Digital Academy: Quest
Quest is the most challenging program that IOB offers. It is an online, personalized learning opportunity for advanced students who are interested in determining their own learning path.
Think of it as part independent study, part creative lab.
Quest is an opportunity for advanced students to determine their learning path and make progress toward their goals—all within a community of other like-minded neurodivergent learners.
The program comprises three main components:
Bi-weekly mentorship on Discord
A digital whiteboard on Figma where students can share their progress and collaborate with others
A communication channel on Discord where students can discuss their progress with peers
Quest helps students stay motivated, earn confidence, learn how to set goals, practice feedback, and take ownership of their learning journey by providing personalized guidance, a virtual platform for collaboration, and a supportive online community.
What Do Students Learn In Quest?
Example:
Design concept
Finished 3D Game Model
From concept to finished game environment in 9 weeks.
Harry Potter Concept Game
Drew is one of our Quest participants. He has chosen to work in Dreams to exercise his love of game design. Here, you see some of Drew’s progress. From sketching out ideas to a fully operational game level, the Quest program encourages students to adopt a flexible learning mindset and ignite their curiosity to create entirely new worlds.
Take a look at Drew’s progress over 9 weeks of Quest:
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Drafting the levels.
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Design continues
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Translating sketches to a virtual environment
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Building the level
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Building in game features
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Lighting the rooms
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Shading and details
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Finishing the environments
Quest Participants:
Learn technical software (such as: Procreate, Mental Canvas, Adobe Express, Procreate Dreams, Spline, Nomad, etc.)
Make creative work that helps build their resume & portfolio
Establish meaningful community and professional connection
Program Outcomes
Learn how to set, explore, and adjust learning goals
Collaborate in an online fully customizable Learning Environments (Figma’s Figjam)
Learn how communicate iterative effort, take feedback, and identify new possibilities
Understand how to effectively explore your self-determined project; inspire others along the way
Grow towards new skills and knowledge in emerging creative technologies
Be empowered to evaluate, curate, adjust, and share growth, challenges, and achievements week to week
This Program is a Good Fit For
Students aged 14+ who are current IOB students or have previously enrolled in IOB workshops who are ready for high school or college level learning.
Quest is suitable for individuals ready to work independently who are looking to become compassionate members of a learning community.
Participation in Quest
Program
Details
Format: Online
Offered: Mondays and Fridays
Time: 4:00 - 6:00 pm CST
Duration: Three to nine weeks, depending on student’s quest
Price: $900/three-week block
Digital Academy has prerequisites for participation, please email our education team to discuss your student’s Quest. Emailing us is the first step in your Quest!
New to Islands of Brilliance? We’d love to help. Connect with Us before registering!
Technology Needed
Depending on your chosen quest, you will need:
Hardware: A webcam, a mic, and a smartphone to participate online. Either a computer (preferably a gaming laptop), OR an iPad and an Apple pencil. Optionally, a Wacom digital tablet may work for your project.
Software: Adobe Creative Cloud & Adobe Substance 3D apps, and/or Blender. In addition, for those students using a computer, web apps such as Spline.io and Adobe Express may be needed. Students using an iPad should also have Procreate, Nomad Sculpt, and Adobe Express ready for use.
Communication tools: A Zoom account, Figma (digital whiteboard application), and Discord account (for Quest programming).
Please reach out to the IOB Team to further discuss technology options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Quest
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Quest is offered online only.
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Quest sessions are held on Mondays and Fridays, 4:00-6:00 pm CST over three, six, or nine-week blocks. Students will spend most of their time working on the project outside our meeting sessions.
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Yes. Since Quest projects are self-directed, students are expected to work on the project on their own time outside of workshops. At Monday Quest meetings, the group shares our working plans; during Friday Quest meetings, students share their progress and ask for feedback. Students can upload their work to the Figjam page and chat on the dedicated Discord Server throughout the week.
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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.
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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.
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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. Each person on a self-directed Quest gets a uniquely designed badge created by the IOB Creative Technologist Team which is awarded to the student after the Quest's completion.
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No. DA sessions are not recorded. Attendance is critical to success. However, IOB understands sometimes unexpected circumstances and calendar conflicts arise. IOB will work with families where possible.
Since Quest is the pinnacle of Digital Academy, students accepted into this program are treated with the respect they've earned to operate at this level. If students know they will miss a Quest session, their entire Quest will be extended to accommodate the missed session(s). Students in Quest who do not call, do not show up, or do not have a credible reason for their absence will lose that session.
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Families and students can contact chris@islandsofbrilliance.org to get started. Chris and our IOB team will determine if Quest is the right fit for you.
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Chris Willey, the Director of Technology at IOB, is the main person behind all Digital Academy programming. Please email chris@islandsofbrilliance.org with questions.
Explore Our Other Programs
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Sandbox Programs
Our most frequent and accessible options, Sandbox Programs provide a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment for your child to learn, create, and connect.
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Foundation Programs
Students are paired 1:1 with a professional design mentor to learn technical software skills using Adobe Photoshop and/or Adobe Illustrator as well as build social and emotional development skills.
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Academy Programs
The most rigorous IOB program, Digital Academy provides apprentice-style instruction in a product-based learning environment.
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Community Programs
Whether you’re a young adult living with autism or is someone who loves and supports them, we know life can be challenging. Our Community Support programs provide professional and peer guidance to help along the journey.