Mrs. Hallinan’s 8th grade Makerspace students have been involved in an impactful immersive experience that could make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of people in the region.

As a part of the greater Dayton submission to the Macarthur Foundation OpenIDO 2050 Food Systems Vision prize, which consists of a plan to address food insecurity in the Dayton area, students have created a visual story of a day in the life of a character who lives in a food desert called 1.5ers Day in the Life 2050. Says Hallinan, “Students have taken a very raw story, refined it, improved it, and turned it into a Zoom play. The play will be included as a major piece of the submission.”

The Dayton submission was one of 1,300 worldwide. It was one of 79 selected for the semi-final round.

“I am very excited about what they are creating,” says Hallinan. “The impact on the students learning about food deserts, health inequities, regenerative agriculture, and future casting is significant. My students have taught me that middle school students are capable of learning through immersive, community impactful experiences – even online. I will now include scholarly creation as an outcome of the experiences in which I engage my students.”