This Unit will focus on the work behind crafting television programming, at both a student and professional level. We will cover script writing, comedy sketches, news reporting, directing, camera operations, and editing. 

Topics to be covered include:

• Pitch Meetings and Script Writing: 
  • Looking at the first steps of programming.
  • Students will choose their specific areas of focus (writing, camera ops, directing, producing) and begin working on week’s schedule with peers.
  • Group schedules will be settled upon by students, setting target goals for each day.
  • The understanding of how to break down a show into segments and delegating roles and responsibilities is critical to effective production.
  • Script and sketch writing for students will aim at sculpting program content.
• Operations and Directing: 
  • Camera operations will be covered today. How we record our material is critical to the final product. Students will learn how to set up their shot using lighting, sound, and the environment around them. Recording of different clips will be done throughout campus.
  • Guest speaker, Ryan Case, will share her experience working on professional television programs. She will discuss with students how she approaches directing and producing for comedy shows. Q&A session will be done with Ms. Case’s permission. Students will then focus on the schedule they create.
  • Students will schedule interviews and location times for tomorrow’s activities.
• Interviews and Shooting-on-Scene:
  • Content for student-created show will commence with scheduled interviews.
  • Sketches (News, Comedy, Sports) will be shot around campus.
  • Guest speaker, Michael Conte, will speak with students about news coverage and fast-paced news cycle, as well as the production aspects of reporting. Q&A session will be done with Mr. Conte’s permission.
• Editing and Sharing: 
  • Guest speaker, Dan Lagnado, will engage with the students on the processes of clipping and shoring up multimedia content. Students will focus on the aspects of how to edit shots and begin turning out shareable files. Q&A session will be done with Mr. Lagnado’s permission.
  • Students will focus on editing their recordings and working out reshoots.
  • Clips will be put together into final video, uploaded, and made shareable.

Did you know that one in five teens has had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their life?  Do you want to be empowered to be part of the solution? Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches high school students in 10th-12th grade about common mental health challenges, including substance abuse and what they can do to support their own mental health and help a friend who is struggling. After finishing the training, students will be skilled in having supportive conversations with their friends and knowing when it is necessary to find a responsible and trusted adult to take over.  This Unit is especially designed for students interested in peer leadership positions. While it can’t be promised that students who participate in tMHFA will get to meet with Lady Gaga, you can check out her involvement in this YouTube video: Lady Gaga + Students on teen Mental Health First Aid!

In the tMHFA Certification Course, similar to CPR, students will learn a five-step action plan to help their friends who may be facing a mental health problem or crisis, such as suicide, and highlights the important step of involving a responsible and trusted adult. Instruction will be provided by Upper School Counselor Emily Haberman, LCSW and certified tMHFA trainer.

A speaker from Active Minds will share his/her story, tailored for a high school audience, to promote the importance of mental health awareness. Through open and honest discussion of their own personal stories, recovery, self-care, and resources for staying mentally well during COVID-19, students will learn how to apply your new skills as a tMHFA responder.

Dr. Stropoli, AP Psychology instructor and faculty from Rutgers Department of Psychology, will virtually host an informative and interactive workshop on topics in positive psychology and recent research relevant to adolescence.

You are what you eat. Nutrition can have a big impact on our moods. As we learn to care for our mental health and support the mental health of our peers, we can utilize nutrition science for an extra boost. Guest Speaker: Cyndi Salemy, M.S., Food for Mood Functional Nutrition, LLC.
               
Self-Care & Coping Skills:  Providing support for others can be emotionally taxing. Students will choose from a menu of options to create a self-care program that suits their needs and interests. Options include socially 

You approach the front of the room and turn to find dozens of eyes fixated on you, waiting for your first word, but your mouth has gone dry, your hands clammy, and you desperately wish to be anywhere else in the world. If this sounds familiar, you are one of millions of Americans who fear public speaking – some more so than death! If this sounds like you, you’ve found the right Unit, as the TEDx Unit, “Finding Your Voice,” is designed to share techniques and tips for not only overcoming this fear but excelling at public speaking in many contexts. Students will choose a topic for a TEDx speech, craft it according to the rhetorical device “SOAPSTone,” and end the Unit with a performance of their speech to their Unit-mates, as well as to the greater GSB community through video recordings of their speeches. Through a combination of workshops, guided exercises, and examining exemplar speeches, students will learn how to improve their public speaking skills and maybe even, come to enjoy it. 

Details: 

Day 1 - Guided Performance exercises & games 

• Projection exercises 
• Choosing TEDx Topic 
• TEDx speech brainstorming & drafting 
• Introduction to SOAPSTone (rhetorical tools for speechcraft) 
• Exemplar examinations: TEDx presenters Sarah Kay, Bailey Parnell, Martin Luther King Jr. 

Day 2 - Guided performance exercises & games 

• Exemplar examinations: Phil Kaye, Kenneth Cukier, Barack Obama 
• Finalize TEDx speech drafts 
• *Possible* guest speaker: Sarah Kay/Phil Kaye-Spoken Word Poets

Day 3 - Guided performance exercises & games 

• Student-guided exemplar examinations 
• Rehearsal workshops 

Day 4 - Guided performance exercises & games 

• Final rehearsals 
• Final TEDx Performances (to be recorded)
   

“Nearly everyone wants as least one outstanding meal a day.” - Duncan Hines
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” - Julia Child

Have you ever dined at a nice restaurant and wondered how the chef thought of that day’s menu? Or what food critics look for when they analyze and review a restaurant? This Unit will explore the criteria of the food critic industry. We will learn the language of food critics and head chefs, and students will write their own review of the business and its food, using the knowledge given to them by a New Jersey food critic.

Details:

• Day 1: Getting to Know Your Palate 
  • Research and examine the parts of the tongue and learn where/how taste functions.
  • Enjoy a series of small food tastings to learn about different flavors (ex: popcorn challenge).
  • Begin a food blog to document different tastings.
• Day 2: Learning to Write about Your Senses
  • Research food competition shows to learn about how judges critique food.
  • Practice writing a food review of SAGE Dining.
  • Continue writing food blog.
• Day 3: Writing
  • Possible guest speaker via Zoom, Andy Clurfield, NJ Food Critic.
  • Sample cuisine from local restaurant and begin the process of writing a critic.
• Day 4: Revision & Publication
  • Complete revision of review.
  • Complete food blog.

If you think writing songs might be fun, you’re totally right! So, why not give it a try? In this Unit, you will learn the ABCs (Art, Business, and Craft) of songwriting. You’ll investigate song form and structure, genres and styles, chords and rhythm, and more. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of an array of working songwriters and industry professionals across a variety of genres. Everyone in the Unit will collaborate and start creating original songs. 

Guest Speakers include: 

• a Singer/Songwriter working in Nashville whose songs have been recorded by several other artists and have appeared in commercials, as well as on the TV show Nashville 
• a representative from REVERB, a company that inspires millions of music lovers to tackle environmental and social issues 
• the Lead Singer/Songwriter of an Indie Folk Band from Virginia
• the Head of Sales and Streaming at a major new NYC record label
• CEO of Barefoot Media to learn more about the business side of music companies
• Watch Songland to see how songwriters pitch their ideas to top recording artists

Playing chess is fun – but winning is even better! Would you like to be able to reliably win chess games against your family and friends? Have you watched all episodes of The Queen’s Gambit? Do you dream about living the wild chess lifestyle? Do you want to relentlessly checkmate your opponent in the middle of the board using the “Fried Liver Attack?” Or do you just want to casually drop the term “Fried Liver Attack” in conversation and impress your peers? Then this Unit is for you!

This Spring Unit will focus on chess strategy, and tactics, sprinkled with a little chess history. Since chess was invented 1500 years ago, it has consistently ranked as the world’s most popular game. It is currently played competitively in 195 countries/independent jurisdictions and serves as a universal language.  Historically, it has even served to improve diplomatic relations between countries. Studying chess improves students’ concentration, develops their critical thinking, and exercises their problem-solving abilities. 

Instruction and practice will be designed to accommodate students of varying levels and experience.   Mornings will be spent on academic chess topics including:

• Chess Initiative: The Games of Paul Morphy  
• Calculating 20 Moves Ahead: Basic Endgames
• Training Your Mind: Tactics Training
• Putting It All Together: Strategies for Improving Your Chess Game

Each afternoon, students will play long practice games/positions with a suitable opponent. Analysis of longer games are an excellent opportunity for improvement.

Imagine you and some friends are driving exploring the beauty of rural America when you suddenly hit a pothole and get a flat tire. You are in the middle of nowhere and you have no cell reception.  You can’t call AAA, you can’t access YouTube, and you can’t call your parents. What would you do? In life there are certain quintessential skills, like changing a flat tire, that every human should know by the time they reach adulthood. Some of these skills are taught in school or at home, while others have become part of the well, I just thought you knew that category. Many basic skills that were once taught in courses like Home Economics have been left by the wayside in today's culture and are now only available via YouTube instructional videos. This Unit will address a few of these basic "life hacks" and provide students with a chance to be self-sufficient, self-confident, and self-reliant young adults. This Unit will explore and dive deeper into some basic skills that every adult, young or not, should know how to do, from automotive maintenance to balancing a household budget. 

Topics to be covered include:

• Basic automotive knowledge: how to change a flat tire, how to jump start a dead battery, and proper maintenance. Virtual Guest Speaker: Ted Leenstra, Automotive Mechanic for the Township of Mt. Olive. Outdoor work on individual cars. (Students who drive/have a car will be working with and looking at their own car.)
• Basic sewing knowledge:  how to sew on a button, how to hem a pair of dress pants, how to iron a dress shirt. Virtual Guest Speaker or Visitor: Mr. Canada. Students will be given their own personal sewing kit.
• Basic food knowledge:  how to cook a meal for four people for $20 or less – students will be food shopping using ShopRite Shop from Home in Chester and preparing the meal to be cooked in an InstantPot. Possible Virtual Guest Speaker workshop on food safety.
• Basic financial knowledge:  how to create a budget, how to understand banking and investing, how to understand your paycheck.  Virtual Guest Speaker: Dominique Vitalis of Merrill Lynch Financial. 
• Basic etiquette: how to dress for certain occasions, how to introduce yourself and your date, how to execute a good handshake, how to start a conversation, how to remember people's names when you meet them. How to tie a full Windsor knot and how to tie a bow tie.

Do you think the world is better in color? If so, this is the Unit for you! Various types of pigments have been used throughout the ages to paint the world in color. From cave paintings to museum masterpieces, the paint formulas may have changed, but the desire to capture the world has not. Over the course of this Unit, we will learn how to create several pigments used throughout history. You will become proficient with advanced laboratory techniques such as decanting, vacuum filtration, and some inorganic chemistry processes while incorporating four important colors: Madder Red, Prussian Blue, Cobalt Green, and Cobalt Yellow. Once completed, we will learn the process used to take these raw pigments and transform them into usable watercolor paints. Finally, we will paint a picture with the watercolor paints we made! 

Details: 

• Day 1:  Discussion on colors and the chemistry of the reactions and the history of mineral pigment. Review proper lab techniques and equipment. Begin preparation of the madder roots 
• Day 2:  Work with a partner and begin synthesis of pigments
• Day 3:  Isolation of the pigments and combining them with binders to make your own paint. Paint a picture with your paints!
• Day 4:  Finish painting your picture and reflect on your experience. Create a demonstration and visual presentation showcasing the highlights of this Unit.

12 student maximum.