Digital Academy Overview

Program Description

Digital Academy (DA) is a collection of workshops and a community. The workshops are rigorous and are intended for students aged 14+ who have experience in creative digital software and are ready to learn more advanced material in a group-supported environment. DA students are expected to work on their creative projects outside of workshop time. The DA community is compassionate and supportive.  You’ll find students and IOB’s Creative Technologists and Mentors learning new skills together.

Each program - SideQuest, Quest, and CollabQuest, has different qualifications. Please see those web pages for more information.

 

Support

IOB Creative Technologists, Mentors, and/or Special Educators support students learning with there being no more than six students to one educator. 

Digital Academy uses creative technologies and community as a bridge to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) development. Students who need more support may find other IOB programs – such as Foundation Workshops – a better fit. Please contact the IOB Team (connect@islandsofbrilliance.org) if you have specific questions regarding the support your student may need.

 

Outcomes

DA’s main emphasis is on developing soft skills, including self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management skills which accompany the technical product-based learning approach. Students also have the opportunity to build confidence, add to their resume, and establish meaningful community and professional connections.

These programs are a good fit for

Students who are ready for high school and/or college-level instruction and social interaction.  We recommend that students be 14+.

 

Students who are currently or have previously participated in IOB workshops. They will need prior knowledge and know-how of various creative technologies such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Blender, and Procreate. Eligibility for students new to IOB will be determined through our Concierge Process.

 

Students who love to dive deep into learning new software, working on a team, and find meaning in work-based learning.

Digital Academy Programs

  • Quest

    Quest is the most rigorous program that IOB offers. It is a personalized learning opportunity for advanced students who are interested in determining their own learning path. Students receive bi-weekly mentorship, share progress, and collaborate with peers online. This program is online.

    Students apply to a Quest with a specific goal to achieve by the end of a time period. If accepted, students work with other Quest participants over three, six, and nine-week periods. The time needed to successfully complete a quest is determined by the goal and scope of the project that is outlined in the application.

    Quest students access a digital whiteboard and private Discord Server to share their efforts. They have access to both resources for the duration of their Quest and will continue to have access to Discord to inspire and mentor other Quest students for the full calendar year.

    Features: Advanced learners can choose their own path • Connection to a creative autistic community • Flexibility of online • Flexible program duration

    Learn More

  • SideQuests

    The most accessible DA program. Students sign up for a SideQuest that aligns with their interests and the skills they would like to learn. SideQuests are offered at different skill levels. The program is hybrid (online and in-person).

    SideQuest programs are creativity-focused topic-based two-day learning labs where students and mentors learn new skills together! Having the opportunity to learn together in a group setting is beneficial and fun!

    Students should be curious about the topic and have a working knowledge of the software or workflow before signing up for SideQuest programs. Some workshops are more advanced and require prior knowledge and experience.

    Features: Develop new skills • Guided by highly-skilled Creative Technologists • Hybrid format gives time for connection AND flexible growth

    Learn More

  • CollabQuests

    Project-based learning programs in partnership with other organizations, institutions, or corporations. Students work from a design brief with the guidance of an experienced Creative Technologist and subject matter experts. This program is hybrid (online and in-person).

    When joining a CollabQuest, students commit to working on a specific project, participating in in-person or hybrid events, and making design progress through individual work time with structured support. Participants share efforts on a digital whiteboard, where design iterations can inspire the community.

    Students will work independently by completing their own responses to the brief. However, they will also be grouped into support pairs in order to share, inspire, and help their fellow students.

    Features: Real-world, hands-on creative project • Hybrid format • Connection through collaborative teamwork

    Learn More

Meet our Digital Academy Team

Designed by Chris Willey, Islands of Brilliance Director of Technology, Digital Academy programs are specifically designed to give experienced students opportunities for advanced growth in terms of technical skills and their ability to learn independently. IOB Creative technologists, IOB Education Specialists and community professionals provide guidance and encouragement.

 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Nope! IOB has designed DA programming to work together or as a stand-alone learning opportunity. For example, a student on a Quest can also sign up for Side Quest and Collab Quest and not have scheduling conflicts. DA workshops primarily occur on weekdays from 4:00-6:00 pm CST.

    Please note: DA programming times often conflict with Foundation, Sandbox activities, and other IOB programming.

  • If the student is interested and meets the requirements of the specific program offering,

    we suggest signing up for Side Quest and Collab Quest! All admissions to DA programming are rolling – sign up for the program that fits your student's needs and matches their interests.

  • Each program has a different requirement. Side Quests include 4 hours of workshop time plus recommended (but not required) time outside of class to practice skills. Quests vary in length and students can expect to spend most of their time working on their project outside of our meeting sessions. Collab Quests depend on our partners' needs and can take anywhere from 6-10 hours of meeting time plus additional outside time for the project.

  • Yes. In all cases, at the DA level, students are expected to work on their creative projects outside of programming. Side Quest students are encouraged, but not expected, to spend time experimenting or applying their new skills on their own time. Both Quest and Collab Quest require work to be done between workshop sessions - the amount will vary depending on the project.

  • Typically, no. Our goal is to give students the ability to gain confidence over time as they respond to the challenges. There is quite a bit of support from students and mentors throughout workshops, which feels like partnering. Depending on the situation, a mentor may allow for limited partnerships to form.

  • Digital Academy uses creative technologies and community as a bridge to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) development. All DA programs assume that the student can work with some level of independence in a group setting with roaming support by IOB staff including IOB Creative Technologists, Mentors, and/or Special Educators.

    Students who need one-to-one support may find other IOB programs – such as Foundation Workshops – a better fit. Please contact the IOB Team (connect@islandsofbrilliance.org) if you have specific questions regarding the support your student may need.

  • Each DA program has different kinds of badges that indicate an individual's effort and offer a shorthand for growth over time. Students get a badge ring when they enter DA Programming with slots for earning badges. These badges indicate each student's level of engagement and are not representative of any rank.

  • No. DA sessions are not recorded. Each DA program has a different attendance policy. Regardless of the program, attendance is critical to success. However, IOB understands sometimes unexpected circumstances and calendar conflicts arise. IOB will work with families where possible.

  • The cost varies depending on the program. Please refer to the specific program pages for costs.

  • Yes! Because these Digital Academy programs are new, they were carefully priced to align with the state support guidelines. Meaning that any support a family receives for attending foundation-level programming can be applied to Digital Academy-level programming.

  • Figma is a company that provides a fantastic design tool and offers an excellent collaborative whiteboard called FigJam. These online tools are accessible by anyone with a school email account 24/7. If a student doesn't have a school email account, the board is available once it's made public by an IOB Team member. Access to the board is shared before the Side Quest program or by request for Quest.

    Discord is a communication channel similar to Slack. DA will only share the invite with active Quest participants, who will have access to the board for a calendar year. IOB staff monitors the dedicated Discord server for Quest participants. They can share their inspirations, chat, get feedback, request assistance, and generally find a community of other creative individuals.

  • Head to our website to choose your Side Quest or Collab Quest. Registration links are on those website pages. For Quest, families and students can contact chris@islandsofbrilliance.org for the initial inquiry.

  • Chris Willey, the Director of Technology at IOB, is the main person behind all Digital Academy programming. Please email chris@islandsofbrilliance.org with questions.