Kasiemba Okeyo

Innovation and Technology Educator (I-track), Geffen Academy at Ucla @Geffen Academy at UCLA

Los Angeles, CA, US

I developed and instructed two upper school concentration courses:\'Designing the Story World\' and \'Advanced Designing the Story World.\' These courses empowered students to apply design thinking and technology to craft imaginative worlds for diverse storytelling platforms like film, TV, video games, comics, novels, and emerging media.\'Designing the Story World\' was founded on the premise that the complex processes and methodologies of worldbuilding can be instrumental in reimagining our reality. Additionally, I curated the \'Story World Library,\' a collection of reference and art books, offering a rich resource for worldbuilding knowledge across various storytelling media, directly from the experts themselves.• I recreated and taught an 8th-grade I-Track Capstone Studio course, using design thinking and technology as a framework for developing the habits of mind of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The course focused on hands-on, project-based learning with Empathy as the core principle for a human-centered design process. Students applied these concepts to diverse projects, including UX/UI, game design, engineering, and architecture.• I had the privilege of instructing an engaging Innovation Capstone course where students were empowered to harness their creativity and innovation. Throughout the course, my students honed their skills in advanced brainstorming, project management, project delivery, and dynamic project presentation techniques. The focal point of this course was the development of long-term projects, driven by the students\' personal passions and interests, allowing them to apply their newfound skills in a practical and meaningful way.