Writing a cookbook, producing an album, or learning to tightrope walk might not seem like the things you’d do in an English class, but the WISE program at IHS makes it possible for you to undertake almost any project you want to earn an English credit. Seniors have been working hard on these projects since the beginning of the second semester.
In WISE, students begin the second half of the year by researching any topic they choose. They meet with mentors and keep a digital or physical journal of their progress. Then, they put their research and experience into action and work on their projects independently.
Many of the seniors in WISE emphasize how different this class is from other classes at IHS because of its self-guided, hands-on nature and the way that it encourages creativity.
Here is a taste of some of the art-oriented WISE projects of current seniors at IHS.
Getting Hammered (Blacksmithing)
Harper Lyon ’17 says that he has “always been interested in the smith’s almost magical ability to shape glowing hot steel into new and useful shapes.” For his WISE project, he decided to seek out that magical ability for himself.
He has spent most of his time so far setting up a forge, which has involved acquiring all the necessary materials, an experience that he says has taken him “everywhere from junkyards to Amazon.”
According to Lyon, one of the best parts of the project was going to visit Cornell’s farrier shop, where he watched dozens of students hammer horseshoes. He also talked to Professor Kraus, who runs the program, and was able to get personalized advice.
Lyon is also working on creating his own tools and pieces that his family can use.
The Future of Fashion: 3D Printing
For her WISE project, Alex de Roos ’17 is exploring the intersection of STEM and fashion. She has been using CAD software and 3D printing technology to create clothing designs. She has been working on several designs and hopes to be able to print them by the end of the year.
Though de Roos has always loved clothes, she had little experience in fashion design and 3D printing at the beginning of the year. She has learned a lot about both subjects through research and tours at Cornell.
Among the highlights of her journey was interviewing Professor Ashtown, a Cornell professor who works in the Fiber Science and Apparel Department at Cornell. Professor Ashtown offered to help de Roos do a 3D scan of her own body, and then she worked with Mr. Breigle and one of her friends to make a 3D print of herself.
De Roos has also been researching the environmental impacts of fashion and the ethics of the fashion industry.
The Reggae Voyage
According to Rafael Enciso ’17, “Reggae is the best dance music there is.” Though Enciso has always been an avid reggae listener, his expertise on the bass did not extend to the genre, and this was one of the reasons he chose to explore it and create and publish his own album of reggae music. Additionally, he wanted to learn more about the process of recording an album because he thinks it will be an important skill to have as he pursues a career in music.
Enciso’s album is called Metropolitan Zigzag, and it will include 10 original tracks. He rehearses with the musicians, including IHS students, with whom he will record his compositions. In addition to composing and recording the music, he has designed an album cover, transformed a part of his house into a recording studio, and listened to hours of reggae music for inspiration, which he says has been the best part of the project.
Mastering the Art of Tightrope Walking
Nick John ’17 says that the idea of a WISE project focused on tightrope walking occurred to him when “[He] walked on a rope during the winter, and [he] just thought: ‘WISE project.’” Since then, John has learned about the tools and hardware needed for tightrope walking and has been perfecting his balance.
Though getting the tension of the ropes just right has taken hours of practice, John said that the best part of the experience has been tinkering with the many ropes and cables involved in constructing a tightrope.
If you want to learn more about WISE projects, you can find links to many of the seniors’ websites at https://sites.google.com/site/ihswiseprogram/services. The seniors will also give presentations of their completed WISE projects at the end of the year.